Shahansh wrote:Ailiailia wrote:I think they should be "catered to" in the form of free language lessons. I see that as remedial education to a high school standard, which everyone should be entitled to whether they were born in the country or not.
If the immigrant is a child it is very simple. They're entitled to the same education as any other child.
If they're an adult, it's not so simple. I'm inclined to offer them free remedial education (to the standard they would have as a high school graduate if they'd been born in-country) in every school subject. I don't expect everyone to agree with that.
But more specific to the thread subject, immigrants should definitely be offered free remedial education in the common language of the country. Language is the key to many other opportunities, including education and self-education in all the other subjects. Even if full remedial education for adult immigrants (in all the subjects to a HS standard) isn't offered, English language should be.
And if a person born in the US dropped out of school at in their early teens, did drugs, held up a store and murdered someone ... did 12 years in prison ... they're still entitled to remedial education at no cost. Everyone born in the country deserves at least a high-school education. Nothing they do as a child or an adult can forfeit that right.
Do immigrants deserve the same? Perhaps not. But education in the core subject on which all others depend, the language in which they can be further educated or self-educate? Yes! Absolutely. This is the right of anyone in the country (even tourists!) and should be provided by government free of charge.
A well thought-out answer, though I think you misinterpreted my notably vague response.
Or I just ranted at you.
Some of the other posts in the thread made me think about it more. The concept of 'remedial education' became clearer to me, and I'm not done thinking about it either.
Those that don't try, refuse to learn the primary language of their country, and think everyone should accomodate them for it don't deserve anything. Those that are willing to learn the primary language and work like the rest of us are more than welcome here, and there should be a kind of remedial class/classes funded by the government for that purpose.
Well if they can't get a job and won't put any effort in to learn English then that's a problem.
But if they do get a job despite the disadvantage of not speaking much English ... where is the problem? They'll learn English if they want wider opportunities and wider association in society, or they won't if they don't want that. You can't ask more of a citizen than they follow the laws and have a paid job.
Anyway, we agree on English lessons being available at no cost. Not just for immigrants, right? Anyone who didn't learn the language in school should be eligible?
