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American troops preparing to sail home from Russia after World War I.

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World War I and the English-Only Push (1917-1920)

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World War I and the English-Only Push (1917-1920)

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After World War I, English became closely tied to nationalism and was seen as essential for American unity. Speaking other languages was viewed as unpatriotic, leading many states to ban foreign-language instruction. Schools were used to promote rapid assimilation and to replace students’ home languages with English (Baker &Wright, 2021 pg. 183).

The shift toward English-only education after World War I is important to history because it marked the beginning of systematic efforts to suppress bilingualism in the U.S.. Additionally, it perpetuated the notion that the English language represents a “true American” and is superior. These attitudes shaped laws, school policies, and public opinion for decades, leading to the marginalization of minority languages. Today, the effects are still felt in ongoing debates surrounding bilingual education and language rights.

References:

Baker, C., & Wright, W. E. (2021). Historical Introductions to Bilingual Education in the United States (Seventh). essay, Multilingual Matters.

Hale, M. (2017, April 9). Review: ‘The Great War,’ When America Took the World Stage. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/arts/television/review-the-great-war-when-america-took-the-world-stage.html

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A bilingual school teacher working on vocabulary with her students.

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The Bilingual Education Act was the first legislation to recognize and address the educational needs of students whose primary language is not English. The act provided funding to support programs that used students’ native languages alongside English to help them succeed academically. It marked a shift away from assimilation. (Baker & Wright, 2021 p. 185).

The Bilingual Education Act is important because it was the first federal law to officially recognize the needs of English language learners and support the use of students’ native languages in education. The act laid the foundation for the development of bilingual and ESL programs across the country, helping to promote educational equity and greater respect for linguistic diversity in schools.

References:

Baker, C., & Wright, W. E. (2021). Historical Introductions to Bilingual Education in the United States (Seventh). essay, Multilingual Matters.

Schofield, K. (n.d.). Sutori. https://www.sutori.com/en/story/bilingual-education-timeline--uycRyXRjPsaqXsE1W9tWf1j9

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Students from the Immigrants Development Center in San Francisco

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Lau v. Nichols was a Supreme Court case that significantly advanced the rights of English language learners. The case involved Chinese American students in San Francisco who received no additional language support, making it nearly impossible for them to access the curriculum. The Court ruled that providing the same instruction to all students was not equal treatment if students could not understand English. As a result schools were required to support non-English-speaking students and language instruction was viewed as a civil right (Baker &Wright, 2021 pg. 185).

Lau v. Nichols recognized that equal education means more than just identical treatment, requiring schools to address the specific needs of English learners. By linking language support to civil rights, the case paved the way for more inclusive education policies and protections for English language learners.

References:

Baker, C., & Wright, W. E. (2021). Historical Introductions to Bilingual Education in the United States (Seventh). essay, Multilingual Matters.

Mahajan, G. (2024, October 11). Lau v. Nichols - Alchetron, the Free Social Encyclopedia. Alchetron.com. https://alchetron.com/Lau-v.-Nichols

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Three children protesting for their language rights.

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California Proposition 227 essentially ended bilingual education in the state. It was based on the belief that bilingual education hindered English learning, despite research supporting bilingual programs. Prop 227 led to a major rollback of language support and influenced similar policies in other states (Baker &Wright, 2021 p. 188).

Proposition 227 was historically important because it marked a major political and ideological shift against bilingual education in the U.S., reinforcing the idea that English-only instruction was the best path to academic success. It set a precedent for other states to adopt similar laws and ideologies. Although Proposition 227 was repealed in 2016, it continues to influence how bilingual programs are viewed and implemented today, with many schools remaining cautious about fully embracing bilingual education despite its numerous benefits.

References:

Baker, C., & Wright, W. E. (2021). Historical Introductions to Bilingual Education in the United States (Seventh). essay, Multilingual Matters.

Rodriguez, C. (n.d.). Sutori. https://www.sutori.com/en/story/curriculum-development-for-bilingual-education--MSjWDGqapX3MWHmkVdeBVCvP

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The seal of biliteracy is an award recognizing high school students who are proficient in two or more languages. The seal promotes bilingualism and encourages students to maintain and develop their home languages alongside English and/or study a secondary language in their secondary education. Students who receive the seal will benefit in future job prospects, as bilingualism is increasingly valued in many career fields (Baker &Wright, 2021 p. 194).

The Seal of Biliteracy marks a shift in U.S. education policy from discouraging bilingualism to actively recognizing and celebrating it. The seal affirms that speaking multiple languages is a valuable skill, not a barrier. Alongside representing the growing societal acknowledgment that bilingualism can strengthen cultural identity, academic success, and economic opportunity. The seal also acts as an incentive for students to maintain their first language alongside English and/or learn a second language.

References:

Baker, C., & Wright, W. E. (2021). Historical Introductions to Bilingual Education in the United States (Seventh). essay, Multilingual Matters.

Illinois State Seal of biliteracy. Global Seal of Biliteracy. (n.d.). https://theglobalseal.com/illinois-seal-of-biliteracy