Dual Language Opportunities in “La Quinta” Brooklyn
By Cinthia Martinez
The rich history from Brooklyn's Fifth Avenue has led to its referral as a very Latin@ community. Growing up it was my family's one destination for Mexican cuisine, shopping, and witnessing festivities in the streets of Brooklyn. While Mexicans were and are not the only Latin@ community there, in the early 2000s many of my family members, friends, their families and some other non- Spanish speaking accountants generalized it to be a Mexican community. When talking about the location we would referred to as “La Quinta” which is Spanish for “The Fifth” as in Fifth Avenue. The area being referred to specifically was Sunset Park from Fifth Ave and 42nd Street to about Fifth Ave and 59th Street.
In 2015, the community demographic of Sunset Park consisted of 44% “Hispanics”, or Spanish speakers, 28% Asian, 24% White, 3% Black, and others at 2%. This was the more visually populated area with ethnic restaurants, stores, and bakeries. It was also known by many to be filled with bodegas, cheap clothing and department store, and a lot of Latin@ food found in enthic restaurants or simply on the streets. Today many celebrations and events occur out in the streets for many to enjoy just like they would back in their native countries like Mexico’s independence day and Puerto Rican day. Too many Latin@ individuals, like myself, this was one of the few opportunities I was provided here in New York to experience and learn more about my ethnic culture, as an immigrant who could not simply visit my family's “home” country. In addition, this public display of cultural festivities made my family and I feel like part of a community, celebrating similarities with other Latin@ communities in the area.
https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/berger2010/sunset-park-brooklyn/zach-latino-population/
However, historically in the 1920s the Sunset Park area in brooklyn mainly consisted of a Irish-Italian-Scandinavian community until it decreases after the 1924 National Origins Quota Act brought a halt to easter and southern European immigration.(Kirkeby 2017) In 1917, the Jones Act gave citizenship to residents of Puerto Rico who in a gradual manner migrated to New York City as well as other states. It was thought that WWI brought demand for labor back into Brooklyn's waterfront businesses in warehouses, factories, and at the piers.(Kirkeby 2017) The demand brought in thousands of migrating Puerto Ricans to the Sunset Park area through the 1940s and 50s. This growing community led to multigenerational businesses to become established opening new doors to a new Latin@ immigrants and migrants. (Kirkeby 2017, wikiwand.com) As the Latin@ community continues to prosper and grow through the years, what educational opportunities are available for Spanish speaking families?
https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/berger2010/sunset-park-brooklyn/zach-latino-population/
As Ofelia Garcia states in her article Planning Spanish: Nationalizing, Minoritizing and Globalizing Performances, it is still seen today that educators play the most essential part in language ideologies in the US and in New York. Over the years, the push for English Language Learning programs was very prevalent in public schools and dismissed any support of a non-Englishing speaking child's home language. However, as more educational based studies supporting bilingualism as “assets and not impediments”, illustrated in a Stanford CEPA working paper (2015), as well as a recognition of economic benefit for bilingualism emerge a push for Dual Language Programs(DLP) is being seen in New York State. Earlier in 2019, New York’s Mayor De Blasio announced 47 new DLP opening up in public schools.
The public school Dual Language programs are meant to be free, full-day, high-quality Pre-K and 3-K. Many middle-class families would greatly benefit from the economic relief these educational opportunities would bring. A great sentiment by Chancellor Carrazna was also stated when talking about the goal of “the city trying to send a message to immigrant families that their children are welcomed in NYC schools… [that] it is a matter of social justice for many of our students. It is not a luxury. It is a duty.” This idea seems to be greatly shared among politicians involved in this push for Dual Language to also support families native languages and cultural heritage attached to it.
