We need to DEMONSTRATE! - Page 3

The Supreme court guaranteed free public education for immigrant children till they graduate from high school in this country. This court ruling did not happen until my age group of immigrants were already passed the high school age. If you have not seen for yourself that there is a complete disconnect between older immigrants people from about the age of 38 and older to the generation now which causes problems for the Dream Act. My age group are far more closer then what you have today we stuck together the people that are younger than us do not have that same togetherness which hurts the dream act. My wife and I both being teachers see this every day and it drives us nuts when are talking with parents of immigrant children both here in South Carolina and before when we lived and taught in Texas. There was a huge mass influx of immigrants that came over after we were given citizenship which is good but they have a different outlook on being here and the minimum of what they need to do while they are here. You see it in Texas just like we see here in South Carolina the drop out rate of immigrants is out of control. Its far higher than the black community here in South Carolina not sure anymore about the difference in Texas. You cannot get through to the parents that if you don't have that HS degree you will not be part of a Dream Act or citizenship in the future. Times are changing so fast here in South Carolina and in Texas as teachers we know how strict immigrant laws are going to be.When the Dream act passes there are only going to let in the upper echelon of immigrants students in with that bill. So my wife and I not only scream out at the parents letting them know this, we constantly talk to our immigrant students as well. The truth is if you drop out or you get pregnant and drop out your done don't look for a future here in this country because you just pissed it away. Sounds harsh but its the truth. Being poor is not an excuse there was no poorer than my generation of immigrants. Our parents had nothing they had to take low paying jobs even though they were educated in Mexico and were trained in specific trades they did not succeed in making money until being in this country for at least 10 years. Getting pregnant is not a excuse now days for you not to get your High school degree or GED there are to many programs in place that make it easy for you to take care of this. Again if you can look at the trends that are happening the Dream Act is not going to happen for people that did not take full advantage of there opportunities. I firmly believe the Dream Act when passes is going to have the age group cut and the school requirements raised nobody can look at it and tell me different. And that is not a bad deal for citizenship keep pounding away at school and work hard at it.

Like I said parents that came after my group of immigrants have been fooled into a net of safety because the Government relaxed on the rules so much in the 90's that they are not prepared to take care of there children under a different set of rules. My wife and I never drove a car until we were legal and could afford one the license came at 18. We took the bus everyday till the time we graduated from high school we lived in the dorm when we got to college with no car. Today , I have illegal children driving without a DL with a full load of kids in there car in the same situation. I have parents driving without a DL and car full of children who are not legal and it makes my wife and I want to scream. When all the laws get put in place if you are not legal or do not have a DL don't get in a car with someone that does not have a DL and don't you dare drive without a DL ever. You are just asking to be deported and what a stupid way to go. Sorry , I had to get those two items off my chest but I am sure you are familiar with both issues.

Lastly, you kids that are not out of high school stop worrying about the politics of it stay informed of course but don't get so wrapped up in it that it gets in you to a hateful tone towards either party. Just take care of your business that is all that matters you cannot blame politics on you not doing what you have to do to succeed. Politics and Politicians will flip flop with the wind for instance my parents generation vote Republican and know one could ever change there mind to vote differently. Mexican people in my parents generation are republicans . They were Republicans before they came to the US in those days everyone from Mexico came from strict catholic homes all them lived a conservative life.So when they came to the US they related to the Republican party and then Republicans gave them there citizenship so they believe they are indebted to that party.My wife and I vote democrat not because of immigration we vote Democrat because we are union and democrats protect unions which protect us. In the end the Politics of the Dream Act could come from any direction there is no reason to get so worked up on the politics to the point your fighting with one another. Spend that energy studying and nothing else. Off my soap box sorry so long.

