Linguistic Difference and the Evolution of School Policies From 1870 to 1920

• In Event: Language, Law, and Literacy in School Policy From the 19th to the 20th Centuries

Abstract

This paper explores the historical foundations of linguistic difference and public schools by analyzing early linguistic policies in Manchester, NH from 1870 to 1920. This work traces three components that shaped educational policies and contributed to the suppression of linguistic difference in schools: (1) the mandated use of English (2) the defamation of non-English languages in schools, media, and social life, and (3) the exclusion of residents who could not read or speak English. Within this project, I consider how the normalization of English has functioned to reproduce institutional hierarchies and limit social change. This study contributes important insights on the historical links between schools and linguistic diversity that can help inform language policies and practices in educational settings.

Author

• Sheri K. Dion, Harvard University