In the Sunset Park area, one of the Dual Language programs focusing on the Spanish Language is implemented in the zoned school of "Sunset Park Avenue Elementary" that opened up three kindergarten classes in 2013. It was a new school introduced to ease overcrowding in three other elementary schools in the neighborhood. After moving out of its temporary location behind a middle school, they added a grade level every year until they served K- 5.(Insideschools) The school is made up of predominantly English Language Learners, about 34%, who speak Spanish or Mandarin as explains the founding principal, Jill Smith. The 2018-19 school demographic showcased that of its 500 students, 78% were hispanic, 14% Asian, and 7% White. Each grade level offers three classrooms, two being general education classes with the third being a dual language classroom.(Insideschools) The Dual-Language program is described as “classrooms made up 50% of children who are fluent in the language targeted and 50% of English proficient students with instructions being held in both languages.”(sunsetparkavenues.org)
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sunset_Park,_Brooklyn#
They also follow a 50/50 two-way immersion model where one day they classroom is instructed in English and the next in Spanish, spending an equal amount of time instructed in both. They also believe the students themselves act as “language models for one another” and promote “cross-cultural understanding and acceptance”. (sunsetparkavanues.org) These points of views are very prevalent in emerging educational pedagogies of children learning efficiently among themselves with exploration and relatable experiences.
Another independent Dual Language program that opened up during the 2019- 20 school year is the LEEP Academy, also focusing on the Spanish Language.
The "LEEP Dual Language Academy" is an unzoned charter school, meaning it is a tuition-free school independent from the DOE. While it gives a small amount of priority to the children who live in the area, admission is by lottery after a deadline for parents to submit an application for their child. (Insideschools) Unlike the implementation of a Dual Language program within a bigger public school, the academy focuses solely in Dual language. At the moment the facility only offers Kindergarten and first grade but plan to expand to serve up to the fifth grade.
While the LEEP Academy also takes the two-way immersive model they push further with the “90:10” immersion. This model begins in the kindergarten grade, teaching the children 90% in Spanish and working their way down 10% each year until reaching a good 50/50 balance in both languages by the fifth grade. They believe having a whole-school commitment is more successful and has less chance of “losing effectiveness” from the rest of the schools social pressure to speak English. (Leepacademier.org)
Works Cited
“Dual Language Program.” P.S. 516 - Sunset Park Avenues, https://www.sunsetparkavenues.org/dual-language-program.html.
“Jones Act.” Jones Act - The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War (Hispanic Division, Library of Congress), http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/jonesact.html.
“LEEP Dual Language Academy - District 15.” InsideSchools, insideschools.org/school/84K930. “LEEP Dual Language Academy: Public Charter School in Brooklyn NY.” LEEP Dual Language Academy Charter School, www.leepacademies.org/. https://www.facebook.com/LEEPBrooklyn/
“Mayor De Blasio Announces 47 New Pre-K Dual Language Programs Across Every Borough.” The Official Website of the City of New York, 4 Feb. 2019, https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/077-19/mayor-de-blasio-chancellor-carranza-47-new-pre-k-dual-language-programs-across-every#/0.
“PS 516 Sunset Park Avenues Elementary School - District 15.” InsideSchools, https://insideschools.org/school/15K516.
“Sunset Park, Brooklyn.” Wikiwand, https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sunset_Park,_Brooklyn. Díaz‐Campos, Manuel. "Planning Spanish: Nationalizing, Minoritizing and Globalizing Performances." Blackwell Handbooks in Linguistics. Oxford, UK: Wiley‐Blackwell, 2011. 665-85. Web
Kirkeby, Marc. “Sunset Park: On the Avenue, 5th Avenue...” NYC Department of Records & Information Services, NYC Department of Records & Information Services, 16 Feb. 2017, http://www.archives.nyc/blog/2017/2/16/sunset-park-on-the-avenue-5th-avenue.
Polacy, et al. “5 ALIVE: 5th AVENUE IN PARK SLOPE.” Forgotten New York, 13 Sept. 2012, https://forgotten-ny.com/2005/10/5-alive-5th-avenue-in-park-slope/.
Umansky, Ilana M, et al. “The Promise of Bilingual and Dual Immersion Education.” Stanford CEPA , 2015, https://cepa.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/wp15-11v201510.pdf.
Veiga, Christina. “New York City to Add Almost 50 Bilingual Programs, the Latest in a Push to Help English Learners.” Chalkbeat, Chalkbeat, 3 May 2018, https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/05/03/new-york-city-to-add-50-bilingual-programs-the-latest-in-a-push-to-help-english-learners/.