Very interesting, I have to say that you and your wife are great teachers and I also have to say that there should be more teacher as yourselves in every high school in America, and i have to agree that we are missing a togetherness. I mean growing up I moved a lot, due to constant job changes, and I was never able to keep in contact with a person dealing with my same situation. Perhaps what is needed now is a true understanding of the immigration issue; the consequences at hand. I guess its true that the American people must be educated on such an issue, but at the same time the immigrants (both documented and undocumented) must be as well if there is to be some great change. What bothers me is that when analyzing the dropout rate for immigrants one seems to lose interest in what the immigrant community could achieve in this country. The point is that if there is absolutely no consideration for the immigration community then there is no progress. I feel that what is missing is the right guidance and some sort of representation for the immigrant community. When that is set then perhaps education could become a priority in the lives of many immigrants (documented and undocumented). It is a need to excel that is missing, a need of understanding the reality of what it means to get a quality education. In fact when my parents decided to come to this country the only thing they knew they had to do was work, I mean they were practically poor and anything looked better than being in a country (Peru) where Fujimori was gaining his notoriety, and when they got here they were sure that another law like the one in the 80s would pass. I am not going to blame them, but in some way I am thankful because to tell you the truth I don't know how my life would have been in Peru had I stayed. I mean when I went to school I met people that could have been in my situation that clearly gave up because some of them dropped out just a little after high school started, and I get a angry feeling because there is no flag telling them how lucky they are that they have educational opportunities. And believe me when I tell you that there is a silence within the majority of the teachers, no great amount teachers are willing to take on the issues surrounding them and use them to make a difference withing the student body, by letting them know the importance of an education and the implications of their situations.

Well what is going to happen is a very rude awaking and people do not want to listen to anyone everyone thinks they have it all figured out and have been waiting on another amnesty bill to come along since 1986. The true divisive part is the economy the state immigration bills are flying around in state legislators right now like I have never seen. My wife and I have decided that it is going to have to come down to people having friends , relatives, children deported before they get it. Horrible way to learn a lesson of stay in school, make good grades, be a humble person and stay as far away from trouble as you can. Its not fair but illegal immigrant children are going to be graded harder when the time comes than regular citizens and like it or not you got to show something. Its has more to do with the parents/family/friends that could do so much more that will make the difference. I have immigrant students in my classes that have tattoos,piercings,crazy hair cuts, baggy khaki pants or jeans that are illegal. These kids are good kids and I know there parents and know they don't get in trouble but what you cant get through to them is everything is perception. If you come around the police in any fashion regardless of how good a kid you are or your good grades the perception your portraying is going to get you in trouble every time. You are in South Carolina , you are not an American ,you do not have the privileges the same as the other people who are. Fair or not it is what it is. But everyone has to learn stuff the hard way but the cost is really high if they get there parents deported or themselves deported. Frustrating if I could just get them out of high school my wife could get them out of Junior high with out any problems it would be so much easier for the Dream act or immigration bill. You could say here is the Dreamers they look like clean cut kids, they have great grades , there in there third or fourth year of college here is there great grades boom let them all have citizenship. But as you know its not the majority of dreamers that are in that situation and those are the ones we got to get pushed to get up to par. Numbers that these legislators use like in the last Dream Act don't lie. The Senators set up there the last time going this is the number that are graduating across the country this is there grades so it is hard to over come that.

Very true indeed, perhaps what we need is to bring to light the significanse of pushing kids to finish school and go beyond that; to have that process become part of the catalyst towards dealing with this country's broken immigration issue. I have been here for more than fifteen years of my life and I understand that I am already an individual worthy of having citizenship status and I see that that is not going to come about easily. Your absolutely right that we will be graded harder and perhaps that is the reality of immigration in this country. It is hard and now that I am older I see that it becomes harder, but the fact that the DREAM Act even exists gives hope towards the fact that this country acknowledges the presence of kids willing to accomplish things. I put all my heart into my education because I saw the way my parents worked, and how they would sacrifice themselves just to pay the rent and they continue to do that even though they have decided to go their separate ways. I wanted to break that. I wanted to be their hope and the result of their hard work, and it is sad to say that I can't do that, yet. Yes it is right that I learned the hard way and I feel that part of my freedom is being taken away, but the fact is that there needs to be greater organizations better considerations towards the immigrant people, this may be a hardship, but there is something that can always be gained that can make life more worthwhile and stronger. Perhaps the students that are willing to fight for the DREAM Act are the ones that will be the leaders towards the kids that just need to that extra little push or help towards dealing with their situations.

You said you are nineteen find the way to get into Junior college someway that is half fight to college is getting through it. Even if you can only afford to take a 1 hour PE course knowing you need two of those. At a JC that is under a $100 dollars. Then work your way up to the three hour classes those are about $185 dollars take the classes at night due what ever it takes to get that degree.

Will do my friend

.... Dude, mindless actions won't get you anywhere.

And your point is?

Are you serious? How can you not extrapolate my point from that statement?

The point is: Have a plan before you do anything!

Allow me to elaborate, the point is as simple as the following: THINK!