A continuation from yesterday's post

Today I met with the third group in 7th hour to finish up the article, "A New Immigration BOOM" regarding the large number of Latinos coming to America. This time I met up with Irma, Hatija, Seth, Kayse, and Enisa.

Irma (672), Seth (250), Enisa (231), Emina (520), Adrijana (244), and Anthony (BR) are the students whom I've decided to make into my research students, with Enisa and Seth being moderately high for my group of students, Irma and Adrijana being my medium students, and Anthony and Emina for my lower students.

Irma and Hatija were appalled to read the line, "Some people say that immigration hurts America."

"That makes me mad! It's racist!" Irma said, Hatija promptly agreeing. The other students nodded their heads, while Seth put his head on the table.

Due to his past relations with students from other countries, I have come to learn that Seth is a closet racist, saying things like, "I hope all Iraquis die!", "All the Bosnians here are assholes." and "We should just blow up the middle east completely." He also draws Nazi signs on his folders brought from home, writing in the margins that he hates Nazis and that they should all die too. However, why would he draw such large symbols? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, unfortunately, and as a result a lot of the Bosnian, Russian, and other students pick on him and shun him due to his narrow view on immigrants and those from other countries.

Irma then began, "Can I tell you something, Ms. Frankliiin? It's about this, and about people coming to America. So, me and Guadalupe were coming from Mexico, you know? And we didn't speak a lot of English but we knew some. And people were standing on the borders telling us that we needed to go back, that we weren't wanted here, that our kind wasn't welcome here. Then they started to throw stuff at us, and cuss at us. I mean, why would they do that? Why would people hate us that much? And then there was this time that I was out with my friends and these guys told us that we should go back to where we came from. My friend slapped him! It was so funny. But they were so mean!"

Enisa, who is ever the quiet one, then said, "This one time that happened to me and my dad! We were at the mall, and some guy walked up to my dad and said that he should go back to whatever country we came from. My dad was so mad, but he didn't say anything and just walked away. I felt so awful."

Hatija then launched into her versions of her own tales of racism towards her, and they were very similar in the aspect of how hurt it made her. Then she said, "I mean, all Americans, they hate Bosnians and Gypsies."

I interjected, "But I'm American. Are you saying that I don't like you and Enisa?"

Kayse then joined in and said, "I don't hate Bosnians or Gypsies. I like you guys."

Seth did not redeem himself and kept his mouth shut.

Hatija then amended, and said, "Okay, some Americans hate Gypsies and Bosnians."

I praised her and asked her to see the difference in what she had just said, and she smiled and nodded, knowing that there was a difference between the two.

The conversation then took a large turn when Kayse said, "It's just like white people not liking black people. Who cares what the color of your skin is? I mean, black is just a little darker than white, Hispanics are just a little darker than white... so what should it matter?"

Irma then said, "Yea, we all have the same parts. We all have feelings. How can you hate someone for something like their skin color?"

Then my buzzer went off, and it was time to end the discussion.

My feelings on the discussion are that they all went phenominally! The students really got into it, especially my 2nd and 7th hours. I got a lot of insight into their views on immigration, and how they feel considering they are a large immigrant population. The only thing that I would change would be to get a recorder to make sure that I could have gotten everything they said word for word. I was just so proud that my students were able to have discussions on a topic the heavily effects a large percentage of our population.

I know I really only need to focus on my 7th hour since that's my research group, but 2nd hour with Cadiedras, Haris D, Jose M, Kadir, and Terry went really well too.

Cadiedras was my little devil's advocate, saying things like, "They steal our shops. Before the Bosnians came, we had other shops but now all you see is Bosnian shops and bars and clubs."

Kadir agreed with her and said, "Before the Russians came (he's Russian), there were other shops, but really... there are only Bosnian bars around here. And food places."

Haris D. bristled, being Bosnian. However, everything he said eventually turned into a joke. "You racist! We didn't steal anything! You should've gotten there first. And anyway, my dad owns one of the restaurants around here, and I've been to a bunch of the bars because my dad takes me to them! We didn't steal anything."

... your dad takes you to the bars around here??

Cadiedras never relented, which I was shocked and mildly proud of her for. Not that I agree with her on her stance, but the fact that a peer was attempting to knock her down, and she refused to back down. She's a very shy, amiable girl with moderate MR, but she's come a long way since the beginning of the year on her social skills and writing levels.

Terry was only really upset about the fact that she does believe that immigrants get the jobs that Americans want, but that's no reason to really hate them. She just thinks that it's unfair.

Haris D. whispered, "You should have gotten there first..."