June 2007
Printed courtesy of Imperial Valley Press, El Centro, CA
It appears that more children in Imperial County are enrolled in preschool and more graduating high school seniors are being accepted into college.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that 45 percent of students in kindergarten through 12th grade in the county are English-learners, the highest percentage in the state. And that lack of strong English skills is hurting students in the county.
Education officials will tell you, and studies have shown time and time again, that the earlier children learn language, the better prepared they will be in their education. This can be a bitter pill for many to swallow, but the results of this study show that a lack of English immersion hurts kids in area schools.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was recently chastised by some for saying kids should not be watching Spanish-language TV. While we understand how this comment could concern some, the governor is also right. Being bilingual is great, but teaching children English — especially at a young age — will help them succeed in school and attain the academic goals they and their parent’s desire.
Young children are sponges for information; they absorb everything around them. That is when they should be in English immersion classes. That will be the springboard for their future success.
Success is the goal here, which we are starting to see with the number of students being accepted into college. In 2006, 300 local students were accepted into four-year universities. This year, the number is 450. Schools and parents deserve much credit, of course, but the P-16 Council, which is a committee dedicated to aiding students in getting to college, also deserves kudos. We look forward to that number increasing every year.
We also want to encourage those heading to college to make the commitment to see it through. A number of students from the Valley in the past have left for college only to return home before completion. Stick it out, graduate, and return home to help the Valley.
We will continue to see those college-bound numbers increase, we believe, if children are immersed in English education at an early age. It will be good for them, and the entire Imperial Valley.