Continual Education Reflection
Resources
Documentary: Which Way Home (2009)
Articles:
Reflection
Immigration, Youth, and Education - This educational article talks about three major issues in immigration. The first section focuses on documentation status and pathways to citizenship. This section provides several research statistics that conclude that "compared to their U.S-born counterparts, immigrant children - particularly undocumented children and those in mixed-status families - are more likely to live in poverty, experience neighborhood risks, and attend chronically low-performing schools; their parents forgo publicly funded programs and serves such as health insurance/medical care, preschools, and parenting education out of fear of deportation or lack of information." The second section of the article then talks about transculturation and the obstacles that come with assimilating and adapting to a new culture. In this section, various accounts are told of individuals that struggled with racial discrimination and economic oppression as immigrants. Moreover, this section explains that factors such as family obligation, can be a source of academic motivation and well being for immigrant children. The last section of the article explains implications for future directions in educational practice and policy. One of these implications involve the importance of "intentionally constructing and protecting spaces of belonging for students of immigrant backgrounds." It is important that educators are supporting children's acquisition of multiple languages and retention of their own culture and heritage.
Globalization, Immigration, and Education: Recent US Trends - This Educational article talks in detail about the effects of globalization on immigration and education. The first half of the article describes the three formations of globalization. The first formation of globalization involves the "post-nationalization of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services." The second formation involves the "emergence of new information, communication, and media technologies that place a premium on knowledge intensive work." The last formation involves the "unprecedented levels of world-wide migration generating significant demographic and cultural changes in most regions of the world." The second half of the article then focuses on the third formation of migration world wide. The article talks specifically about several factors in regards to the recent US trends and statistics of immigrant children and public education. These factors include poverty, segregated neighborhoods and schools, undocumented status, English language acquisition, access to higher education, and academic engagement. In conclusion, this article emphasizes the need for "healthy social support networks" to provide a number of functions that are linked to better adjustment. These support networks involve communities, family, mentors, and peers.
Which Way Home - This documentary follows the journey of 4 children who trek the 1,500 mile journey to the United States through Mexican Cartel Territory. Two of the children are from Honduras, while the other two are from Guatemala and Mexico. During this documentary, the children are followed as they ride on top of freight trains crossing crossing Mexico. This perilous journey has many risks and dangers. The documentary crew interview various people throughout the film. They interview parents of children whose lives were lost falling off the train, dying in the dessert, or being killed by smugglers. The film crew also interviews various individuals in immigration and border patrol where thousands of children are detained in their efforts to cross the border. Many of the individuals that were interviewed, were children with hopes and dreams of a better life in America. Many of the children suffered from extreme poverty in their home towns, and left their families in order to help support them financially. However, none of the children in the documentary ever made it across the border. One of the children was found by immigration and deported back to his country. The other two children were deported back, but made another trek 9 months later. However, they were detained again and deported back to their families.
The articles and documentary have educated me on various issues and trends in immigration. Prior to studying these resources, I was aware of several issues in regards to immigration and society. However, these resources have educated me on specific factors that affect educational progress for immigrant families. I learned that factors such as poverty and language acquisition have hindered the opportunities that many immigrant students can have to achieve higher education. Failure to succeed in education has then hindered opportunities for immigrants to climb up the social and economic ladder. Moreover, I have learned that immigration has world wide effects in globalization. Migration patterns can affect the stability of a nation's economic and educational system. I did not know the extent of the consequences and planning that countries have to do in order to accommodate an influx of immigrants. Finally, the documentary has really opened up my eyes to the treacherous journey that many children and individuals face in order to have a better life. I was really touched and emotional as I watched how various children have suffered and died in order to cross the border to the United States. I did not know that freight trains were used to travel across Mexican territory. I also did not know the extent of violence and suffering that happens to women and children by smugglers and drug cartels. These resources have definitely opened up my eyes to the experiences that many immigrants face. I will definitely take into consideration the implications for teaching immigrant children that were explained in the article about immigration and education. I will also take into account the many experiences and hardships that immigrants face to have an open mind as I teach immigrant children.
