今日國(guó)會(huì)時(shí)刻——雙語(yǔ)教育,仍在發(fā)展的事業(yè)。到英國(guó)13個(gè)殖民地宣布獨(dú)立時(shí),已有超過200萬(wàn)人穿越海洋從歐洲移民。很多人來自英國(guó),但更多人來自其他國(guó)家,他們講其他語(yǔ)言。不久之后雙語(yǔ)教育便應(yīng)運(yùn)而生。到19世紀(jì)中期,各州均開設(shè)了用法語(yǔ),德語(yǔ),荷蘭語(yǔ)以及希臘語(yǔ)講授的課程。
Non English-speaking students received some protection under the 14th Amendment's EqualProtection Clause, ratified in 1868, and over a hundred years later, in 1968, the BilingualEducation Act was created. It was the first official federal legislation recognizing the specificneeds of students with limited English-speaking ability.
第十四條修正案的平等保護(hù)條款于1868年批準(zhǔn)生效,這為母語(yǔ)為非英語(yǔ)的學(xué)生提供了更多保護(hù),且在100后的1968年,國(guó)會(huì)通過了《雙語(yǔ)教育法》。這條法案以聯(lián)邦法律形式成立,它的重要意義在于認(rèn)識(shí)到英語(yǔ)能力差的學(xué)生的特殊需求。
It gave assistance to many local districts to establish bilingual education programs. Duringthe 1980s and 90s, Congress amended the Act several times, reflecting new challenges,changing priorities and new teaching techniques.
這條法律協(xié)助了各地機(jī)構(gòu)建立雙語(yǔ)教育項(xiàng)目。在20世紀(jì)80年代至90年代,國(guó)會(huì)屢次修改這條法案,修改內(nèi)容反應(yīng)了新的挑戰(zhàn),不斷變化的優(yōu)先事項(xiàng)以及新式教學(xué)技巧。
The issue was, and still is, hotly debated at the grass roots level, with children coming to ourschools speaking more than 200 languages. Congress continues to wrestle with the importantissue of how best to help students from non-English speaking families move into themainstream of American life. The Bilingual Education Act is clearly a work-in-progress, andrelated issues are likely to be found in the media and on the ballots for many years to come.
進(jìn)入美國(guó)學(xué)校讀書的學(xué)生所說的語(yǔ)言超過200種,這個(gè)問題曾是并仍然是民間熱議的話題。如何幫助來自非英語(yǔ)家庭的學(xué)生融入進(jìn)美國(guó)主流生活,國(guó)會(huì)將繼續(xù)設(shè)法解決這一問題。顯然,雙語(yǔ)教育仍是有待發(fā)展事業(yè)。未來許多年內(nèi)媒體,競(jìng)選宣傳仍會(huì)持續(xù)報(bào)道、提及相關(guān)問題。