Separatist Language
Education
Ester Ivy Sescon
Separatist Language Education
also called
secessionist
(Schermerhorn
(1970; in Baker,
2007))
minority
language
tends to
detach itself
from the
majority
language to
pursue an
independent
existence;
‘Minority
language
only’
education is
relatively
rare
trying to maintain
independence from the
majority language and
culture
the objectives of
these schools are
monolingual and
monocultural
reasons:
political,
religious,
even the
survival of a
culture, selfprotection or
others as
well.
it highlights
that
language
minority
education is
capable of
moving from
the goal of
pluralism to
separatism
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Type of Program
Typical Students
Language used in
the classroom
Educational/Societal
Aim
Language Outcome
SEGREGATIONIST
Language
Minority
Apartheid
Monolingualism
SEPARATIST
Language
Minority
Minority
Language
(forced, no
choice)
Minority
Language (out
of choice)
Detachment/
Autonomy
Limited
Bilingualism
White community
(separate
community)
Negro
Negro community
(segregated)
regulated from the
outside by outsiders
BEING
CONTROLLED
Both
community
minority groups
isolated from the
mainstream society
and using their native
languages in school
white man
controls;
• the economy,
• his own
economy,
• his own
politics,
• his own
everything
HIS community
HAS THE CONTROL
Voluntarily
forced upon inferiors
by superiors
Own choice
when you have your own
This makes them equal because they have what you have. But if they didn't
have what you have, then they'd be controlled from your side; even though they
would be on their side, they'd be controlled from your side by you.
We want the same for ourselves as you have for yourselves. And when we get
it, then it's possible to think more intelligently and to think in terms that are
along peaceful lines. But a man who doesn't have what is his, he can never think
always in terms that are along peaceful lines.
SOURCE: X, Malcolm. "The Race Problem." African Students Association and NAACP Campus Chapter. Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan. 23 January 1963