Immersion Works Better Than ESL
Study after study shows that that kids learned to read better through immersion. Not a single study found the reverse. Regarding English as a Second Language students, research shows that it takes five to seven years for a student to master English well enough to succeed in a mainstream classroom, while the immersion approach that aims to mainstream the kids within a year or two. Not only is immersion more effective, it is less expensive on the school district, which ultimately means U46 will not have to put an already monumental burden on homeowners through property taxes.
Having brought these facts to light, it makes one wonder why all the fuss at letting 11 teachers aides go at Channing Memorial Elementary School. What U46 should do is cancel its bilingual program and embrace the immersion approach — that is, if the teachers, students, and parents really care about the education of their children. They seem to be content with the ever-so-slow and minimal advances that are achieved by the ESL bilingual program in place.
