Dominican Immigrants Face Challenges in New York City Public Schools

This article is about how Dominican children are having trouble in the school systems of New York City. It points out that many of the newly arrived students were not formally educated back in the Dominican Republic. Most of these children’s parents left them for years before they could be brought along with them to America. When the children arrive, they are surprised to find out that the youth in America is allowed to have opinions instead of always having to refer to their elders. The parents of these children feel the pressure of American society because they cannot punish their children like they could over in the Dominican Republic without having someone from the outside step in and say something. In their home country, those matters would be considered private affairs.

Language is a huge barrier to try to break for many of these students. Most of them do not really even have a grasp of their own Spanish language. A lot come over who are illiterate. This is because formal education is not pushed in their country because their family may need money to survive. The children would then be working instead of going to school. It makes it even harder to learn English with no academic background. Most of the students end up in a bilingual class instead of being placed in an English only class with the rest of the students. That ends up alienating them right off the back. Many of the Dominicans will feel constantly attacked and look towards their own for guidance. This can end up being a chance for gangs to recruit. The areas where the Dominicans are going to school are not particularly nice neighborhoods.

Another thing that can become another challenge for the youth is that parents will become jealous of their child’s chance at education. This is because the parent has to go through the struggle of trying to learn English too, but does not get the same support their children are getting. Also like I said before, the youth are also getting see that America offers them a lot more freedom from their elders. Some parents may not like the fact that they are losing control over their children.

Most of the Immigrants from the Dominican Republic come over poor. America has become a “golden grail” to their country. During the height of the crack movement, money was being transported back to their homeland. It made it look even more enticing. When the Dominican youth returns to the Dominican Republic, they are looked at with suspicion because of their baggy jeans and Yankees caps. They are also more likely to resist authority rule because of their experience in the U.S. The Dominicans are having trouble “fitting in” where ever they may be. "When you go home, everyone sees you as an American," Nuñez says, "while in New York, you are a Dominican."

Here's a link to the article I was talking about.
http://www.worldpress.org/Americas/2330.cfm