What are some of the educational issues facing our growing Latino population and how will you address them?
I have to say I found this question to be quite telling with regard to each candidate's awareness of the dynamics not only within the Plainfield public schools but also our city in general.
All candidates shared an absolute need to embrace the diversity in this city, specifically that which is represented by our Hispanic brethren. Many also remarked that it is not the relationships between the children that need to be fostered and natured, but rather it is the adult set that can use some culture sensitivity training. I agree with this assessment.
One remark I found most eloquently profound was the pronouncement that Latino chidrens' needs are no different then African American Children, Asian Children or any other child. The educational needs of children transend cultural barriers.
Finally -- what I gleaned from the majority of comments to this question-- is that overall the candidates believe we need to embrace, develop and implement more culturally diverse activities that not only engage all ethnicies in our city, but in addition offer both our Spanish speaking population that need to learn English as well as our English speaking population who wish to learn conversational Spanish opportunities to do just that. A few suggestions included reestablishing night-time classes. I, for obvious reasons -- believe this is the ultimate win-win provision our educational system could provide for our Queen city.
That's it for today...until tomorrow - Be Well!
3 comments:
Hi Renata,
Maybe you already know this information, but the district has been offering English classes for parents and community members free of charge at the High School. This service has been going on for about 3-4 months now.
Spanish classes are also now an on-going thing to all PPS staff that are willing to take them.
Maria Pellum
Hi Maria -- No I did not realize they had classes for the general public. I did see the annoucement for employees, in fact I read it a few times to be clear. Do you know what day the classes meet? Is there a link or department that can be reached for further direction? As always - -THANK YOU for your Valueable input!
Hi Renata,
You can get more information from the Bilingual and ESOL Department. You can talk either to Yvette (don't know her last name, sorry!) or ask to speak directly to Mr. Martinez.
Flyers went out at the beginning of 2009 and we actually have few parents that are taking classes in the evening at the HS. I believe this is a partnership with UCCC.
Please, if you find out more about thi, can you do a post about it with all the details?
It will be appreciated by many.
As for the Spanish Conversation Club, I am suggesting at Evergreen that we have a Conversational Club for parents in both English and Spanish, all we need is volunteers on steady basis in both languages!
Thanks again for your great volunteer work and specially for taking the time to present BOE candidates in a way that was not done before.
Maria
Post a Comment