Most recent public comments by Noel Caban https://nowcomment.com/users/110490 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536813 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536813 I think this article makes a great case for getting rid of anachronistic labeling practices that do not move the education of our kids forward. Instead, it keeps children in a cycle of dependency because the system is not enterprising and courageous enough to see that what it is serving to an emerging bilingual population is not working. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:35:22 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536803 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536803 It's been 21 years since this article was written, can policy makers, institutional pundits, and our leadership be more patient? Imagine: We just pulled out go Afghanistan, after 20 years, at the cost of trillions. If that energy had been harnessed toward the education and creation of a more inclusive nation, would we be discussing this today? Unfortunately, we still have LEP and ELL's as the defining criteria for bilingualism in our country, change is slooooow thing. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:19:13 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536769 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536769 The insistence in a failed monolingual standard is cultural hegemony.I believe that until our educational leaders and policymakers own up to this, and start taking steps toward true and inclusive change, the path toward educational remediation is pretty well set. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:09:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536748 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536748 This is truly theoretical and conceptual thinking. On a practical level it would require massive system wide political and institutional will. Given the last 4 years of political will in this country, I think that approach would never be supported...but, on a tactical level, in smaller districts, with truly progressive educators, fund raisers, and creative instructors it is possible. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:58:12 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536739 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536739 I am intrigued by how this be done? As I think about the video we saw, and how flustered the math teacher became with the student, partially due to her lack of bilingual skills, I wonder how many of our current teachers really posses that kind of cultural awareness and sensitivity needed to create such a curriculum. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:52:23 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536718 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536718 "Teachers would then be able to hold higher expectations of these children and not simply remediate their limitations and their English learning." It takes plenty of work to develop curriculum in a mono language. In a country where teachers feel unappreciated, underfunded, unsupported, where would the support mechanisms for developing bilingual pedagogy begin? Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:41:05 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536675 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536675 "At present, and for the federal government, LEPs are those students who have been identified in the U.S. Census as speaking English less than very well." The census is an amazing and powerful tool used by our governing stakeholders/institutions to determine, allocate, and justify economic resources for or against communities of color. This includes education, sanitation, housing, food, healthcare or not, etc.One can argue that the categorization / labeling has embedded in it the language of structural inequality. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:35:38 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536674 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536674 "...emergent bilinguals are seen as having an advantage over those who speak English only and for whom becoming bilingual will be more difficult" - Hate to admit, but as a bicultural / bilingual person, I do participate in a greater sense of awareness and understanding of my place and space. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:26:43 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536657 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536657 It's difficult enough knowing one language well, try working on two simultaneously. Being attentive to these unique needs in curriculum can/will create a better and more informed outcome for students. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:21:39 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536656 https://nowcomment.com/documents/285315?scroll_to=2536656 When we label things, we separate and emphasize our differences removing humanity from the process. Time for a change in how our government categorizes these students. Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:21:39 -0400