The group that is known as Hội Phụ Huynh, or HPH, today first met in November 2016. At that time, the group was an informal advisory board to Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion (VDLI) made-up mainly of community representatives. Today, with the distinction of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, HPH is composed of parents, guardians, teachers, and administrative staff who support the VDLI programs in a growing number of Portland Public Schools. Through a lottery system, the VDLI program accepts two spectrums of students: half native English speaking and half native Vietnamese speaking who are then taught by teachers in both languages. In recent years, the program has fulfilled all open spots. Backed by Portland Public School District and parents, the program is free and the curriculum is consistently reconfigurated.
Dustin Kelley and Dr. Crummé speak with the Cultural Enrichment Committee of Hội Phụ Huynh. Board Members James Luu, Huynh Pool, Bao-Loc Nguyen, Anh Le, and Vân Truong touch on various different topics that align with their own experiences. James Luu, as a former president of HPH and a founding member, discusses the beginnings of the organization, growing to find his fellow board members, and his own account with his son. Huynh Pool brings insights into the classroom from when she volunteered in her daughter’s class and describes projections on the organization’s growth. Bao-Loc Nguyen explains the contention in the community over the development of the Vietnamese language after 1975 and how that affects the curriculum. Anh Le illustrates the importance of the language and apprehension of English speaking families. Vân Truong, an advisor figure for HPH, describes parents’ desire to adjust the curriculum and the Vietnamese dual language program’s struggles in comparison to other organizations.
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