Final answer:
Parents of different language backgrounds should not exclusively speak English with their children at home. Research supports bilingualism's benefits, and forcing English could undermine cultural heritage. English-only policies have been critiqued for potentially harming non-English speakers and ignoring U.S. diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether parents of different language backgrounds should be encouraged to speak only English with their children at home is complex and multifaceted. Based on research and historical context, the answer to this question is B) False. It is important to recognize the implications of language loss and the benefits of multilingualism. The forceful assimilation policies in places like North America and Australia historically lead to the endangering of indigenous languages and cultures. Similarly, the imposition of one dominant language in a family setting could unintentionally contribute to the erosion of cultural heritage and language diversity.
Research by Johns Hopkins University indicates that bilingual education, where students learn in both their native tongue and English, can lead to better academic progress. Moreover, code-switching and allowing students to use their authentic voices, including nonstandard dialects, have been shown to be equitable practices that benefit learning according to newer research practices. Additionally, many citizens in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home, reflecting the country's diversity, which is not acknowledged by English-only laws. These laws have been criticized for seeming to deny the nation's diversity and for potentially targeting non-English speakers unfairly.