Stories tagged: immigrants
Esos vatos locos forever! And school racial violence, Somali pirates
Submitted by Gustavo Martínez on Fri, 02/19/2010 - 13:26 Posted in Social justice in education | Permalink
I'm supposing none of y'all know what the title to this post means. I'll put it this way: that's proper Chicano English, a southwestern US of A dialect of Spanglish, for "aw yeah, crazy dudes!"
Down there, by our own Berlin Wall, we live in español, but go to school in Spanglish, which goes to show how unsuccessful Operation Wetback was.
What worries me is that still, today, there are people who think that English is the only language that should be spoken in this land. But I take relief when amigos gabachos stand in defense of the many tongues spelling out life in the today's United States. So, gracias to attorney and blogger Len Rieser for his post in response to a Christopher Paslay's op-ed piece that appeared in The Inquirer earlier this week.
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Frustration with District failures marks public hearing on school violence
Submitted by Helen Gym on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 00:55 | Permalink
A series of speakers at a packed public hearing on school violence – some in tears – shared their experiences last night in what can only be described as a damning indictment of the District. Speaker after speaker – parents, teachers, and a number of students – spoke about their frustration, desperation, and anger in the face of repeated failures by the District to address safety and climate in city schools.
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South Philly grad's immigrant experience
Submitted by Gustavo Martínez on Wed, 12/16/2009 - 12:16 Posted in High schools | Permalink
We'll pick up the conversation from last week. As an update, we can tell you that school authorities announced measures in an attempt to make South Philly High safer. This includes cameras, more police, and an education program so kids learn how to deal with other cultures.
School District CEO Arlene Ackerman said she wanted the Asian students to come back to school on Monday, and that she would be there to welcome them back and have personal conversations with each one of the affected students. The students returned today.
I spoke with a South Philly High graduate, who is a recent immigrant, about his experience acclimating to the new environment.
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Immigrant students and their mental health
Submitted by Gustavo Martínez on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 15:38 Posted in Social justice in education | Permalink
Last week several Asian students were attacked in South Philadelphia High. They have complained that school and District authorities haven't responded to their concerns sufficiently.
The relevance of caring for these students' needs is highlighted in the work of Eileen Gale Kugler and Olga Acosta Price in their report "Helping immigrant and refugee students succeed: It’s not just what happens in the classroom," in which they stress the need to provide newly arrived children and their families with the culturally competent assistance they require.
This is the first part of a series of postings in which we will talk about these issues. Check for a follow-up soon.
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Programas bilingües son esenciales para la transformación, dicen los padres
por Gustavo Martínez Contreras Posted in Invierno 2009 | Permalink
Los padres inmigrantes del sur de Filadelfia se han expresado abiertamente a fin de abogar para que las necesidades de sus familias sean atendidas mientras el Distrito implanta el plan que transformará algunas de sus escuelas de más bajo rendimiento.
Durante los próximos tres años, el plan Renaissance Schools (Escuelas Renacimiento) de la Superintendente Ackerman cerraría estas escuelas para reabrirlas bajo la administración de organizaciones con un historial comprobado de haber transformado escuelas.
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Language issues are central to school overhauls, parents say
by Gustavo Martínez Contreras Posted in Winter 2009 | Permalink
Immigrant parents in South Philadelphia have been vocal in advocating that their families’ needs be addressed as the District rolls out its plans to overhaul some of its lowest-performing schools.
Over the next three years, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s Renaissance Schools plan would shut these schools down and reopen them under the management of organizations with a proven record of turning schools around.
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Growing up 'with a ball on their feet'
by Benjamin Herold Posted in Winter 2009 | Permalink
The boys’ 3A Public League soccer championship is supposed to start in five minutes, but Bartram has not yet arrived.
As the game’s scheduled start time comes and goes, all the clichés regarding the chaos of Public League athletics begin to rear their ugly heads.
But before the pessimism can take root, Bartram’s bus appears. As first-year coach Ian Turner and his players spill out and scamper across the parking lot, a ripple of anticipation spreads.
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DREAM Act: Student activist makes it personal
Submitted by Gustavo Martínez on Wed, 11/18/2009 - 13:36 Posted in Social justice in education | Permalink
Student activist María Marroquín is deeply involved in the fight for getting the DREAM Act approved. This is a vital issue for her, an undocumented student majoring in political science.
She was instrumental in Senator Arlen Specter's public support of the 2009 DREAM Act, a bill that has yet to make its way down to the floor for a vote.
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Pocas opciones: Padres inmigrantes se esfuerzan para aprovecharlas
por Rose Howse y Crystal Tsang Posted in Otoño 2009 | Permalink
Las opciones en el cuidado de niños para las familias de los estudiantes inmigrantes y los que están aprendiendo inglés (ELL) en Filadelfia son limitadas debido a barreras de ingresos, transportación, cultura e idioma.
Las familias de los inmigrantes y ELL a menudo no pueden pagar por cuidado de calidad. Muchas no saben que podrían ser elegibles para recibir subsidios a través de la oficina Child Care Information Services (CCIS).
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Immigrant parents struggle to make best of limited options
Story and photos by Rose Howse and Crystal Tsang Posted in Fall 2009 | Permalink
Child care options for immigrant and English language learner (ELL) families in Philadelphia are limited because of challenges of income, transportation, culture, and language.
Immigrant and ELL families often cannot afford quality child care. Many are unaware that they may be eligible for subsidies through Child Care Information Services (CCIS).
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Renaissance School provider applicants await the first cut
by Dale Mezzacappa
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