Schools: The New Atlas. American Tax Payers, the Purse for English Language Development

I received an interesting email today, inviting me to attend a webinar.

The webinar offered by The National Charter School Resource Center titled: Building the Capacity of Charter School Educators to Effectively Serve English Language Learners, is geared to prepare schools to serve English Language Learners, commonly referred to as ELLs.  One webinar will feature Delia Pompa, Senior Vice-President for Programs at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR).

You see, nowadays, American schools are expected to have non-native speakers of English, proficient in the English language. Otherwise, schools and districts can be subject to ramifications, such as not qualifying for extra credit points, on state labeling systems, and more.

With this requirement, there are no distinctions between students who are American citizens who need to learn English, and those who aren't American citizens who need to learn English. One may call them illegals or for those faint of heart, select a euphemism that fits your description.

Now, why can no distinction be made between these two student groups?  Several reasons.  However, a simple one is that there is a law that doesn't require parents to provide birth certificates to public schools in special circumstances (another conversation).  Additionally, the schools are responsible ensuring English proficiency in an English Language Learner, using American tax dollars and government funds.

Several questions for you folks.

Given that Essentialist have the primary goal to prepare students for the, "public sphere," should schools be expected to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies, sexual education, physical education, AND formal "English" to non-native speakers?

Should there be public funds given for this cause and purpose?


Are schools the new, "atlas" taking the weight of the world onto its shoulders, with already so many burdensome responsibilities?

What should should a school's goals be?

Should "American tax payer"s be the purse for English language development?

Who should be the recipients of "American tax payer" funded English?