It's been a long time coming...
I will be posting random updates throughout the weekend. Many Tilda stories, chocolate spa visit, a Florida adventure and random student funnies, I promise. For now though, here is a teaching update.
Teaching has gotten both better and worse. I have gotten a better grasp on where my students are in their abilities, but the range that can exist between students in a single class can be stifling. I can spend up to 3 hours planning a lesson only to watch it fall flat within the first 5 minutes of a class. But I am still enjoying the challenge although I cannot figure out how to get my energy levels back up. I guess there was a huge benefit to working at home in jammies.
Part of the lack of energy is that I sleep poorly at night at least once a week (for someone who typically requires 10 hours of sleep to feel "refreshed" this is very bad. And yes, I know I'm a whiner.) I often fret about my students, my lesson plans and other random things. I think my mind is stressing out over having to constantly be in contact with people (after two years of working at home).
Tonight I will fret about a social issue. Apparently, one of my students was deported recently. I think this story (as I have heard it) really highlights the immigration issues in this country. Being 18 years old, Student X had lived in the U.S. for a few years, brought over by the student's family as a minor from one of the war-torn and gang-ridden Central American countries. Student X was apparently kicked out of the family house due to a new "stepfather" who did not want Student X around. Student X spent some time in and out of a shelter before being kicked out of there at the ripe age of 18.
Being homeless with no papers and not a lot of support, Student X turned to some other family members in the area, who happened to be known gang members. Not the best decision certainly, but when you have intermediate language skills, no prospects and not a lot of context for that type of lifestyle, the idea might not be inexcusable.
Student X did reportedly have run-ins with police but usually worked hard in school. Student X was the best student in the program. Student X had some bad days, but overall had a goal to make a better life. Student X often mentioned wanting to go into a healthcare profession, which was no likely given their status. Despite this, this particular student did not give up.
Student X was, is, essentially still a kid. I think about my sorry self at that age and have nothing but the utmost respect for this individual, who has been through more than I can imagine.
So I guess my question is this-if a minor is brought over by a parent illegally and thrown into the public school system (by law) where they are implanted with dreams, skills and hopes but then wrenched away from their plans, what "crime" is being righted here? It's like saying that a rape victim should be tried for committing a sex act. The minors in these situations had no choice in the matter, had no choice in going to school and have no choice in going home. Yes, this particular student had committed crimes and had gotten involved with some notorious people. No, I do not condone that. But even if you dismiss this story because of that, do you think this affects the emotional development of the non-documented kids who do follow the rules and don't commit crimes? Watching your classmates disappear and not understanding why due to a lack of language skills would be traumatizing to any kid.
Don't get me wrong. I certainly do not think that people should cross the border illegally. I understand why many do, I truly do. But I do think that it is a security risk and it causes a tremendous strain on public services (being one of those who provide a public service, I feel I can safely say this.) That said, I would not be surprised if there is a large population of people in the U.S. who are in situations like the one I have described above. And I wonder if creating a generation of semi-bilingual, semi-educated people who may end up developing a disillusionment and distaste for the American system might not be a greater security risk for the nation in the future. I believe there has to be a better solution.
And just as "right to life" advocates have argued that abortion might eliminate the person that would find a cure for cancer or solve world peace, couldn't one of these kids do the same? What opportunities are we denying ourselves as a nation by rejecting hordes of children, 90% of whom want to simply get an education and do well for themselves and their families?
I am disappointed that I will not see this student in class again. As I mentioned, Student X had the most ambition and I often felt that I designed the class with Student X's goals in mind. Student X was promising. Now I have flashes of detention centers and brightly colored jumpsuits going through my mind. Student X's now-empty chair will make me wonder throughout the end of the school year what more I could have done to prepare them for what I can only assume now was an eventuality.
Teaching has gotten both better and worse. I have gotten a better grasp on where my students are in their abilities, but the range that can exist between students in a single class can be stifling. I can spend up to 3 hours planning a lesson only to watch it fall flat within the first 5 minutes of a class. But I am still enjoying the challenge although I cannot figure out how to get my energy levels back up. I guess there was a huge benefit to working at home in jammies.
Part of the lack of energy is that I sleep poorly at night at least once a week (for someone who typically requires 10 hours of sleep to feel "refreshed" this is very bad. And yes, I know I'm a whiner.) I often fret about my students, my lesson plans and other random things. I think my mind is stressing out over having to constantly be in contact with people (after two years of working at home).
Tonight I will fret about a social issue. Apparently, one of my students was deported recently. I think this story (as I have heard it) really highlights the immigration issues in this country. Being 18 years old, Student X had lived in the U.S. for a few years, brought over by the student's family as a minor from one of the war-torn and gang-ridden Central American countries. Student X was apparently kicked out of the family house due to a new "stepfather" who did not want Student X around. Student X spent some time in and out of a shelter before being kicked out of there at the ripe age of 18.
Being homeless with no papers and not a lot of support, Student X turned to some other family members in the area, who happened to be known gang members. Not the best decision certainly, but when you have intermediate language skills, no prospects and not a lot of context for that type of lifestyle, the idea might not be inexcusable.
Student X did reportedly have run-ins with police but usually worked hard in school. Student X was the best student in the program. Student X had some bad days, but overall had a goal to make a better life. Student X often mentioned wanting to go into a healthcare profession, which was no likely given their status. Despite this, this particular student did not give up.
Student X was, is, essentially still a kid. I think about my sorry self at that age and have nothing but the utmost respect for this individual, who has been through more than I can imagine.
So I guess my question is this-if a minor is brought over by a parent illegally and thrown into the public school system (by law) where they are implanted with dreams, skills and hopes but then wrenched away from their plans, what "crime" is being righted here? It's like saying that a rape victim should be tried for committing a sex act. The minors in these situations had no choice in the matter, had no choice in going to school and have no choice in going home. Yes, this particular student had committed crimes and had gotten involved with some notorious people. No, I do not condone that. But even if you dismiss this story because of that, do you think this affects the emotional development of the non-documented kids who do follow the rules and don't commit crimes? Watching your classmates disappear and not understanding why due to a lack of language skills would be traumatizing to any kid.
Don't get me wrong. I certainly do not think that people should cross the border illegally. I understand why many do, I truly do. But I do think that it is a security risk and it causes a tremendous strain on public services (being one of those who provide a public service, I feel I can safely say this.) That said, I would not be surprised if there is a large population of people in the U.S. who are in situations like the one I have described above. And I wonder if creating a generation of semi-bilingual, semi-educated people who may end up developing a disillusionment and distaste for the American system might not be a greater security risk for the nation in the future. I believe there has to be a better solution.
And just as "right to life" advocates have argued that abortion might eliminate the person that would find a cure for cancer or solve world peace, couldn't one of these kids do the same? What opportunities are we denying ourselves as a nation by rejecting hordes of children, 90% of whom want to simply get an education and do well for themselves and their families?
I am disappointed that I will not see this student in class again. As I mentioned, Student X had the most ambition and I often felt that I designed the class with Student X's goals in mind. Student X was promising. Now I have flashes of detention centers and brightly colored jumpsuits going through my mind. Student X's now-empty chair will make me wonder throughout the end of the school year what more I could have done to prepare them for what I can only assume now was an eventuality.
posted by waltzingmathilda @ 10:44 PM
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