Q&A
Discussion on language acquisition for English language learners
7:34:49
·
3 min
Council Member Rita Joseph questions Randy Mastro about his understanding of language acquisition for English language learners and how he would address legal challenges related to supporting these students in public schools.
- Joseph challenges Mastro's knowledge of language acquisition processes
- Mastro acknowledges his limited recent involvement in education policy
- Discussion on the importance of supporting English language learners
- Mastro expresses willingness to work collaboratively to improve student outcomes
Rita Joseph
7:34:49
Well, thank you.
7:34:51
So how would how would you're looking back?
7:34:54
How do you know how language is acquired?
7:34:56
Language acquisition for English language learners?
Randy Mastro
7:35:00
I again, you've already pointed out
Rita Joseph
7:35:03
So that's why I'm I'm calling out the method that you guys were using back in the task force was not the right method.
Randy Mastro
7:35:09
Okay.
Rita Joseph
7:35:10
Okay.
7:35:10
Thank you.
Randy Mastro
7:35:11
I won't as corp counsel, I'll not be responsible for establishing the Oh, you will see.
7:35:15
You'll be responsible
Rita Joseph
7:35:16
for different.
7:35:16
And you said you had resolutions.
7:35:18
You had solutions as to how our children can get Uh-huh.
7:35:22
How we should be looking at bilingual education.
7:35:24
It has to come with a holistic approach, not just, like, let's move our children.
7:35:29
There's a process.
7:35:30
Right?
Randy Mastro
7:35:31
I I appreciate what you're saying.
7:35:33
And the work of that task force was more complex than the bottom line of parental choice, and it was working with the Board of Education on sophisticated models like you're talking about.
7:35:50
I just gave the overall bottom line, and it was, in fact, applauded at the time and called historic on a lead story in the New York Times.
Rita Joseph
7:36:00
Shelf, it was also a lawsuit.
7:36:02
Okay.
7:36:02
The task was some bilingual
Randy Mastro
7:36:03
education were not
Keith Powers
7:36:04
a law suit.
Rita Joseph
7:36:05
Yeah.
7:36:06
It was a lawsuit as to why the bilingual education was created.
7:36:09
No.
7:36:09
The task was some bilingual education aimed to ensure student transition to lang English fluency.
7:36:15
Looking back, do you believe that the approach taken was the best for students for long term success?
7:36:19
And how would you apply those learn lessons learned to your role as corporate counsel?
Randy Mastro
7:36:27
Well, I I obviously, like
Rita Joseph
7:36:32
I always say, everyone who comes before me to have homework to do.
Randy Mastro
7:36:36
I don't I don't doubt council member that I have lots of homework to do.
7:36:40
I'm a very good student.
7:36:42
And I'm a fast learner.
7:36:44
And I could learn a lot from you.
7:36:46
So if I had the opportunity to work with you, I'm sure I would learn from you.
7:36:50
And you know something else, I'd learn what your priorities are and how how we could achieve them using affirmative litigation, that would be so exciting, and it's not being done now.
7:37:03
The law department isn't doing that.
7:37:05
So I could learn a lot from you, and I could do a lot with the law and the resources of the law to help improve student outcomes learning from you and each council member in their districts.
7:37:16
That's what I want to do in this job if afforded this opportunity.
Rita Joseph
7:37:22
And how would you address as the corporate council address legal challenges that might arise from policies intended to support English language learners in public schools?
Randy Mastro
7:37:32
Well, we have to support them and improve outcomes.
7:37:37
There are future.
7:37:39
So to the extent that involves legal issues, I'd look forward to working together with you and others steeped in these issues on ways we could use the law to help achieve more positive outcomes for our children.