Educating Children of Immigrant Workers: Language Policies in France & the USA

37 Pages Posted: 25 Jun 2014

See all articles by Stephen A. Rosenbaum

Stephen A. Rosenbaum

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law; University of California, Berkeley - Othering & Belonging Institute (formerly Haas Institute for a Fair & Inclusive Society); University of Washington - Disability Studies Program

Date Written: June 1, 1981

Abstract

This article presents a comparative overview of education law and policy addressing the linguistic and cultural needs of migrant children in two destination countries of immigration. The author relies on the experience of the United States and France as two important immigrant host countries in the industrialized west, or Global North. Part I documents the legal instruments, i.e. the major legislative acts, administrative regulations and judicial decisions, adopted in both countries. Part II compares and critiques the policies promoted by the law in these two countries. Both France and the U.S. have instituted educational programs designed to meet the special needs of the children of immigrant workers and to aid "host" schools in absorbing large numbers of students from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. While the French and American experiences are shaped by different political, demographic, cultural and educational factors, there are lessons of significance to be learned from the ways legislators, judges and other policy-makers in each country have dealt with this phenomenon.

Keywords: bilingual education, comparative education, immigrant education, migrant education, migrant policy

Suggested Citation

Rosenbaum, Stephen A., Educating Children of Immigrant Workers: Language Policies in France & the USA (June 1, 1981). American Journal of Comparative Law, Vol. 29, No. 3, 1981, UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper No. 2445598, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2445598

Stephen A. Rosenbaum (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States

University of California, Berkeley - Othering & Belonging Institute (formerly Haas Institute for a Fair & Inclusive Society) ( email )

Berkeley, CA 94720
United States

University of Washington - Disability Studies Program ( email )

Seattle, WA 98195
United States

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