The Politics of Language: The Dilemma of Bilingual Education for Puerto Ricans

Demographers predict that by the end of the century Spanish-speaking persons will constitute the largest minority group in the United States--in this context, bilingual education must be considered a crucial issue for educators and policymakers at the state, national, and local levels. Professors Cafferty and Rivera-Martínez analyze bilingual education policies and programs, particularly as they affect the Puerto Rican child, and reach some startling conclusions. They find that these programs do not, despite the best intentions, offer the equal opportunity and social mobility that has been their purpose. While the authors attempt to neither examine nor define the general problem of bilingual education methodology, they do address the problem of educating the Puerto Rican child as one minority among many. They suggest alternatives for solving the problem and recommend specific policies for federal, state, and local governments attempting to integrate Spanish-speaking minorities into the educational process.