In a controversial move, Denver Public Schools (DPS) has adopted a policy that could fundamentally alter the landscape of American education, for the worse.
As reported by the Center Square, DPS is on track to become the first school district in the nation with the “long term goal” of providing education in students’ native or preferred languages, under the banner of what it calls “language justice.”
This policy, rooted in a draft document obtained by the Center Square, defines “language justice” as respecting individuals’ rights to communicate and be understood in their chosen language.
DPS envisions a future free from “oppressive systems and structures rooted in racism,” focusing on racial and educational equity.
This is a drastic shift from traditional American educational practices, which have historically emphasized English proficiency as a cornerstone of integration and success.
The policy, as it stands, seeks to dismantle perceived systems of oppression that have led to inequitable access for marginalized identities, including language.
In 2022, DPS enrolled around 90,250 students, of which 35,000 were multilingual. This demographic is at the center of DPS’s radical policy shift.
The move has been supported by Colorado’s Stand for Children, a far left advocacy group focused on “educational equity and racial justice.”
Their involvement has been pivotal in integrating this policy into DPS’s strategic framework.
They aim to further entrench language justice in the district’s operational guidelines.
Rosa Guzman-Snyder of Community Language Cooperative emphasizes the need for systemic changes and infrastructure to support linguistically diverse families, beyond just increasing interpreters and translators.
This suggests a significant overhaul of the existing educational framework.
From a conservative perspective, this policy raises profound concerns.
It challenges the fundamental role of English in American education, which has long been seen as a unifying force and a key to economic and social integration.
The idea of teaching in multiple languages undermines the assimilation and cohesion traditionally promoted in U.S. schools.
This shift towards multilingual education would be a departure from established educational norms, potentially leading to fragmentation and challenges in maintaining educational standards and unity within the diverse fabric of American society.
