Maria E. Rosa Garcia S00-26-4223 EDUG 604 September 23, 2010
Social and Political Issues Educators Face
Slide 2
Language Diversity
Slide 3
Language diversity rises issues in education that must be
addressed because they undelie many other important social issues.
Decisions about the languages in which students are educated have
implications in a number of educational areas.
Slide 4
Refugee Intergration
Slide 5
TheUnited States accepts tens of thousands of refugees each
year. Educators must be aware of the history and cultural
background of the population when teaching the English
language.
Slide 6
Immigrant Intergration
Slide 7
Since 2000 the U.S has admitted 1,063,732 immigrants. Over 40
precent of the immigrants originate from Spanish speaking
countries.(U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization
Service 2001; U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security,2003)
Slide 8
American Identity and Attitudes
Slide 9
Language is at the core of the policy debates over immigrants
impact on American culture. Research done on Americanattitudes
toward English usage in public schools and the use of public tax
money is limited. Data from the University of Oklahomas 2001 Survey
on American Attitudes revealed the following:
Slide 10
University of Oklahomas 2001 Survey on American Attitudes. A
telephone survey revealed that the respondents educational, social
and economic background generates different attitudes toward the
teaching of English. The study also revealed an augment of negative
sentiment toward immigrants. This negativity exists because
immigrants are perceived as a threat to the American culture,
identity, beliefs, and values.
Slide 11
University of Oklahomas 2001 Survey on American Attitudes
Persons with lower social and economic status tend to view
immigrants as a threat. Low-wage workers are likely to resent that
public money be spent to provide English skills to immigrants.
Evidence suggested that those with higher economic status and more
education present a more favorable attitude toward
immigration.
Slide 12
English in Puerto Rico
Slide 13
The history of the English language is characterized by
conflict and chaotic change.(Pousada) Spains reign over the island
of Puerto Rico in the 15 th century brought to an end the
indigenous tribes. The language spoken by the indigenous was
replaced by a particular dialect of Spanish from the southern part
of Spain and loanwords from the Taino, and African languages, thus
creating Puerto Rican Spanish.
Slide 14
English in Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans possessed their own
identity, music, clothing, personality, and nationality as
described by Fray Iigo Abbad in his first comprehensive history of
Puerto Rico, Historia, geogrfica civil y poltica de Puerto Rico.
The 19 th century would bring the struggle for Puerto Rican
autonomy.
Slide 15
English in Puerto Rico 1868- Lares Uprising 1870-Liberal
Conservative Party advocated assimilation into Spains political
party. Liberal Reformist Party advocated decentralization from
Spanish control. 1887- the Puerto Rican Autonomist Party tried to
create a political and legal identity for Puerto Rico while
emulating Spain in all political matters. 1897-exiled leaders from
the Lares Uprising sought independence from Spain. Charter of
Autonomy granted the island political and administrative
autonomy.
Slide 16
Spanish American War
Slide 17
American troops invaded Puerto Rico on July 25, 1898.Fifteen
weeks later Spain granted Cuba its freedom, sold the Philippine
Islands, and gave the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico to the United
States. Puerto Rican feared that the United States would not give
them the measure of self rule they had gained under the
Spanish.
Slide 18
Spanish American War After the invasion our problems of a
national identity and different attitudes towards the English
language begin. A military government was installed and obligatory
free education is established. Americanization via the English
language was promoted. 1900 Foraker Act established a civil
government and the Dept. of Public Education is created.
Slide 19
Changing Policies
Slide 20
1902- English as co-official with Spanish 1930- English as a
special subject 1941- Bilingualism 1946- English as a mandatory
second language 1993- Project to Create a Bilingual Citizen, These
partisan politics regarding English create instability in the
school systems, students, school community, and educators.
Slide 21
Research In 1989 Lopez Laguerre investigated attitudes towards
the teaching of English in Puerto Rico. The study revealed 38.9 of
the 477 secondary teachers interviewed, preferred English taught as
a required course, 34.3 percent believed English should be an
elective course, 20.2 percent indicated that English should be part
of a bilingual program and 3.9 percent would exclude English from
the curriculum entirely.
Slide 22
Research Torruellas study in 1990 investigated the use of
English in three private schools. His research indicated the
respondents educational, social and economic background determined
the mastery of English. Evidence suggested that those from higher
economic status schools present a more favorable attitude and
strive to succeed in the oral and written competencies, while those
from middle class developed an apathetic attitude and resistance
toward the learning of English.
Slide 23
Research In 1992 the Ateneo carried out a survey of language
use on the island. Results were that over 90 percent of the
respondents preferred the use of Spanish in communication from the
government, 20.6 percent considered themselves bilingual. The most
interesting find in this study proves that the learning of English
is socially and politically related.
Slide 24
Research 93 percent of the samples would never give up the
Spanish language even if the island became a state and even if
English were established as the sole official language. 91 percent
considered themselves Puerto Ricans first and Americans next.87
percent claimed to feel strong patriotic attachments to the Puerto
Rican flag (Pousada).
Slide 25
Conclusion Educators whether they are in the United States or
in Puerto Rico are confronted with different attitudes that are
defined by the political, social and cultural insights of the
country. The attitude and desire of the United States and Puerto
Rico to conserve their language plays an important role as it
serves to identify and unite them as a people.
Slide 26
References (n.d.). Retrieved September
4http://www.cal.org/topics/ri, 2010, from Cultural Orientation
Resource Center. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2010, from
wikipedia.org: http://www.en.wikipedi.org (2007, March 1).
Retrieved September 4, 2010, from The Free Library>Social
Sciences: http://www.thefreelibrary.com Adger, C. (n.d.). Retrieved
September 04, 2010, from CAL:Topics:International Develpoment:
http://www.cal.org/topics/id Littell, M. (2005). The Americans.
Houghton Mifflin. Pousada, A. (n.d.). home.earthlink.net. Retrieved
September 22, 2010, from
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aposada/id.html