Todays New York Times features an article about the expansion of dual-language programs in New York City. A good thing, it seems to us. The article notes that this is a trend around the country, as school districts try to prepare children to compete for jobs in a globalized, polyglot world. Is that it -- to compete for jobs? What about because speaking multiple languages allows us to learn more about other cultures, other societies. It allows non-immigrants to learn first-hand about the experiences of immigrants. It facilitates building multinational alliances, that are so necessary as corporations pit workers against each other in a global race to the bottom. It expands how we think about the nature of human experience, as languages are not just word systems, but embed different ways of understanding social reality. And on and on. Lets support more dual language programs, but lets argue on their behalf in a more expansive way than to facilitate our kids competing for jobs.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 20:40:53 +0000
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