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Immigration And Immigration

Decent Essays

In each individual classroom, every student is different; they all have different backgrounds, cultures and traditions, different educational needs, abilities and talents, and overall different identities. In Leigh Patel’s book, Youth Held at the Border: Immigration, Education and the Politics of Inclusion, she evaluates how immigration and citizenship, two important identity markers, impact education, specifically, the practices of teachers and the experiences of students in schools. Patel’s research was conducted at a school called Franklin High School, which was exclusive to immigrant students, documented and undocumented, and she follows the stories of several students who shed light on immigration’s impact on education and identity. Beyond sharing anecdotes, she examines the systems that are in place to hold immigrant youth “at the border” beyond the physical borders between nations. The United States is seen as the land of opportunity by many new immigrants to the country. However, as they cross the border into this country, they immediately encounter new borders. These borders are social, linguistic, cultural, economic and more. For immigrant youth entering the American education system, it can be especially intimidating. Not all schools are like Franklin High School as Patel describes it. Due to Franklin High Schools status as a school for recent immigrant youth, "Franklin High School followed an international model of schooling, which meant it served only recently

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