The parents of Albany grade-schoolers will want to watch with interest how a dual-language program in the Greater Albany Schools is planned and then carried out.

As our Jennifer Moody reported Wednesday, the board of Greater Albany Public Schools has authorized a study committee to look into such a program, and it may be offered by the fall of 2009.

As the term implies, the idea of dual-language instruction is to teach young children, including both native English and Spanish speakers, in both languages.

At first blush, this sounds like a wonderful way for young Americans to grow up with bilingual language skills, an ability that is bound to be helpful throughout their lives if they keep it up. There's no doubt that being able to talk, listen and read in more than one language gives a person a step up in careers and life in general, especially where travel is involved.

But there may be reservations. A kindergartner or first-grader whose household speaks only English may be a little confused if, in addition to starting school, he's also plopped into a classroom where he can't understand what is being said. His parents may think he has enough trouble just being in school for part of the day without the complication of another language.

That, of course, is exactly the challenges facing young Spanish-speakers whom fate and their families have brought into an English-only environment.

Still, Oregon families who speak only English may be reluctant to expose their offspring to schooling made more difficult for them by the addition of a second language. After all, they will reason, they didn't move themselves into a place where their children didn't know the prevailing language.

So if and when GAPS starts running dual-language classrooms, it ought to make sure that it considers and respects the preferences of the parents of the children it enrolls. If parents prefer the traditional route, their children should be allowed to attend a regular English-language classroom instead. (hh)