As a teacher of color who works at Harrison Park K-8, I have to respectfully disagree with Emily Toll. It is sad that teachers (mostly Caucasian) think they know what is best for minority students.  As a child, I had the experience of being in ESL classes for four years of my early education and had to miss electives such as music, PE, and art.  However, I would not trade what I learned in ESL for these enhancement classes.  These classes would not have helped me pass my exams in high school, the SAT, or getting a scholarship in college.  As I am able to converse in another language, I am able to talk to parents in their own language on a more personable level.  Most, if not all, parents expressed that they prefer to have their child(ren) in ESL. This is the general consensus among minority parents in any language.  To say that John Walden did not solicit input from ESL parents is disrespectful and slanderous. Students need to read, write, and do math--that is an equitable education.