Language rainbow
Betsy McCaughey’s op-ed promotes centuries-old, misguided ideologies about language learning in children (“Language gap,” April 3).
While McCaughey shares examples from Denmark, Germany and Sweden to highlight that bilingual education is failing, this is simply untrue, especially in these countries where most of the population is multilingual.
Supporting immigrant students in their first languages has been shown to increase literacy skills and content learning, whereas plunging them into English-only instruction, leaving them to “sink or swim,” is detrimental for academic and social-emotional development.
In 1998, California passed Proposition 227 banning bilingual education for multilingual learners. Nearly 20 years later, voters repealed it after witnessing that English-only instruction did not improve academic outcomes.
More than 50% of the world’s population already speaks more than one language. Increasing the number of bilingual global children should be something to aspire to, not to be feared.
Michele Goldin, professor at Touro University Graduate School of Education, Manhattan
Nothing but net
Caitlin Clark is the greatest women’s college basketball player (“Caitlin Clark’s Pathetic Haters,” Editorial, April 8).
It’s not just the record-breaking statistics, it’s the eye test. Her shooting range is as good as Steph Curry and she passes like Larry Bird.
And with her greatness, out come the haters. But Clark has been classy from start to finish.
Joe Nugent, Staten Island
Woke media
I am in full agreement with David Mastio’s column regarding NPR’s leftist journalism (“The brave NPR editor exposing woke media,” April 10).
NPR was once a cultural icon and listening to its interesting reporting was enlightening and informative.
Not so anymore. I find it one-sided in the extreme and no longer relevant. I question why this publicly subsidized propaganda is still in existence if two out of three people do not trust what their tax dollars pay for, as Mastio reports. I am one of those people.
Allan Barry, Miller Place
Octopus blues
Terrance the octopus belongs in her natural aquatic habitat (“Family gets octopus to raise as a pet — then it had 50 babies,” April 7).
Instead, she is trapped in a small tank being exploited as a “Tik Tok star.”
Scientific studies provide ample evidence of octopuses’ keen intelligence and self-awareness. These sentient beings have been known to use seashells for protection, steal food from traps set by fishers, escape from aquariums and even decorate their homes. Other studies prove that octopuses learn through observation, have long-term memories and require emotional stimulation.
Allow octopuses to live their lives, not trapped in an Oklahoma cell exploited for “likes,” but as free individuals thriving in the wide-open ocean.
Scott Miller, PETA Research Specialist, Fishing & Waterways, Norfolk, VA
What’s in a name?
The fact that there are people who want former President Donald Trump’s name to remain on their building is sad (“Don’t dump Trump!” April 10).
It is yet one more example of how our society is in a downward spiral. The only place that Donald Trump’s name should appear is on the name tag of an orange jumpsuit.
Kreg Ramone, Manhattan
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