What really stuck out to me while reading Children of Immigration were the horrific images of the violence and intimidation that immigrants must often face in their underfunded urban schools. In one school, the head security guard was known as the local drug dealer (p. 86). In another elementary school, a young girl was raped and murdered, her body discovered on school property (p. 133). These unsafe school environments make students distrust each other and dread interaction with other students. No one is sharing ideas, cultures, and values, because they are too busy trying to survive. However, in some urban and still underfunded schools, charismatic leaders and a safe school environment can lead to true learning and growth. In these schools, students thrive. They are able to appreciate the welcoming environment in America’s schools and focus on getting an education in order to succeed.
On that token, many immigrant parents are aware that an education is the best way to become successful in the United States. However, many parents are uninvolved in their child’s schooling. The reasons for this vary. Parents place trust on teachers and don’t believe it’s their place to become involved with the education system, but additionally, they themselves might not be educated and thus find it difficult to navigate the map of America’s academics. This is where I believe it is the teacher’s duty to reach out to the parents. It is so important that the student have a supportive home environment so that they can get through school. Parents need to know that they don’t necessarily have to be able to help their child write essays on Shakespearean dramas, but they need to encourage their child in academics and create a safe and fostering environment at home so that the student knows education is the most important factor in getting ahead in the United States.
As a teacher, I hope to cash in on the various experiences of my immigrant and culturally diverse students. It’s important for teachers to value what their students do bring into the classroom, rather than become discouraged when a student is academically underdeveloped. I hope to create a culturally responsive teaching environment in which we study the works of diverse authors and relate to the experiences of other ethnicities. I want my students to see the differences between themselves and their neighbors and embrace them. After all, isn’t that what makes America what it is? By creating a safe environment for my students and being a positive role model, I can teach my students content but also get through to them regarding their social responsibilities as citizens. The generation I release upon the world (or into the next grade) will be open, tolerant, and ready to learn.
I'm also looking forward to the challenge of teaching in a diverse classroom. I might be wrong, but I think that us ELA folk have an upper hand with confronting a diverse classroom with a diverse curriculum. I agree that parent/guardian involvement is paramount to the student's success, regardless of if they are immigrant or native. I think the move that some immigrants (non-refugee) have made already suggests that they have taken a stock in their children's success; I wouldn't think that they would let that child fail in school after a leap that huge.
ReplyDeleteI can't even fathom the constant fear that surrounds a diverse student. I also couldn’t imagine education being their first priority. Sadly, this is the case for many diverse students in American schools. For us as teachers we truly need to fight everyday to help these kids. It is so vital that we are open, tolerant, and most importantly patient when working with these students. It seems that many multicultural classrooms in the past have focused on the differences of students creating a non-learning environment. Fortunately, teachers today are trained to deal positively with multicultural classrooms. It is important to express the similarities of diverse classrooms and take into account each child’s experience. Every diverse student has their own unique story and different culture. As teachers we need to embrace this difference and create an atmosphere of comfort and support. Our goal as teachers is to, if anything, train these children to be tolerant of themselves and others. This will be a tremendous challenge, certainly not for the weak of heart. Something that I am absolutely up for!
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, the horrible conditions of some of the schools depicted in the book make learning seem impossible. An effort needs to be made to change that type of environment or there is no way children of immigrants (or any children for that matter) will be able to concentrate on learning.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you kate, I think community, parent/guardian and teacher communication and involvement is crucial to student success. I firmly believe it takes a village to raise a child. No parent does it alone. Each parent has help from family members, friend, and the community along the way. So why should school be any different? I've heard many times "I'm just here to teach them," and I cringe. Being a teacher is much more than that. When you work in a school you become part of the community and as a productive member of society, you should be making sure these students have and feel a connection between the classroom, home, and the "real world."
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