English Only Movement

Also, the use of American Sign Language and Braille would be limited to individuals. .
             The earliest English-Only movement was in 1803, by the Louisiana Purchase, the United States acquired French speaking populations in Louisiana. After the Mexican-American War the United States acquired Spanish and Native speaking populations as well. French language rights were abolished after the American Civil War. In 1868, the Indian Peace Commission suggested English-Only schooling for the American natives. In 1896, English became the sole medium of public schooling for Hawaiian children. After the Spanish-American War, English was declared the "official language" in Puerto Rico. English was also declared the "official language" in Philippines after the Philippine-American War. .
             The opportunity for children to use their native language has an effect on the instructive and cognitive development of language minority children. Like, many other English-speaking children many of them go to school with well-developed skills in their first language. This has a tremendous effect on the lives, families, and educators of minority children. .
             The English-Only movement in many states prohibits the academic advancement of minority children and also deprives the children of the social advances of using their mother tongue.
             Researchers have found that when minority children lose their mother tongue the consequences are usually severe and extensive. In homes where parents don't use their mother tongue language with their children the family communication may worsen. Where parents and children do not share a common language, communication is often limited to the basic necessities, preventing parents from transmitting to their children the complex set of values, beliefs, wisdom, and understanding which provides the foundation for their children's learning and development (Wong-Filmore, 1991a).