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Many of the resources provided below require RealAudio software.
To download the RealAudio Player consult RealAudio's home
page. For the free Player go to the download
page.
BILINGUAL EDUCATION UNDER ATTACK
BILINGUAL
EDUCATION IN TUCSON -- NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on efforts
in Tucson, Arizona to do away with the state's bilingual education
system. Arizona has about 90,000 students enrolled in bilingual
programs, but some parents and teachers don't think the system
is effective and have organized a campaign modeled after California's
Prop. 227 to put the future of bilingual education to a referendum
vote. (Requires free "Real Audio" software)
COLORADO
BILINGUAL -- In Denver, the debate over bilingual education
has taken a radically different tack than in California. After
complaints by parents, the federal government may take the city
to court for failing to provide adequate bilingual education.
The city program runs for 3 years, but parents want up to 7 years'
instruction in kids' native languages. Aaron Schacter reports.
(Requires free "RealAudio" software)
CALIFORNIA'S ANTI-BILINGUAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE
PROPOSITION 227
CALIFORNIA
BILINGUAL -- California's new bilingual education regulations
officially take affect today (August 3, 1998). A newly-passed
voter initiative, Proposition 227, puts strict limits on the
length of time that children in the state's schools may receive
assistance in their native language. Although most schools won't
begin classes until September, year round schools will have to
implement the new law today. NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports.
(Requires free "RealAudio" software)
NPR's Morning Edition (June 10, 1998) presents "A
STUDENT ON BILINGUAL EDUCATION" --Annie Tsai, originally
from Taiwan, comments on how the loss of bilingual education
could affect immigrants living in California now that voters
passed an initiative ending the program. Tsai is graduating from
high school in Albany, California and will be attending Cornell
University in the fall. Her commentary comes from Youth Radio.
(Requires free "RealAudio" software)
NPR's Carrie Kahn reports on the victory for opponents of
bilingual education "PROP
227 WINS" (June 3, 1998). California public schools
will now have about two months to place students either in English-only
classes or in accelerated English-language instruction. Some
Hispanic civil rights groups filed suit claiming the just-approved
measure is unconstitutional. (Requires free "RealAudio"
software)
The May 25th edition of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS
entitled, "LEARNING
THE LANGUAGE" explored the current debate over bilingual
education in the United States. What is the best way to teach
language skills to non-English speaking children? In California,
supporters of Proposition 227 say schools should immerse students
in English as soon as possible. If it is successful, the proposition
could spell the end to bilingual education in the state. A RealAudio
version of this segment is available. (Requires "RealAudio"
software).
On April 28, 1998 Secretary of Education Richard Riley denounced
Proposition 227, which would end most bilingual education programs
in California, as a ``disaster,'' ``counterproductive'' and ``just
plain wrong.'' ``Proposition 227 may satisfy people's sense of
frustration, but ultimately it is counterproductive to our common
goal of making sure children learn English while making academic
progress in other subjects as well,'' Riley said in a lengthy
statement. Hear the White House Announcements (Please be patient,
may take a few moments to load)
NPR reports on the CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION OPPOSITION TO CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 227,
the California ballot measure that would dismantle the state's
bilingual education programs. The administration is going to
call for a three year limit to participating in bilingual programs,
but opponents to Prop 227 say that there should be no time limit.
Survey show that most California voters support the ballot measure.
3 Mins. (Requires "RealAudio" software)
Marshall
Smith, acting deputy secretary of Education Department, said
on Monday that the Clinton administration thinks Proposition
227 is too broad to be effective. (94K, 13 Secs.)
White House Press Secretary Mike
McCurry said on Monday that it's wrong for a state to impose
a one-year immersion program on local school districts. (183K,
26 Secs.)
In "BILINGUAL
EDUCATION," April 7, National Public Radio's All Things
Considered reports on the California ballot initiative that would
strictly limit bilingual education. Story includes interview
with Ron Unz the controversial author of Proposition 227 and
leaders of the opposition. (Requires "RealAudio" software).
To download the RealAudio Player consult RealAudio's home page.
For the free Player go to the download page.
The September 21st edition of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
on PBS entitled, "Double Talk?" explored the current
debate over bilingual education in the United States.
A RealAudio
version of this segment is available. A background report
was provided and Margaret Warner spoke with James Lyons, executive
director of the National Association of Bilingual Education and
Ron Unz, Chairman of California's "English for Children"
initiative. (Requires "RealAudio" software).
A transcript of the program is available on the Online
NewsHour web site at:
DOUBLE
TALK? - NEWSHOUR TRANSCRIPT
Individuals could pose questions to these activists on
both sides of the bilingual debate through an online forum sponsored
by PBS afterwards. A sampling of the questions and responses
is now available at: "Questions
Asked in the Forum".
NAVAJO CODE TALKERS OF WORLD WAR TWO
CODE
TALKER -- Carl Gorman -- one of the Navajo Code Talkers of
World War Two -- recently died of cancer, at the age of 90. The
Code Talkers played an instrumental role in the U.S. efforts
in the Pacific theater of World War Two...hear about what they
did in this remembrance of Gorman's role with the Code Talkers.
Please be patient, may take a few moments to load. (Requires
free "RealAudio" software.)
Frontlines forum "Join
the Discussion" is also provided to answer the questions:
Is the black community better of today than it was in 1968? And.
. . How can its growing class gap be closed?
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
EDUCATIONAL STRIDES -- NPR's Larry Abramson reports that
according to the U.S. Census Bureau, African-Americans are now
just as likely to graduate from high school as are whites. However,
Hispanic immigrants are still facing problems in their educational
progress. Hear the report on a RealAudio version of the segment.
