An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Us and Them?
Education progress eludes Latinos
In freshman year at my East Los Angeles high school, my gym locker was next to one belonging to a gang member named Oscar. He was a swarthy guy with bulging biceps and numerous tattoos. Although I was terrified of him, Oscar was always friendly.
I admired Oscar, though he came to school only when he felt like it. He seemed bright, if not too motivated. But after a while, he stopped coming to school.
The first clue this guy should have picked up on…..”gang member”. Why should he be motivated? Someone convinced him that a life of crime paid a lot better than an education. Evidently, the strong possibility of death at a young age didn’t make an impression.
According to a study by the Center for Community Development and Civil Rights at Arizona State University, out of 100 Latinos males who start elementary school, 49 leave before high school graduation. Of those who finish high school, only 10 complete college. Our high school dropout rate (29%) surpasses that of white males (7%) and African-American males (14%).
Again, education isn’t pushed as important for success.
The report didn’t blame Latino males for this failing. Rather, it suggested that underperforming school systems were failing them. While also citing cultural, economic and institutional barriers to success, the report warned of the dangers of such a large segment of the population being consigned to the underclass.
I’ll grant you there are some seriously ‘underperforming school systems’, not to lay blame where it belongs, squarely on the underachiever, is ridiculous.
This problem is especially alarming because it is occurring simultaneously with an immigration and population boom among Hispanics. Consider that by 2050, one in four Americans will be Latino. I know that many students in immigrant families feel obligated to help their families financially, often at the cost of dropping out. I know it can be difficult for young Latinos to do well in school when they don’t have the support of other family members. But I still wonder why the public schools can work for others, yet not for us.
“Consider that by 2050, one in four Americans will be Latino.” Excuse me? Do you want to be ‘Latino’ or an American? If there was an influx of, say, Irish, would that read ‘one in four Americans will be Irish’? Odds are, no, unless the said Irish immigrants had no intention of becoming American citizens, and would do their utmost NOT to assimilate, as seems to be the case in said ‘Latino’ community.
Public education should be taught in the language of the land. The inability to speak the language is a sure fire way to find failure.
The Hispanic community wants this crisis addressed. In a study by the National Council of La Raza, Hispanic voters ranked education as their top concern in the presidential race — ahead of more-publicized issues such as immigration and health care.
This sounds like the Hispanic community wants someone else to solve a problem that could easily be solved. Learn the language, assimilate, and realize the importance of education. Blaming the host country for YOUR short comings does not endear you to our hearts.
I still believe guys like Oscar deserve a shot at social and economic mobility. I believe all young people do. And if the presidential hopefuls want to demonstrate their commitment to Hispanic voters, addressing our education crisis is the best place to start.
If Oscar didn’t apply himself, is it the president’s fault? Any president, any party? Not just no, but HELL no! The blame lies squarely on Oscar’s shoulders. He made a choice, as do many kids these days, not to take advantage of public education. This separating yourselves into a separate group is really getting annoying. If you come to this country, legally, become a citizen, you have the privilege of voting in elections….as an AMERICAN!
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