by Christopher Paslay
I’m currently working on a Masters in Multicultural Education at Eastern University. This summer I just finished taking a course on teaching English as a second language. As a culminating project for the class, we were required to pick a strategy or an idea that stood out during the six week seminar, and [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘English Language Learners’
August 3, 2009
Shakespeare and the Constructivist Learning Theory
March 12, 2009
The Notebook responds to Chalk and Talk article
by Christopher Paslay
On March 3rd, I posted an article here on Chalk and Talk headlined Do Phila. teachers really view minority children as criminals? In the article I criticized the Philadelphia Public School Notebook for running an objectionable editorial (Changing the odds) that suggested Philadelphia public school teachers were racist and afraid of the communities [...]
February 14, 2009
Joey Vento, multicultural ideology, and the ‘speak English’ sign
by Christopher Paslay
“This is America. When ordering, speak English.”
By now we know the story. Joey Vento, owner of the famous Geno’s Steaks in South Philadelphia, placed a small sign in the window of his restaurant asking customers to order in English. Although the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations filed a discrimination complaint against Geno’s [...]
November 11, 2008
Parents of Immigrant Children Must Help Shoulder Language Burden
by Christopher Paslay
Last Sunday, 200 parents of non-English speaking families gathered in a South Philadelphia church to complain to district officials that they wanted more bilingual accommodations in schools.
Although I’m a committed educator, I admit I feel a pang of anger when I hear parents of immigrant children complaining about the lack of language [...]
October 22, 2008
Why Philly Kids Can’t Read
by Christopher Paslay
Although the Philadelphia School District’s 2008 PSSA reading scores have improved for the sixth straight year, only 45.9% of students can read at a proficient level. As a high school English teacher, here’s what I believe the district must do to ensure that 100% of our students are reading on grade level.
Cut class [...]
September 30, 2008
Children of Illegals Should be Schooled in Their Own Homes
by Christopher Paslay
During the summer of 1998 I backpacked through seven different European countries: Ireland, England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Denmark. One thing that stunned me was that everyone—no matter which town or region—seemed to speak fluent English. Whether I was struggling to order a meal or asking directions to the train, [...]