LACK OF DIVERSITY AMONG SUPREME COURT LAW CLERKS
National Public Radio's Morning Edition examines the problems
in the offices behind the bench of the Supreme Court in "MORE
DIVERSITY IN SUPREME COURT." At issue is the poor and
minority employment record of the justices. The justices hire
few law clerks who are not white male. Commentator Joe Davidson
suggests the Supreme Court should hire more minority law clerks.
The 34 clerks are a very powerful and elite group that has an
enormous influence over the issues seen and decided by the justices.
(Requires free "RealAudio" software)
CMMR FOCUS ON TEACHER EDUCATION - GRADING THE
GRADERS
Is Teacher Testing The Best Way To Improve Academic Achievement?
In "Grading The Graders", an Online
NewsHour report talks with Linda Darling Hammond, executive
director of the National Commission on Teaching and America's
Future, about the growing movement to test teachers. States are
increasingly testing teachers to ensure their competency, but
do these tests fairly measure teaching skills and improve the
quality of education in the classroom? NewsHour correspondent
Betty Ann Bowser looks at Massachusetts' experience with teacher
testing.
TESTING
THE TEACHERS a RealAudio version of this segment is available.
(Requires free "RealAudio" software)
You can also participate in an online
forum on the topic.
LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY
In the first of a two part series on language and identity
NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports that depending upon where you
live in America and where you come from, accents can be a benefit
or a hindrance both socially and professionally. There are companies
that specialize in "accent reduction," offering classes
and coaching to people who want to shed a regional or foreign
accent. In California, where voters recently rejected bilingual
education and mandated English-only education, many immigrants
are refining their English in such courses. Hear more on NPR's
report "LOSE
THAT ACCENT" for Morning Edition. (Requires free "RealAudio"
software)
In part two of the series on language and identity, NPR's
Mandalit Del Barco reports on Latinos in the United States who
are improving their Spanish or who are learning the language
for the first time. About one quarter of all Latinos in the U.S.
speak only English. Hear more on LATINOS
LEARNING SPANISH. (Requires free "RealAudio" software)
THE CONTROVERSIAL "E-RATE" PROGRAM
AND "THE DIGITAL DIVIDE"
ADMINISTRATION
TO LINK PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO THE 'NET' -- National Public Radio's
Larry Abramson reports on a two billion dollar program announced
by Vice President Gore to connect public schools and libraries
to the Internet. The awards are part of the controversial "e-rate"
program, which some Congressional Republicans have criticized
as too expensive. (Requires free "Real Audio" software)
THE
DIGITAL DIVIDE -- If you are black or Hispanic in
this country, you are less likely to have a computer. If you
live in a household earning over $75,000 a year, you are five
times more likely to have a computer. If you live in a city or
suburban area, you are ten times more likely to have a computer
than in a rural area. In a society where increasingly we are
defined by access to information and what we earn is what we
learn, if you don't have access to technology, your going to
be left in the digital dark ages. That's what the digital divide
is all about. Newshours Jeffrey Kaye takes a look at the chasm
between the haves and have nots in the world of cyberspace. (Requires
free "Real Audio" software)
RACE AND SCHOOLS
RACE
& SCHOOLS -- Scott Jagow of member station WFAE in Charlotte,
North Carolina, reports that a lawsuit challenging the city's
school desegregation plan is forcing residents to reexamine their
commitment to racial integration. (Requires free "Real Audio"
software)
A recent legal challenge to Charlotte, N.C. school-busing
law has called into question a 27 year-old Supreme Court ruling.
With possible national implications, the lawsuit is being closely
watched.
Read the transcript from the June 30 edition of an Online
Newshour report "BUS
STOP." Betty Anne Bowser reports on a white family that
sued the Charlotte-Mechlenburg school system, claiming racial
discrimination. The system uses a combination of busing and magnet
schools to achieve racial integration.
Hear the discussion "BUSING
IN CHARLOTTE" on a RealAudio version of the segment.
(Requires free "Real Audio" software)
STANDARDIZED
TESTING AND MINORITY STUDENTS - National Public Radio's Weekend
All Things Considered Gary Orfield of the Harvard Civil Rights
Project and Linda McNeil of Rice University participated in a
study that looked into how standardized testing impacts minority
students -- especially those so-called high-stakes exams given
to high school students to determine whether or not they may
graduate. The study found that these tests do discriminate against
minorities and force teachers to take valuable class time away
from important subjects in order to help students prepare for
the exams. (Requires Real Audio Software)
RACIAL PREFERENCES IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
SAT
- "STRIVERS" . Is there a way for colleges and
universities to diversify their student bodies without relying
on racial preferences? One of the nation's largest testing services
thinks there IS a way to identify students who've overcome hardships,
to become what the testers call "strivers." NPR's Claudio
Sanchez reports. (Requires free "Real Audio" software)
REDEFINING
DIVERSITY -- PBS OnLine NewsHour reporter Spencer Michels
reports that California law schools are looking for new ways
to achieve diversity in the wake of the passage of Proposition
209, which eliminated affirmative action from the state's public
education system. (Requires free "Real Audio" software)
Coping
With Prop 209 -- Full-text transcript of above report.
FLORIDA
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION -- NPR's Linda Wertheimer reports Florida
Governor Jeb Bush has signed an executive order banning racial
preferences or quotas in the hiring of state employees and contractors.
The new policy also affects higher education, ensuring that the
top 20-percent of high school graduating classes are automatically
admitted to state universities. Linda speaks with Michael Griffin,
Political Editor of the Orlando Sentinel, about the policy. (Requires
free "Real Audio" software)