The trickle-down-effect of the Executive Order on Immigration that Trump signed in January 2017 has reached my classroom and is having a life-threatening impact on my students. This is serious. You see, although the order was blocked by a federal judge in Brooklyn, the climate of increased police profiling, surveillance, and arrests in urban centers… Continue reading I.C.E., I.C.E., Baby: The Fearful Cry of an Innocent Child
A mother asks me, a New York City public school administrator, “Is Mr. Trump really racist, or just racist against Hispanics? ″ This NYC mom, who prefers to stay anonymous, is worried about her status in this country. Her story started a long time ago when she was only 6 years old. She was born… Continue reading Undocumented NYC Mother: “When Mr. Trump Won I Started to Cry”
Much is written about access, equity, and excellence. But very little is written about dedication, perseverance, and the willingness to succeed, as well as how parental encouragement helps students achieve academic success. Are we creating a weak society where everything gets blamed on the powers that be? Are we creating a society where very little… Continue reading “Don’t give up. It will get better. Just keep trying”: A Twelve-Year-Old’s Latina’s Support System Is Her Parents
I walked into work on November 9th, 2016 feeling frail and numb. Some feeling is returning to my being, but even as I stand here in my kitchen and type these words, tears are welling in my eyes and I feel a tight knot in the pit of my stomach as I recall the look… Continue reading The Children Have Spoken: The Aftermath of the 2016 Presidential Election in My Classroom
