The Republican
Springfield, MA
For the 90 or so Somali children enrolled in public schools in Springfield, America has often seemed like a land of frustration and isolation.
Starting in September, America can again be a land of hope and opportunity.
As part of an agreement with the Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education, the Springfield School Department has agreed to improve educational opportunities for Somali students. An intensive English-language summer program was created, and the School Department has agreed to hire more tutors who speak both English and Somali. In addition, the Somali children will no longer be spread out among the city’s 21 schools.
We tip our cap to Jean Caldwell of Springfield for her efforts on behalf of the children.
And we applaud the Springfield School Department. The city has had difficulty finding Somali speakers to act as translators and tutors, but it is making progress now.
For the children, we can say their lives are about to change for the better.
Source: The Republican, July 17, 2006
