porters of bilingual education do not disagree that English should be taught and the importance of English as a necessary skill (Nichols, 2001). However, they also argue that to deny a child the language of their culture is to deny them their heritage. They see assimilation as somewhat of a human rights violation (Nichols, 2001).
             Schools in California have been a hotbed for the argument regarding bilingual education. Nichols reminds us that bilingual does not mean Spanish only, it means both languages. Parents play an important role in deciding whether to enroll their children in bilingual or monolingual programs. Parents in Spanish speaking locations are concerned that their children are not learning English sufficiently to pass proficiency tests and to function in a predominantly English society (Nichols, 2001).
             Bilingual Education in California Schools
             California was forced to face the bilingual issue before it became a concern in many parts of the country. California has been teaching bilingual classrooms for several years. One of the key issues with English as a Second Language (ESL) students is that they may not have sufficient skills to learn necessary skills such as reading, writing, and math until their English is good enough. Teaching a bilingual classroom in the primary grades can help to resolve some of these issues.
             One of the key advantages to teaching a bilingual classroom in the early grades is that reading, writing, and math can be taught in the native language (Nichols, 2001). In the meantime, students can continue to work on their English skills. This is a considerable advantage as students will not begin to fall behind on their basic skills from the beginning. English is the base upon which other skills are built (Nichols, 2001). Until the child gains a sufficient understanding of English, other skills cannot be learned. The bilingual school may be the answer to this dilemma in many places where another...