Should parents be allowed to refuse a child’s placement in a bilingual class when that child speaks no English?

Question

This is an issue that’s coming up a lot at my school right now. We have always had a very significant population of students who speak Spanish at home and get ESL support at school. However, at the end of last year, and now again as this year begins, we are receiving so many students who just came to America, speak no English, and in some cases, have no record of any formal schooling. When they are screened for placement, they always qualify for placement in the bilingual program. This year, many parents are opting out, because some classes are full and the kid would have to go to another district school (transportation is provided in that case).  These kids are sitting in class with someone like me, who knows only a few words and phrases in Spanish. Some classes have 5 or more kids who speak no English. 
I’ve always thought that parents should have the choice to place their child where they want them to be (general education, special education, public school or private, etc.) But now I’m beginning to change my mind. I see my students bored, frustrated and acting out because they don’t understand anything. I’m using other students as translators to help get things done (or just to figure out why a student seems upset or confused). Everything takes so much longer because we are trying to translate it (and it’s really hard for my little guys to translate for math problems, science content, etc.) 
I could understand opting out of bilingual class if your child is beginning to speak and understand English, but I don’t  think it’s right to do so when the child truly doesn’t understand anything. I’m honestly surprised to see what a huge impact it’s having on my class overall.
What do you guys think? Should parents be allowed to opt out of these bilingual classes and have their child placed in a regular, general education class?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Children who speak languages other than English shouldn’t be segregated and bussed off to other areas. 
If a community is that bilingual it’s the system that needs to adapt to their needs. Maybe they should transition to a straight duo lingual school. That’s what most of them public and private schools near me look like.

Answer

Seems like the school needs to adapt to their demographic. 
Things like hiring more bilingual teachers and/or teachers aids, providing classes where ESL students can transition easier, buddy programs with other bilingual students at the school (clubs,tutoring,etc) just kinda seems lazy and expensive to fund transportation than it would opening up more classes.

Answer

We have this issue where I live too but with Punjabi. In my current community at the school my son was slated to go to 90% or more of the students speak Punjabi at home and have very poor English skills. As a mother of a Canadian born child that will only know English it actually infuriates me that these parents are not giving their children the language they need to succeed. I personally don’t think the schools should allow them to be placed in an English speaking school. It only takes away from my son and the other English speaking students. He will be denied help if he needs it because they are too busy helping the students who cannot speak English. Where I live the languages are French and English. If you want your kids to speak French they must go to a French school, if English the English school. The same applies for Spanish where you are. And if they don’t speak either then they should be placed into a specific program to teach them English. Period. From my knowledge, the USA is an English speaking country. Spanish is just a bonus

Answer

I think they should be in a transition class at least so they can understand the class and not distract other students. I don't see why a parent wouldn't want their child to have extra support and help when coming to a new country.

Answer

Bilingual teachers would solve that problem. I don't mean that to be an asshole either, but the school should find something that works for everyone and the most obvious solution is a teacher who speaks both Spanish and English, or whatever language is dense in that region. In some of the schools in Florida the teachers are required to be bilingual because we have a high population of Spanish speaking individuals. They had a program I signed my daughter up for before she started kindergarten where she would leave her regular class and go to a different room for half of her day to learn in Spanish/English mixed since its kindergarten. Turns out there weren't enough kids signed up for the program so they put her in ESOL, which honestly just makes sense to me and I like it better, she's with the same students all day, same teacher and half her day is still in both languages. Why can't something like that that be an option? That way the English speaking kids can learn Spanish and the Spanish speaking kids can learn English. Its just logical to me.

Answer

Of course parents should be able to opt out. I decide where my child goes to school. And if it is suggested that my child should shift further away from home, into an area I'm not happy with for whatever reason, I will say no. 
Your school should cater to these children, if there are so many. Maybe hire spanish speaking teachers and TAs. Maybe after-school classes or something. It doesn't seem like such a huge problem to overcome. The school should accommodate the needs of its students.

Answer

No. I don’t think parents should have a say on where their children are placed in public school when it comes to their basic abilities. They have appropriate accommodations for these children. I imagine this as being the equivalent of the parent of someone on a basic level in math choosing they be placed in an AP level class. It sets the child up for failure, it interrupts the class and effects all the other students. Is the system perfect? No. But it’s not like they’re being completely turned away and told they won’t be provided an education.

Answer

Yes they should be allowed, but why?? 
My daughter is English speaking in a 50/50 English/Spanish class and some of the other students only speak Spanish. They’re all learning together and from  each other and it’s absolutely amazing how they all learn!

Answer

Having worked with kids that know little to no English I'm with you on this one, it really does take extra time away from the entire class. I think they should be placed in a class better suited to them so they don't fall behind, too. I really think it benefits all the kids to have them placed in a bilingual class so they can ease into it, and hopefully understand more.

Answer

All children who don’t speak english and move to an area where english is spoken should have to learn english. It should be compulsory. So that they can communicate to people and actually learn things in lessons.

Should parents be allowed to refuse a child’s placement in a bilingual class when that child speaks no English?

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