Should Bi-Lingual Learning be Required?

This thoughtful piece asks if all kids in US schools should be taught in bilingual classes and gives good reasons for his answer.   - - Donna Poisl

FROM MATTHEW LYNCH, ED.D.

This generation of K-12 students is growing up in a society that is increasingly bilingual. Foreign language requirements have long been a core requirement for high school graduation and are also part of most arts-based college degree programs. Along with Spanish, languages like French and German are common options for students.

But just how "foreign" is Spanish in today's society? The U.S. Census estimates that there are 50.5 million Hispanic people living in America, and another 3.7 who are residents of Puerto Rico. This number represents a 43 percent increase in the recorded Hispanic population from 2000 to 2010 at a rate four times faster than the rest of the U.S. population. Further, 35 million children 5 and over spoke Spanish at home in 2010. English as a second language K-12 programs have existed for decades, but maybe that program should be expanded.
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