This slam poet, Dylan Garity, expresses his frustration with Prop 227 and its aftermath. Prop 227 requires that all instruction in public schools must be English-only. In Vista Unified, 60% of the student population is Hispanic and 24% are classified as English Learners. With these numbers, it is extremely hard to understand how policy-makers could require education to be taught 100% in English. Garity also brings up a very important issue; students who have an L1 other than English often come to school less than proficient in their L1. This can make learning a second language so much more difficult. Why can't our society recognize the benefits of being bilingual? Why must we tell students that the language they speak at home with their parents is wrong?
Here are a few quotes from the poem that stood out to me:
"These kids are good organs in a sick body."
"We're telling these children, who've spent their whole lives in the deep end, that they'll learn how to swim if they just float out a little farther."
"Their heritage is a banned book."
This issue directly relates to learning, teaching, and curriculum. The curriculum often dictates what students learn. Every single school in the country has a unique student population. So maybe we should consider that the curriculum should mirror that uniqueness. Students need to see their own identity reflected in what they are learning. We need teachers who cherish language and culture and who make an effort to seek to understand their students. The message in this video directly aligns with my current belief system. I see students every day who struggle with language who could benefit from exposure to both their L1 and L2 in school.
Here are a few quotes from the poem that stood out to me:
"These kids are good organs in a sick body."
"We're telling these children, who've spent their whole lives in the deep end, that they'll learn how to swim if they just float out a little farther."
"Their heritage is a banned book."
This issue directly relates to learning, teaching, and curriculum. The curriculum often dictates what students learn. Every single school in the country has a unique student population. So maybe we should consider that the curriculum should mirror that uniqueness. Students need to see their own identity reflected in what they are learning. We need teachers who cherish language and culture and who make an effort to seek to understand their students. The message in this video directly aligns with my current belief system. I see students every day who struggle with language who could benefit from exposure to both their L1 and L2 in school.