So, is language really a barrier?

Sept. 06


There are a two main cogs in this whole immigration reform wheel that I don't get.

The fence. And people whining.

Like either one is going to do any good.

Unless I'm missing something, the fence is like a wall. Didn't we learn anything from Berlin? Are we really thinking this will stop anything? Are we really that kind of people?

And if I hear one more person whining about how many Hispanics there are at Wal-Mart, I'm going to thump them with a foil-wrapped loaf of garlic bread. Yes, "they" have to shop and eat, too. This should not be a shock. And, yes, there are lots of "them." This should be no shock by now, either.

Again, I don't know what the long-term political answer is down there on the border -- and yes, there are several big questions that need to be answered under the heading of "immigration problems" -- but as I take a swipe at and break open the teetering pinata hanging above our heads, a couple of consistent thoughts about the issue spill out. Mind if I share a few of them?

I work at an institution of education, higher education at that. So if there are lots of "them" at Wal-Mart, why aren't they where I work? I don't see many.

We are basically into our third generation of Hispanic immigrants in Utah and the concept of going to college is still foreign to the Latino community. Now I am brushing with broad strokes here -- yes, there are exceptions to most generalities -- but it is not an exaggeration to say that Hispanics are not going to college. Twenty years ago, colleges braced for an anticipated onslaught and prepared "to get tanner," as the saying was then, but it hasn't happened.

In fact, USU felt a noticeable drop in admissions in Fall 2005 and one of the reasons blamed for the slide was that the number of students in Utah high schools that normally go to college declined, even though the total number of graduating seniors remained high. The total number was artificially high because of the every-increasing number of Hispanics students in Utah high schools whose education ended right there. College? Nada.

College is not a big deal to the Latino immigrant. In fact, high school barely is. Drop out rates for Hispanic teens -- especially girls -- is the second highest demographic, well above Anglos, and not just in Utah.

Why?

Well, fathers and mothers in immigrant families are more concerned about surviving day to day. Making money to help the family eat is much more of a concern than making an investment in college. Again, broad strokes here, but the statistics and individual life stories bear it out. A second reason is that the parents and grandparents of Latino students still aren't conversant in English. One educator -- a Latino -- told me that parents of Hispanic students don't hear from their kids about parent-teacher conferences, don't hear about problems their students might be having in school, just don't get involved in the school system because of the language barrier. And without the parental involvement, the average Hispanic student doesn't thrive, same as white students struggle without that support. It just happens much, much more often.

Utah high schools have also not gotten serious about the need to be Spanish conversant, even in English as a Second Language Classes. Daring districts that put Spanish-speaking teachers (dual language -- not Spanish-only) in classes dominated by Hispanic students have found that test scores soar. Students do much better. The goal of secondary education ought to be success, not forcing the immigrant students to catch a concept or two being taught in a new language. Come on — do what works.

Oops. I'm starting to whine and I hate that. So here are a few more random suggestions I think are better than a fence.

Universities have got to get serious about explaining -- not just recruiting for "diversity" sakes or token minority numbers -- the need for higher education to the Hispanic community. Get into lives early. Make it a heart-felt commitment, a long-term investment. Start in kindergarten, if needed. Nothing will change until this one thing changes. The Latino community will continue to put working two jobs ahead of education going to school, sending half of their money south of the border, and will continue to feel, act, live and learn in a more-impoverished condition than Anglos until they catch the vision of what education in America can do for them.

Universities also need to make a second language a requirement for an education degree. Yes, a requirement. Prospective teachers shouldn't graduate without it. What are we waiting for? Do we really believe this ethnic group is going to shrink in size? Do we really believe that waiting for them to learn English first is working? The ability to speak a second language as a teacher cannot be overestimated.

The education community (higher, secondary, both -- it really doesn't matter) also needs to get much more aggressive about helping the immigrant community learn English. It is critical that the parents of students be able to keep up with their students. Classes, mentoring, night school, neighborhood study sessions ... just biting the bullet and reaching out, realizing the benefits will be to the entire society, not just one immigrant family.

The Hispanic community has to stop isolating themselves and only seeking out their own kind. Be it soccer leagues, weekend activities, shopping or housing choices, Latinos also need to stop whining and realize their lives have changed. Whites are often blamed for not reaching out to immigrant families and for making only weak efforts to get beyond the superficial in an effort to help Latinos. Guess what? Hispanics can also be blamed for forming closed-in communities that are more comfortable only serving other Hispanics. They, too, need to make concerted, overt efforts to reach out and integrate into the Anglo community, making friends and asking for help.

And, yes, this means learning the language. With the same intensity as educators should feel to teach it, Latinos have got to learn their adopted language.

There is still more that needs to said on this issue, things about crime rates and self-policing, public relations, teen pregnancy and unwed mothers. Maybe later.

For now, I've got to go crack a few folks on the head with some French bread.