Language Barrier

Denver Public Schools' bilingual-education policy is open to interpretation.

A A A Comments By Julie Jargon Thursday, Aug 10 2000

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Some school officials say the legal questions raised by the grant haven't been resolved and that more will likely surface as the program gets under way. School-board members plan to discuss the grant further on August 17.

C'de Baca will return to DPS this fall after a yearlong leave of absence, although he doesn't know yet which school he'll be assigned to. During his break from teaching, he's been running Hispanic Education Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that offers teacher training on Hispanic culture, history and social issues.

Brett Amole

Joseph C'de Baca doesn't mince words over bilingual education.

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He intends to write letters to school-board members to persuade them to reconsider the grant program; if the bilingual program is implemented as planned, however, "we'll continue monitoring the district and keeping an eye on the Chicanistas over there," he says, using his favorite term for liberal Hispanics who support bilingual education.

"They just want to save everyone from struggling. Learning English is frustrating and confusing, but dealing with frustration and confusion is what life is all about; it makes you stronger."