Medium Education in Welsh language retards pupils, says English expert

[Harold Schiffman]

Forwarded From:  edling at lists.sis.utsa.edu


Agence Bretagne Presse



Medium Education in Welsh language retards pupils, says English expert



Welsh people have been shocked by an English « expert » who has
claimed that Welsh language education causes retardation in children.
His "expert" advice was heard in a family court where there are strict
rules of secrecy (1) and involved custody of an eleven-year-old boy.
The consequences for the mother are devastating.
The advice of the "expert" has been attacked by many people, including
Wales's First Minister Rhodri Morgan. But since the Welsh court system
has not been devolved, the Welsh authorities are unable to challenge
the opinions of the "expert".



Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, Nerys Evans, who has been taking up the
case on behalf of the boy's mother, says that all the research of
which she is aware shows bilingualism is a positive influence on a
child's understanding.



Full story:

http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/fetch.php?id=13470&title=Medium%20Education%20in%20Welsh%20language%20retards%20pupils,%20says%20English%20expert




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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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