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Show Bilingual ruling affects Todd school By Cindy Robertson A federal ruling not requiring bilingual education will pose a financial problem to Todd Elementary where bilingual education has been employed. T.H. Bell, Secretary of Education for the Federal government and formerly Utah Commissioner of Higher Education, recently made a ruling under the direction of President Reagan that bilingual education would no loger be mandated by the federal government for the public schools as it was during the Carter administration. Except for the tutoring of a couple of Spanish students, Todd Elementary School is the only school in the Uintah School District that has a bilingual program. Ute is the language taught. The school has 282 students and of 12 teachers, five speak Ute. According to Phil Ellis, assistant superintendent, the current federal program for the school has a recommended recom-mended funding of three years; this year is the first. "Our main problem with the ruling right now," Ellis said, "is that it is still unclear whether or not the federal funds will be discontinued. Because of this uncertainty, we resubmitted an appliation Jan. 15." Utah also has a program for bilingual teaching, and the legislature has appropriated ap-propriated funds for it. But, according to Ellis, the state funds are only $8,500. compared to $139. ooo in federal funds "However, the funds we've already received will take care of this year." he added. Students, with their parent's permission, per-mission, are learning Ute this year from kindergarten to third grade. Next year the projection is totead:;.:; wj needing it in the fourth graii; by the third year the program v: jr: extended to the fifth and sisir r. "That, of course, will de- whether there is funding these-- jf ; not," said Ellis. "We tx- iz programs can continue becaus:- v. seem to help the students." . He cited a survey that had di f--showed that the students hc t- ;; languages did better on stari rr. tests than those who just k:eI-: i "Experts think the bilir.rua! :. P do better because it he'.fs if.-: " process and ability to ar.ah:e ' explained. li "Also, a student's lean:: 12 languageof his culture helps . :r same time to learn more v. iy-background iy-background and improves b . concept." Ellis added. |