The Bilingual Revolution

Conceived as a practical, accessible How To book, The Bilingual Revolution is the story of a movement, told from the perspective of parents and teachers who founded dual language programs in their schools. They all share the belief that bilingual education is a common good that can positively transform a child, a school, a community, and even a country. Although the roots of bilingual education in the United States can be, traced back to the 17th-century, a new phenomenon is emerging with three objectives. First, to embrace families and communities' own culture and promote their linguistic heritage as an important part of the larger international mosaic of our society. Second, to help facilitate community re-engagement in public schools. And thirdly, to promote a social, economic and cultural sense of community and to help bridge the differences that divide us to this day. The backdrop for this book is New York City, where parents have fought for access to various bilingual programs in public schools, from kindergarten to high school. With the involvement of teachers and families at all levels, these programs have transformed schools and empowered communities in unprecedented ways.
Similar programs have developed in hundreds of cities in the United States and around the world. The Bilingual Revolution tells the story of successes and setbacks in sketches by parents and teachers, who founded free and high quality bilingual programs and inspired others to do so. In their diversity, these portraits create a picture of a viable solution for the 21st century that preserves linguistic heritage and draws a generation of young, bilingual, bi-educated, multicultural citizens of the world. This book will, inspire and motivate people, who want to start their own bilingual programs. Being bilingual may become the new norm, and it starts with our youth. A bilingual revolution has begun and it serves the common good. "