Transitions In Connecticut
Bilingual Education in the Windham Public Schools
by
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In 1984, the same problems of time in program and learning gaps were evident. At a Board of Education meeting, one Board member said to me in total exasperation, "Can't you just say CAT and then spell it?" A principal spoke very slowly and very, very loudly to make a connection. Others offered simultaneous translation as a strategy. Yet another administrator suggested repeating everything over and over until it was mastered. There was no paucity of layman's advice.
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About the Book
This book begins with the changes brought by the Civil Rights Act that affected the education of English language learners in Windham Connecticut and in the nation. The rocky start for programs without trained teachers, materials or peer support became enriched by research and publications. The question in 2010 is where are we now?
About the Author
The author received a B.A. degree from Douglass College in 1954 and almost completed an M.A. in elementary education at the University of Cincinnati. A move to Connecticut required a new start and studies led to an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Connecticut.
The author taught English as a Second Language in the Windham schools for ten years and moved to Administration of the Bilingual Program for another fifteen years. In January 1993, the first dual language program in Connecticut was implemented at The Windham Center School. It is now seventeen years old.
After retiring, the author wrote grants and/or completed annual reports for Federal grants for five districts in Connecticut, the University of Connecticut and Fitchberg College in Massachusetts.
The author is still involved in the Latino community in Willimantic and the Windham Schools. This is a personal look at the way things were.
After raising three sons and one honorary son, the author and her husband live in Hampton, Connecticut, a very small town in the Quiet Corner of the state.