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The changing language of education photo by Bob Pennell By Damian Mann With increases of as much as 400 percent in the Hispanic population at some Jackson County school districts in the past 10 years, teachers have found themselves learning a whole new language of education. Not long ago, a second language was only a minor part of a student�s curriculum. But now Spanish and English speakers sit side by side in the same classroom, learning reading, writing and mathematics in both languages. Schools with the most Hispanic students Jackson Elementary 37.2 percent Phoenix Elementary 28.1 White City Elementary 24.8 Oak Grove Elementary 23.5 Mountain View Elementary 21.5 Washington Elementary 18.4 Talent Elementary 16.9 Jefferson Elementary 15.2 * Local district average 10.8 Statewide average 9.5 * Ashland, Medford, Central Point, Phoenix-Talent, Eagle Point districts Source: Oregon Department of Education and Medford School District Educators believe this not only helps these elementary students with a second language, but promotes the mixing of the two cultures and improves their learning. "These students become more literate faster," said Charles Bauer, fourth-grade dual language teacher at Phoenix Elementary School, where 28.1 percent of students are Hispanic. The district has seen a 400 percent increase in Spanish speakers in the past 10 years. Contrary to popular opinion, Bauer said students who spend 50 percent or more of their day learning another language actually have improved test scores. "We have beaten or tied the district and state averages." But administrators and teachers still face difficulties with the lack of quality Spanish textbooks and the need to improve English skills for students in higher grades and for the state to assess language learning in its testing program. One of the main goals is to help students who speak little or no English in kindergarten or first grade and teach them full English proficiency by grade five, or sooner. But teachers also need to make sure the students simultaneously learn core subjects like reading, writing and mathematics. As a result, educators find themselves trying to balance instruction in English with the need to further the basic education of students. At Jackson Elementary School in Medford, 37 percent of the 380 students speak Spanish as their native tongue � the highest percentage of any school in Jackson County. About 75 percent need help learning English. Principal Thomas Ettel said instruction for people who speak only Spanish is constantly evolving. Textbooks written in Spanish are particularly deficient, Ettel said. "They are just not that well researched." Schools have done a better job teaching younger students, he said, but could stand improvement with older children. Ettel said many students are able to learn English fast enough to find their way into mainstream classes in just one or two years, while others take until grade 5 or more. "Some kids can do it quickly, but there are so many variables." Jackson faces a high mobility rate among Hispanic students, which affects their education. Zuna Johnson, English as a second language specialist for the Medford School District, said it is important to continue the core education of these students while encouraging them to speak more English. Because of the variety and size of the district � more than 12,000 students � it has adopted many strategies to help Spanish speakers. Hispanic students in Medford have increased by 300 percent to 400 percent in the past 10 years. Also, in 1994, 3.9 percent of the total student population was enrolled in an English as a Second Language program. Today, that number is almost 11 percent. Johnson�s district, like many others, has a dual language program. "That�s the model that gets the most recognition," she said. "It�s a beautiful program." But the district also offers programs that teach core classes in the native language while a student learns English. "We want them to learn cognitively in their first, best language," Johnson said. Later, the student transfers those skills to the English language. For Spanish speakers, learning English is not always an easy task, she said. Spanish has 29 letters in the alphabet and 29 distinct sounds. English has 26 letters, but many sounds for one letter. Zuna said she has never encountered a situation where parents of a Spanish-speaking student don�t want their child learning English. "They also know they want their kids to be in the language of power, which is English." The goal of administrators is to teach students the same subjects and the same textbooks. "We do want to teach �Tom Sawyer� across the board," said Johnson. Sherry Watson, a kindergarten teacher at Phoenix Elementary, remembers in 1990 having 13 Spanish-speaking students. At the time, they were taken away to another classroom for instruction. Now the school offers the incoming Spanish-speaking students two classes where they are mixed with English-speaking kids. Phoenix also has very few Hispanics who leave the school. "It�s basically kids working with other kids," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.