Education is what I value. As a student of Hispanic descent, I am aware of many issues that need to be addressed. The main issue I am going to address today is an unequal representation for undocumented students. During the month of September, president Trump ended DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and thousands of students were left in fear of being deported. Without the program in place, the students will not be able to receive in-state tuition like all the other students who have lived in the same state for years. I personally know a lot of DACA students and it broke my heart knowing that many of the DACA recipients were no longer able to pay in-state tuition. Undocumented individuals weren’t at fault when they were brought into
Imagine seeing 10,000 of your classmates walking out of your school because they wanted a better education - a better way of life. In the 1960s’ Chicano students were being “pushed out”(Esparza) of school or being pushed towards vocational programs. East L.A was home to schools were “one out of every four Chicano’s completed high school”(Esparza). Instructors and the school board alike did not have an interest in helping Chicanos finish school to become someone other than a laborer and was expected of them to keep being a laborer. In “Taking Back the Schools”, Sal Castro a high school counselor claims, “I think the bottom line is the lack of concern of the teachers towards the kids and whether the kids were really getting an education or not...the reality set in that the teachers weren’t really concern for the kids.”(Esparza).
Many people all around the United States aren't aware of the role that Mexican Americans have played struggling to be accepted in a all one race school. Hearing about the case of Mendez v. Westminster where Mendez was rejected from a “White” school for being dark skin and Mexican has really shook up a story and made headlines everywhere when Mendez parents decided to sew the school district. People don't realize how race can impact any little thing to even registering for an education.
Higher education institutions need to make a concerted effort to recruit and enrollment Latinos in their graduate programs. Latinos need to be given the opportunity
It is estimated that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from High School each year, and out of these students, only less than 10 percent attend a higher education (Ibarra & Sherman, 2012). Under the Supreme Court Decision known as Plyler v. Doe, undocumented young immigrants are entitled to receive free education from Kindergarten to secondary institutions (Yates, 2004). However, as young undocumented immigrants transition from high school to college, the challenges that come with being illegal begins. Prior to 2001, college institutions classified undocumented students as international students even if they have lived in California a majority of lives (Abrego, 2008). Undocumented students were required to pay out of state tuition of approximately
Hello, my name is Vanessa Mercado and I am an advocate for the DREAM act. Many high school graduates in the United States come from immigrant families are not able to go to college, serve in the military, find a job, or pursue the American dream. This is because of the label passed on to them called “Illegal immigrant”. These children were brought to the United States illicitly at a young age. Most of these children have lived in the United States for most of their lives and consider this nation as their home. Our country has been having issues with the massive amount of illegal immigrants residing and employed in the United States.
Migration for “a better life” or to be with one’s family shaped the history of the United States since the beginning. In the US today there are 40 million immigrants and the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there is around 11 million illegal aliens already living right here and are not authorized to live and work in the United States. It makes it hard to protect their right because they are in this country illegal. Immigrant are living in the US are in constant fear of being deported so they live in quiet hiding so that they go undetected by US officials. They are so fearful of deportation that they don’t report crimes against them or employers that take advantage of them or do not pay them for work.
To some concerned citizens they think in-state tuition is free, but in reality it is a discount since undocumented students still have to pay tuition and tends to increase school revenue. The young immigrants are the key to the country’s ability to counteract the serious demographic challenges the country faces (Joaquin, 2014). Getting a higher education would raise the stature of the workforce to have a chance to sustain an economy. For every person who obtains a college degree and gets a professional jobs means one less person to drain social service budgets of the state, and assets in terms of payment of taxes and the attraction to the state high-wage employers seeking well-educated workers (Joaquin, 2014). Additionally, by having a higher education it allows undocumented students to figure out their interests and skills to a higher-paying jobs; they can then earn more money and began contributing more in payroll taxes. This helps revenue for support vital programs, for example, Social Security, and Medicare, even if undocumented immigrants are unable to benefit from these programs. Advocates argue that making tuition feasible would not only influence undocumented students to graduate high school, attend college, and pursue a high-paying career, which could potentially benefit U.S. citizens and the economy. For them to be able to get a college education it would encourage these students to enter the job market as tax-paying American citizens (Palmisano,
Education is the key to individual opportunity, the strength of our economy, and the vitality of our democracy. In the 21st century, this nation cannot afford to leave anyone behind. While the academic achievement and educational attainment of Hispanic Americans has been moving in the right direction, untenable gaps still exist between Hispanic students and their counterparts in the areas of early childhood education, learning English, academic achievement, and high school and college completion.
