But he is in Arlington, where attitudes and programs are different and where his friends, teachers and family consider him a shining success. In the dizzyingly complex world of bilingual education, and the political debates that swirl around it, contradictions abound. Experts point out that in California, where a popular measure to eliminate bilingual education will be on the June ballot, political distortions are common. They also note that the Arlington program is in some ways different in form and intent from the usual bilingual class. What teachers at Key and three other Arlington schools say they provide is a Spanish Partial Immersion Program.
Every student spends about half the time being instructed in Spanish and half in English.
Felker said Caitlin has decided that instead of going to her neighborhood middle school next year, she will attend Gunston Middle School, the only middle school in the county that offers a continuation of the immersion program. In California and other states that support bilingual programs, increasing numbers of educators and immigrant parents have argued that the Spanish-language lessons act as a crutch and keep students from developing the English skills they will need in high school or college. They are with the English-language kids and are learning together. Key Elementary is the only Arlington school totally devoted to the immersion program. Parents who prefer a standard English curriculum send their children to other elementary schools.