I’d like to share with the rest of the blogging community, or maybe just my fellow bloggers in English 310 about another exciting bi lingual school I’ve recently read an article about. The following is a short synopsis, along with a few testimonies about the wonders this Bi-Lingual high school in
Quincy Maine is delivering on a daily basis.
Due to a rise in ESL students the Monmouth-Roseville High School, district 238 is taking new approaches in their curriculum. But what makes this school different from others bi-linguial schools is that the teachers and counselors are acting as interpreters between parents, students and fellow faculty in order to provide the care and education needed by Spanish speaking students.
The following is a common scenario you would find at Monmouth-Roseville High School:
A student is standing at the front office desk next to the phone; his mother waits on the other end of the line. This is where Frank, a full time bi lingual faculty member steeps in). The mother of the student does not speak English, and Bryan doesn’t speak Spanish. Frank asks the other if her daughter can stay after school in order to do homework.
Situations like these are extremely common at Monmouth-Roseville High, teachers translating for students. One might think that a school placing so much emphasis on ESL might be falling behind in academic circles. On the contrary, Monmouth-Roseville High has more than quadrupled its number of Spanish-Speaking teachers and has added an extracurricular activity to help with grades. 5 years Renee Burton was the only ESL teacher for over 50 ELL. “I was a Band-Aide basically”- Buron stated
Superintendent Martin Payne stated the following:
“It was a realization for a need and there needed to be a starting spot and that’s what it was. It was a starting spot know it had t continue to grow.”
So what about today? Today, there are 98 ELL students!
What about the teachers?
Like me, you have probably asked yourself where teachers come from to run/operate/educate a school like this, right. Currently, Mrs. Burton splits her time between Willits and Harding grade schools, with the help of two Spanish speaking aides. Buron spits her time between Willits and Harding school grades but the school has recently hired a new advocate for bi linguial education Todd Franks along with Todd’s wife Ana Franks who currently works as an ESL teacher. The number of teachers also depends on the student-to-teacher ratio in classroom. If there are 20 or more students who share the same language, then the school is required to have a bilingual teacher. HOWEVER: the number of ESL teachers depends on the amount of funds available for ESL. But with the way numbers are growing, more ESL teachers will be needed in due time.
What about Culture Differences?
Even though the students that are attending Monmouth-Roseville High School may be speaking differnt dialects of the same language, culture has shown to be a barrier between students. So obviously, teachers are learning to be more aware of culture differences. One of the largest improvements students are faculty both agree has helped Spanish-speaking students, along with English-speaking, is the newly formed soccer team at the high-school. Students, both Spanish speaking and English speaking, must keep their grades up in order to play on the soccer team. Teachers are using this as incentives so students will keep their grades at passing level.
What about the parents …?
Monmouth-Roseville High School has been working to make great strides in bridging the parent-faculty relationship. Over the past 5 years the district has begun creating forms, for almost everything that are being sent home in Spanish. Each year, more and more parents are sending back completed forms.Additionally, the district brings interprets ruing registration at the beginning of each school year so parents will feel comfortable at the school.
“Is that a mandate? No. But we do it because we think it’s going to be good? Yeah! It’s a smart, common sense, community friendly thing to do.”
In closing Buron stated the following:
“Regardless of the background of the student, all of our kids are equally important to us. As we move forward in the district, we are always looking for ways to make a positive education difference for all or our kids!”
I’m aware that this probably isn’t your typical blog entry, but I was excited to share my recent findings of a bi-linguial school taking education in a new direction.
for your reading pleasure:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories.102807/MAI_BEM6GWDF.GID.shtml
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