Spanish brochure
"LA EDUCACION BILINGUE EN MASSACHUSETTS"
by Latinos y Aliados para una Economia Justa
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Who are we?

The Language Rights for Children Coalition of Western Massachusetts was initiated in March 2002 by a group of students and faculty members in the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Our goal is to inform educators, families, policy makers, and the general public about the November 2002 ballot initiative in Massachusetts to dismantle bilingual education. In a broader sense, we are interested in serving as a source of support and information for the public about language rights for children. We believe it is essential to protect these rights, especially at a time when they are being eroded in many places around the country.

For many language minority children, bilingual education and strong English as a Second Language support have made the difference between academic failure and success. But in the past several months, rhetoric surrounding bilingual education has become parochial and petty. We have become alarmed at the nature of the discourse surrounding language support services for children.

Attacks on bilingual education have become more fierce and mean-spirited than ever, reflecting a narrow-mindedness that runs counter to the ideals of the Commonwealth to provide education that can help equalize opportunities for children of all backgrounds. It is in the spirit of promoting equity and educational equality that we have formed this Coalition.