Bilingual Education and Academic Success

Of late, bilingual education has become a topic of critical scrutiny among educators, scholars, parents, teachers and various educational organizations. Understanding this type of education system will help us to take an unbiased stand on its effectiveness. The debate on this topic has been in existence in the media since 1960s. The pros and cons are believed to have originated from two acts, the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Bilingual Education Act (1968) that played dominant role in shaping laws for this type of education.

I, Too, Sing America
by Langston Hughes
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed— I, too, am America