McHenry County Blog published part of the Daily Herald story on West Chicago High School’s test scores without bilingual education typical in most Illinois high schools.

Now, McHenry County Blog has received a rebuttal, which for some reason was not put below the article in a comment, but sent directly.

Here’s the rebuttal from Salvador Tamayo:

It is a shame that a school board president can be so uninformed about current research and best practices in education.

Mr. Reyes said, ”We coddle students and pretend that they are stupid.” Who is he referring to and who is doing this pretending? He cannot mean bilingual teachers as there is plenty of academic challenge in a bilingual program.

Students are learning a second language as well as taking content classes.

Mr. Reyes says his attitude reflects that of many Hispanic parents who are removing their children from bilingual programs. Parent education of how a bilingual program is meant to support students is ongoing. If parents are fully informed of long term benefits and how their children are supported in their transition to English most would not consider removing their children from the program.

The article quoted teachers as being afraid to speak openly from fear of reprisals. Mr. Reyes apparently does not support a collegial atmosphere of inquiry and collaboration between faculty and board members. This is sad as it is the students who suffer from a system closed to new ideas.

Mr. Reyes promotes a maximum of three years in a bilingual program. This shows only familiarity with state regulations and no knowledge of research on bilingual education.

For years, the research as shown to truly gain academic proficiency in a second language it takes 7-10 years. The upper range applies to older students such as high school students.

Mr. Reyes also wants Anglo teachers with no accent. This suggests he sees no value in bilingual teachers with college degrees who demonstrate success in two languages and two cultures. Teaching English without an accent is a tricky thing anyway. What English accent is appropriate? A Texan accent, Southern accent, Boston accent?

Let’s hope Mr. Reyes never has cancer. Will he ignore the latest, most up to date medical research and simply tell the cancer cells to go away as he seems to want Spanish to simply leave the high school students? The “cure” for his speaking Spanish of 30 years ago is not current best practice. Fortunately, today’s educators, doctors, and many parents are better informed.

Sincerely,

Salvador Tamayo
West Chicago, Il