Arne Duncan Touts Advantages of Bilingualism

From http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning-the-language/2013/05/arne_duncan_touts_advantages_o.html

Arne Duncan Touts Advantages of Bilingualism
By Lesli A. Maxwell
May 30, 2013

His comments aren't likely to ignite a new battle in the bilingual education wars, but U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan over breakfast yesterday gave perhaps his clearest statements to date on the benefits of dual-language development and instruction, especially for students who are English-language learners.

English-learners, he said in a meeting with reporters, come to school with a major asset—their home languages—that educators should capitalize on, especially in the early grades.

"[It] is clearly an asset that these kids are coming to school with," and one that should be "maintained" so that English-learners can become truly bilingual, Duncan said.
"The fact that our kids don't grow up [bilingual] puts them at a competitive disadvantage," he said, noting that it's common practice in many other countries for students to learn at least one other language.

Read the full article at http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning-the-language/2013/05/arne_duncan_touts_advantages_o.html