I think it's great for students of both language backgrounds to become proficient in both languages (that said, learn as many languages as possible in your lifetime!).  However, prolonged teaching or favoritism of any one group at the expense of another group or individual could foster resentment. 

Ultimately, English is the vernacular and it would be best to assimilate ELL students into English instruction.  Since people acquire language naturally through both immersion and formal instruction (both are essential for rapid learning) time ought to be allocated for both.  I think we would do well to teach our SLL students Spanish while teaching ELL students English--such an approach will only open more doors for students who might otherwise speak only one language.

One option might be to extend the school day so there is time to cover the required material.  Additionally, no student should sit idle, all should be given some reasonable participatory role.  Seems to me the situation described is designed to satisfy a technicality and is not tailored to what is in the best interest of ALL students and the greater community.  If so, then big shame on the admins responsible!

Dril, I am so sorry this comment posted to your blog by some quirk of the website.  It belongs on another blog.  Please feel free to delete.  (I'd do it myself, but it's your blog and you have the right to see what silly nuts like me are posting)  :-)

MP

That's ok.  Even a totally off topic comment is better than none at all.  I think I can still say that my post was thought provoking enough to get a comment.

I should have responded earlier but got in to cooking for the wife.  I saw the poll and the first thing I thought was, it's about time, nearly everyone I know even my liberal friends are leaning to the middle.  Verbally anyway, I think they are leaning more to the right .  I think they are as worried as I am where this scatter brained administration is leading this country.