Bilingual Education:
In the 1960s, MPS began requiring bilingual access in the education system, with at least one bilingual teacher on hand. This was geared toward the growing Latino population in the south side of Milwaukee. Later, Latina activists worked to strengthen the use of both Spanish and English in Milwaukee Schools. Maria Rodriguez worked with the Latin American Union for Civil Rights to partner with MPS to teach migrant children in English while still making sure the parents could be involved through bilingual communication.[1] Rodriguez also worked to make sure that the students had ties to their culture, setting up different dance and art events to engage children.[2] Additionally, Latina activist Daisy Cubias extended the work begun in the African American community and initiated bilingual programming connecting parents and teachers across language barriers, including orientation events and workshops that educated parents and fostered connection and communication.[3] The advocacy for communication with parents and students in Spanish empowered parents and students alike to be more involved in education, and had goals of assisting struggling students. Milwaukee Public Schools continue to promote bilingual education, and Wisconsin remains one of three states that requires bilingual education for schools with a high enough proportion of students with the same native language.[4]
Also promoting empowerment through bilingual education on the private side is the United Community Center (UCC), located in the south side of Milwaukee. The UCC was created to promote Latinx culture and to help community members adjust to life in the United States and Milwaukee.[5] One successful way it did this was through the acquisition of the Bruce Guadalupe school for kindergarten through eighth grade students. Bruce Guadalupe School, originally started in the 1850s for bilingual education for German immigrants, became bilingual in Spanish and English and merged with the UCC in 1989.[6] Bruce Guadalupe has since become a safe haven for students struggling in the public domain, giving them an opportunity to celebrate their heritage and engage their families in their education.
Also promoting empowerment through bilingual education on the private side is the United Community Center (UCC), located in the south side of Milwaukee. The UCC was created to promote Latinx culture and to help community members adjust to life in the United States and Milwaukee.[5] One successful way it did this was through the acquisition of the Bruce Guadalupe school for kindergarten through eighth grade students. Bruce Guadalupe School, originally started in the 1850s for bilingual education for German immigrants, became bilingual in Spanish and English and merged with the UCC in 1989.[6] Bruce Guadalupe has since become a safe haven for students struggling in the public domain, giving them an opportunity to celebrate their heritage and engage their families in their education.
References
[1]Maria Rodriguez, "Interview with Maria Rodriguez," interview by Casey Resendez, Somos Latinas Project Oral Histories, 2013, http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15932coll15/id/14/rec/1.
[2] Ibid.
[3]Daisy Cubias, "Interview with Daisy Cubias," interview by Alex Wills, Somos Latinas Project Oral Histories, 2013, https://ohms.wisconsinhistory.org/oral-history/render.php?cachefile=SLPOH13.xml.
[4] Francesca Lopez, Elizabeth McEneaney, and Martina Nieswandt. “Language Instruction Educational Programs and Academic Achievement of Latino English Learners: Considerations for States with Changing Demographics.” American Journal of Education 121, no. 3 (May 2015): 417–50.
[5] Joseph Rodriguez, Nuestro Milwaukee: The Making of the United Community Center, (2000), 15-16.
[6] Ibid, 31.
Title Photograph: Bruce Guadalupe School, 2016. https://www.bgcsedu.org/BGCS.htm
[2] Ibid.
[3]Daisy Cubias, "Interview with Daisy Cubias," interview by Alex Wills, Somos Latinas Project Oral Histories, 2013, https://ohms.wisconsinhistory.org/oral-history/render.php?cachefile=SLPOH13.xml.
[4] Francesca Lopez, Elizabeth McEneaney, and Martina Nieswandt. “Language Instruction Educational Programs and Academic Achievement of Latino English Learners: Considerations for States with Changing Demographics.” American Journal of Education 121, no. 3 (May 2015): 417–50.
[5] Joseph Rodriguez, Nuestro Milwaukee: The Making of the United Community Center, (2000), 15-16.
[6] Ibid, 31.
Title Photograph: Bruce Guadalupe School, 2016. https://www.bgcsedu.org/BGCS.htm