One would think that the sanctuary city of Philadelphia would be uber-excited about illegal aliens
Migrant students in Philadelphia aren’t getting the support they need, advocacy group says
Zulma Guzman came to Philadelphia from El Salvador in 2019 and is a part of South Philadelphia’s Hispanic community. But she’s had a difficult time getting comfortable as the parent of three students in the city’s public schools.
She said through an interpreter that there’s been a lack of translation services in official school meetings that makes her feel unwelcome. When she and other Spanish-speaking parents have asked for interpreter services, Guzman said, they’ve often been told to “bring our students or children or another community member to interpret for us.”
In addition, she said she struggled to find people at her childrens’ schools to help make her aware of the resources available to her as a member of a newcomer family.
Guzman’s experience isn’t uncommon. In fact, it reflects complaints about significant shortcomings with how the district supports newly arrived migrants, refugees, and those seeking asylum, according to survey results collected by Juntos, an immigrant rights advocacy group, and shared with Chalkbeat.
Shows up illegally, brings three kids, and they make no attempt to learn English, but, it’s on SCP to provide the help and resources for someone who cares not a whit to assimilate? Anyone attempting to apply to go through the legal naturalization process must show competence in reading and writing English, otherwise they will not be accepted.
In the 152 responses from teachers, administrators, and counselors at 56 schools, just 17% said there were sufficient Bilingual Counseling Assistants or bilingual staff members to meet students’ needs in every language they speak. Only 19% said they had received newcomer-specific training that covered more than just interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And only 33% said they believe their schools are equipped to communicate with newcomers and their families.
“Newcomers.” The use of that idiotic word which replaced the also idiotic “undocumented immigrant” is gaining quite a bit of traction. Anyway, this means that schools, which are already having issues, must spend more time patronizing illegal alien kids rather than teaching kids who are citizens.
Philadelphia does have two “newcomer” academies at Franklin Learning Center and Frankford High School that are supposed to help these students. Students in grades 9-12 who have arrived to the U.S. within the past year can enroll in these academies. They are supposed to receive “an accelerated course of study” and unique support “so that they are able and expected” to get up to speed with their peers.
Ashley Tellez is a senior at Franklin Learning Center and a junior organizer at Juntos. Her family is from Mexico, but she was born and raised in South Philadelphia and has had a front seat to her school’s newcomer academy. She said in practice, students in these programs are not getting the support they need.
Why would someone born in SCP need to go to a newcomer school? Should she not have already learned English and assimilated? This is a big problem with illegals: they expect the U.S. to accommodate them, and teach their children the same.
Read: People Who Shouldn’t Even Be In U.S. Upset Philly Is Not Ready For Them »