Thread: Neb. Among States W/Highest Growth in 'Eng. Lang. Learners'

Nebraska Among 13 States With At Least 200 Percent Growth In "English Language Learners"
January 07, 2009

Education professionals sometimes call them English Language Learners, and increased numbers of ELL students in Nebraska is among the highest in the nation, according to Education Week magazine’s latest edition.

The number of ELL students in the state grew by more than 200 percent between 2000-2005. Only 12 other states reached or exceeded that level. Those numbers compare with a nationwide increase of just 57 percent during the same period.

With a total enrollment of 8,588 students, for example, the Grand Island school district includes 2,300 ELL, the Grand Island Independent reported.

The Education Week nationwide study, reported in a series of articles, included these findings:

Families of school-age English-language learners are consistently more socio-economically disadvantaged than those of their peers. ELL youths are half as likely to have a parent with a two- or four-year college degree and much more likely to live in a low-income household. While two-thirds of ELL youths have a parent who holds a steady job, their parents typically earn much less than those of non-English-language learners.

English-language learners of school age tend to be younger than members of the non-ELL population. That pattern may result from high birth rates among language-minority populations, high immigration rates among the youngest ELL youths, and the tendency to acquire proï¬

Many moons ago I graduated from a high school in Nebraska. At the time my class of 2558 students included two English learners, both were foreign exchange students. How things have changed.

when are we going to wake to the fact that if we dont stop this or country is becoming Nueva Estados Unidos, Viva Nueva Americana Latina! Idiots are lauding illegal immigration from south america as a good thing and of course committing suicide.

It is a draw for illegals because of farm work and meat packing, poultry and shipping. It is a major drop off point for refugees and a place for the most part, atleast where I lived, where people took you at your word and there didn't seem to be a need to doubt them. I saw what happened to areas where they had flooded in and it wasn't pretty. Crime, drugs, violence increased almost immediatly and crimes many of these people never thought they'd face since it was never a part of their life before.

I was in a pretty unpopulated area. There's more kids in our highschool here than there is population of the biggest cities I was close to. My phone book wasn't much bigger than the TV guide here and that included people, businesses, maps.....lol.....for a whole quadrent of the state. I had to drive 50 miles if I wanted to get a Big Mac and after eating a good Angus burger at some local bar/diner....you didn't care if you ever saw the Golden Arches again. 6 man football and it wasn't a big deal to drive 50-100 miles to go to your kids sports events. Everybody played in the band, noon and 7am and 7pm sirine. You depended on honesty and trust coz sometimes it was miles and miles when you got stranded and alot of the area was in the dead zone for cell phones. You never locked your doors, left your keys in the ignition and never even thought of being afraid of who's at the door. You can only imagine, without drifting too far how it impacted alot of areas.

There were hispanics who were legal and settled in the area long ago and just like it used to be, they were welcomed, spoke English, and became well liked and well respected members of the community. Not a problem, but it was different with the new wave of the illegal ones. It was the last place I lived where no if's and's or but's about it.....you speak English and respect the American Flag and this country and of course the Huskers. Do that and you're OK. LOL

Originally Posted by crazybird

It is a draw for illegals because of farm work and meat packing, poultry and shipping. It is a major drop off point for refugees and a place for the most part, atleast where I lived, where people took you at your word and there didn't seem to be a need to doubt them. I saw what happened to areas where they had flooded in and it wasn't pretty. Crime, drugs, violence increased almost immediatly and crimes many of these people never thought they'd face since it was never a part of their life before.

I was in a pretty unpopulated area. There's more kids in our highschool here than there is population of the biggest cities I was close to. My phone book wasn't much bigger than the TV guide here and that included people, businesses, maps.....lol.....for a whole quadrent of the state. I had to drive 50 miles if I wanted to get a Big Mac and after eating a good Angus burger at some local bar/diner....you didn't care if you ever saw the Golden Arches again. 6 man football and it wasn't a big deal to drive 50-100 miles to go to your kids sports events. Everybody played in the band, noon and 7am and 7pm sirine. You depended on honesty and trust coz sometimes it was miles and miles when you got stranded and alot of the area was in the dead zone for cell phones. You never locked your doors, left your keys in the ignition and never even thought of being afraid of who's at the door. You can only imagine, without drifting too far how it impacted alot of areas.

There were hispanics who were legal and settled in the area long ago and just like it used to be, they were welcomed, spoke English, and became well liked and well respected members of the community. Not a problem, but it was different with the new wave of the illegal ones. It was the last place I lived where no if's and's or but's about it.....you speak English and respect the American Flag and this country and of course the Huskers. Do that and you're OK. LOL

In other parts of the country, a babies first words are mama or dada....in Nebraska, a babies first words are "Go Big Red" lol

in Nebraska, a babies first words are "Go Big Red" lol

Ain't that the truth!!!! I thought it was funny because I came from tons of rules and regulations and to find a TV was mandatory in alot of places in order not to miss as much as possible of a Huskers game, if you were stuck in line waiting to check out with your beer. LOL There was something seriously wrong with you if you weren't a fan. LOL Great lawn decorations too. LOL Never saw such dedication from an entire state to a team.

Originally Posted by crazybird

in Nebraska, a babies first words are "Go Big Red" lol

Ain't that the truth!!!! I thought it was funny because I came from tons of rules and regulations and to find a TV was mandatory in alot of places in order not to miss as much as possible of a Huskers game, if you were stuck in line waiting to check out with your beer. LOL There was something seriously wrong with you if you weren't a fan. LOL Great lawn decorations too. LOL Never saw such dedication from an entire state to a team.

Back in my day, shops actually closed for the Nebraska/Oklahoma game. The second sentence children learned was "Better dead than sooner red" I remember one summer when was home from college going to a bar and an unsuspecting airman from Offut Air Force base made a comment in the bar about Tom Osborne being gay. He must have worn half the drinks in the bar and was lucky to escape with his life lol