Dear Editor:
The Board of Ed voted against Hola last night, and in doing so squandered an opportunity to provide Hoboken with the many known benefits of a dual-language education. The main complaint on the opposition’s side was that attention needed to be focused on the failing upper grades.
That the failing upper grades need attention cannot be denied but killing a program that in part addresses lagging test scores by certain segments of the public-school population is short-sighted and narrow-minded. This district could have both implemented a dual-language program and also addressed the failing test scores.
Saying no to Hola doesn’t fix the test scores. We are no closer to fixing those test scores because Hola won’t exist. And in fact, I would argue, that we are now farther away. Children in dual-language programs in districts with similar demographics to ours have outperformed children in the gifted and talented programs. It’s a sad day when a community can’t see the forest for the trees.
Sincerely,
Barbara Martinez
Hoboken resident for 12 years