For example, this movement endangers programs such as bilingual education that enhance chances for access. In a vacuum, yes. Teachers impose their own culture by the manner in which they teach mathematics. This is very subtle. However, it could be as blatant as assigning value to certain ways of thinking about mathematical problems or to styles of description.
People tend to respect or favor students who are like themselves.
In particular, language differences present real barriers that are deeply rooted in culture. Students should learn to be critical thinkers in our greater society. Businesses need to allocate funds to schools with high minority populations and provide criteria for continuing support. These criteria should link performance of their students in jobs after they finish school to evaluations of the quality of the teaching or programs in that particular school. James Epperson is a member of the staff of the Emerging Scholars Program in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Texas, Austin.