Discusses the growing use of ethnic mother tongues as languages of instruction in Canadian public classrooms. Reviews the development of private ethnic schools and then examines the role, varieties, and motivations of public bilingual programs. Concludes that, despite the growth of public bilingual education, private ethnic schools will not become…

Group bilingualism, the contact situations which lead to it, and the role of language in maintaining ethnic boundaries are examined. Emphasis is laid on minority languages in the United States, Canada, Europe, and South Africa. The insistence of these groups on maintenance bilingual education rather than the acceptance of transitional assimilation…

Outlines the history of multilingual policies in American education, citing cases in the 19th century where children were taught in their native languages. Also discusses court cases that have had an effect on present bilingual education legislation. Calls for a consistent language policy in American schools. (Author/GC)

Lau vs Nichols is a 1974 Supreme Court decision which charged that the San Francisco Unified School District had denied equal educational opportunity to non-English-speaking students by failing to provide them with any special language instruction. The court decision was based on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which provides against…

Examines the history of German language instruction in American elementary schools (focusing on four midwestern school districts) in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Highlights past administrative and political developments and issues that remain of concern for bilingual education programs today. (Author/MJL)

This information packet contains four articles supporting the notion that young children must be instructed in their native languages in order to achieve academic, social, and personal success. The document suggests that failure to develop the first language impedes progress in the second and produces a child who is limited in both. It lists…