Documentary: Which Way Home (2009)
Articles:
- Immigration, Youth, and Education by Soojin S. Oh & North Cooc
- Globalization, Immigration, and Education: Recent US Trends by Marcelo Suarez-Orozco & Carola Suarez-Orozco
Reflection
Immigration, Youth, and Education - This educational article talks about three major issues in immigration. The first section focuses on documentation status and pathways to citizenship. This section provides several research statistics that conclude that "compared to their U.S-born counterparts, immigrant children - particularly undocumented children and those in mixed-status families - are more likely to live in poverty, experience neighborhood risks, and attend chronically low-performing schools; their parents forgo publicly funded programs and serves such as health insurance/medical care, preschools, and parenting education out of fear of deportation or lack of information." The second section of the article then talks about transculturation and the obstacles that come with assimilating and adapting to a new culture. In this section, various accounts are told of individuals that struggled with racial discrimination and economic oppression as immigrants. Moreover, this section explains that factors such as family obligation, can be a source of academic motivation and well being for immigrant children. The last section of the article explains implications for future directions in educational practice and policy. One of these implications involve the importance of "intentionally constructing and protecting spaces of belonging for students of immigrant backgrounds." It is important that educators are supporting children's acquisition of multiple languages and retention of their own culture and heritage.
Globalization, Immigration, and Education: Recent US Trends - This Educational article talks in detail about the effects of globalization on immigration and education. The first half of the article describes the three formations of globalization. The first formation of globalization involves the "post-nationalization of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services." The second formation involves the "emergence of new information, communication, and media technologies that place a premium on knowledge intensive work." The last formation involves the "unprecedented levels of world-wide migration generating significant demographic and cultural changes in most regions of the world." The second half of the article then focuses on the third formation of migration world wide. The article talks specifically about several factors in regards to the recent US trends and statistics of immigrant children and public education. These factors include poverty, segregated neighborhoods and schools, undocumented status, English language acquisition, access to higher education, and academic engagement. In conclusion, this article emphasizes the need for "healthy social support networks" to provide a number of functions that are linked to better adjustment. These support networks involve communities, family, mentors, and peers.
Which Way Home - This documentary follows the journey of 4 children who trek the 1,500 mile journey to the United States through Mexican Cartel Territory. Two of the children are from Honduras, while the other two are from Guatemala and Mexico. During this documentary, the children are followed as they ride on top of freight trains crossing crossing Mexico. This perilous journey has many risks and dangers. The documentary crew interview various people throughout the film. They interview parents of children whose lives were lost falling off the train, dying in the dessert, or being killed by smugglers. The film crew also interviews various individuals in immigration and border patrol where thousands of children are detained in their efforts to cross the border. Many of the individuals that were interviewed, were children with hopes and dreams of a better life in America. Many of the children suffered from extreme poverty in their home towns, and left their families in order to help support them financially. However, none of the children in the documentary ever made it across the border. One of the children was found by immigration and deported back to his country. The other two children were deported back, but made another trek 9 months later. However, they were detained again and deported back to their families.
The articles and documentary have educated me on various issues and trends in immigration. Prior to studying these resources, I was aware of several issues in regards to immigration and society. However, these resources have educated me on specific factors that affect educational progress for immigrant families. I learned that factors such as poverty and language acquisition have hindered the opportunities that many immigrant students can have to achieve higher education. Failure to succeed in education has then hindered opportunities for immigrants to climb up the social and economic ladder. Moreover, I have learned that immigration has world wide effects in globalization. Migration patterns can affect the stability of a nation's economic and educational system. I did not know the extent of the consequences and planning that countries have to do in order to accommodate an influx of immigrants. Finally, the documentary has really opened up my eyes to the treacherous journey that many children and individuals face in order to have a better life. I was really touched and emotional as I watched how various children have suffered and died in order to cross the border to the United States. I did not know that freight trains were used to travel across Mexican territory. I also did not know the extent of violence and suffering that happens to women and children by smugglers and drug cartels. These resources have definitely opened up my eyes to the experiences that many immigrants face. I will definitely take into consideration the implications for teaching immigrant children that were explained in the article about immigration and education. I will also take into account the many experiences and hardships that immigrants face to have an open mind as I teach immigrant children.