Former President of the United State, George W. Bush, announced the “No Child Left Behind” initiative no child, no matter your State status, will be left behind. Every student will and needs to have access to the same educational opportunities. If we look at history, many people came here, worked hard to construct and to improve the economy and today the same scenarios are still in play. And the least that we can give to undocumented students is to have them treated like citizens and allow them to have the same opportunity and access to education like citizens
The most significant educational opportunity that I’ve obtained has been President Barack Obama’s approval of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) since established in 2012. The policy permits and extends opportunities and resources for undocumented immigrants like myself for a chance of a better life in the United States.
I want to become a pediatric doctor because I enjoy seeing children healthy and happy. I know that college will not be easy and not to mention medical school, but I am determined to make it. And I know that I will because I am the proud daughter of two undocumented parents that risked everything to give my sisters and me a better future. However, my parents are no different from other parents living within our Hispanic community. Many of these parents want to see their children go to college and make the best out of their future. I am not a parent, but I am a member of our community, and I want to see more Hispanic students in college. I also want to be able to interact with my Hispanic community and stress the importance of a higher education. The number of Hispanic students in college is not as high enough, but I have no doubt that we can change that. I want to be able to educate my community that with good grades, high scores, and determination anyone can go to college, without the worry about the expense. We are Hispanic, which means that we are strong, brilliant, risk takers, humble, but most importantly, hard working, and because we have all those qualities and much more, I am certain that we can do anything and everything that we set our minds
Taking Student Success Seminar has allowed me to recognize my own capabilities and perspectives on issues of today’s society. Such issues and recognitions were covered in various areas; religion, leadership, personal growth, success, social issues, etc. While taking a FYS Economics course, I wrote an essay regarding DACA and its economics effects toward society. This particular topic reaches further into pre-existing matters than just economics itself. This form of administration puts individuals at risk and resides issues of racism and misconceptions of immigrants- a recurring aspect in society.
Many teachers took pride in the way they ran their classrooms. The classes provided a new style of teaching that encouraged students to learn cultural relevance, cultural competence, social justice emphasis, alignment with state standards, and academic rigor (Acosta, 2012). They witnessed many improvements in their students' academic progress and likelihood of graduation. The teachers affected by the ban take the position of being completely against the ban. They believe that the school officials are antagonizing a program that has helped students academically and personally. Another reason is that they have a preconceived notion of the ban being a hate act towards Mexicans. Out of all the ethnic classes offered at Tucson high school, the Mexican American class was the first to go. This notion could have been a result of the adverse thought of Mexican immigrants entering the United States illegally. Most teachers attempted to convince officials to overthrow the bill by creating petitions, protesting, publishing articles, rallies, and sit-ins. Their audience is composed of other high school teachers, students, and parents. They persuade their audience by putting themselves in the same shoes, that way they resonate together to complete a common goal. Teachers are able to talk to every other stakeholder, except school officials. These teachers claim that government or school officials do not wish to listen their pleas because they do not want to differ from their own opinions (Soto, S. & Joseph, M., 2010). The decision of banning Mexican American Studies classes was ultimately finalized by school officials. School officials did not discuss the pros and cons of the ban with teachers, but instead decided on the ban on their
It is said that when you fall, get back up, but being raised Hispanic, I was taught not to let anything knock me down; I was taught not to let words hurt me; I was taught not to let anyone deny me of my goals, because of the color of my skin or the heritage of my family. In high school, 50% of the student body is of Hispanic descent and many are too afraid to no longer be a majority. When applying to colleges, I was not intimidated by the demographics indicating that I would be a minority on campus; I want to different; I want to be challenged; I want to look discrimination in the eye as I work my way to a college degree. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than 1% of Hispanics manage to earn a Ph.D.; I will use the same ambition my grandparents had when they worked long hours at low wages in order support their families to join that exclusive minority of
Imagine a world where adolescents; our future of America, is not getting the appropriate education they need. Or where students can no longer attend school because they can no longer afford to get an education. Society does not need to imagine this because we are currently living this reality. In today’s society minorities are not getting the education they deserve because prisoners are valued more in regards of getting funded. Not only does the state of California have to fund prisons, it needs to fund health care programs, welfare assistance programs, and last but not least, education programs. As the population of those incarcerated increases, funding