Recovering Insights From the Past: What the Founders of Bilingual Education Can Tell Us Now

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: Bilingual Education Research SIG Poster Session (San Diego)

Abstract

n recent years, as bilingual education has both expanded and been rebranded as “dual language education”, many scholars have raised questions about the extent to which current policies and practices continue to serve its original aims (Cervantes-Soon, 2014; Flores, 2016; Valdés, 1997). In particular, the field has recently engaged in debate around who should be served by bilingual education programs, and towards what ends? (Flores & Garcia, 2017; Bernstein et al, 2020). This study joins that conversation by looking backwards, into the origins of the BEA in order to better understand our current moment. In particular, what did early visions for bilingual education look like? How can, does and might current thinking around bilingual education be informed by these early visions?

Author

• Leah Durán, The University of Arizona