Department
English and Technical Communication
Major
English
Research Advisor
Wilson, Dennis
Advisor's Department
English and Technical Communication
Abstract
As a result of civil rights legislation during the mid-20th century, court decisions and amendments have emphasized the need for equal educational opportunity. There is a widespread need for some sort of low English proficiency assistance demonstrated by the fact that since 1989 the population of linguistically diverse students has doubled. However, it would be difficult for a program like bilingual education to provide this assistance even only at state level given its costliness and impracticality. Over 2,000 languages need to be accounted for to achieve true equal educational opportunity. After thorough research was conducted, the solution reached was that English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, (programs using only the English language to teach English), fulfill the respective court decisions. These programs provide e qual educational opportunity much better than any dual-language instruction could. It is therefore proposed that an ESL system be incorporated into our current K-12 school curriculum.
Biography
Kathryn Knocke is a junior majoring in English at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She grew up in Wentzville, Missouri and is the oldest of Tamara and Glenn Duncan's three children. Currently, she is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and is also involved with Student Missouri State Teachers Association (SMSTA). Since October 2006 she has worked at The Zone skating rink in Rolla and values the friends she has made among staff and customers during her work there. In the future, Kathryn plans to teach Spanish and English at the high school level.
Research Category
Humanities/Social Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Humanities/Social Sciences poster session, Third place
Location
Havener Center, Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
09 Apr 2008, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
The Problem of English Language Learning and Equal Educational Opportunity - ESL: The Search for a Solution
Havener Center, Upper Atrium/Hallway
As a result of civil rights legislation during the mid-20th century, court decisions and amendments have emphasized the need for equal educational opportunity. There is a widespread need for some sort of low English proficiency assistance demonstrated by the fact that since 1989 the population of linguistically diverse students has doubled. However, it would be difficult for a program like bilingual education to provide this assistance even only at state level given its costliness and impracticality. Over 2,000 languages need to be accounted for to achieve true equal educational opportunity. After thorough research was conducted, the solution reached was that English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, (programs using only the English language to teach English), fulfill the respective court decisions. These programs provide e qual educational opportunity much better than any dual-language instruction could. It is therefore proposed that an ESL system be incorporated into our current K-12 school curriculum.
