I�d just like to remind everyone about the series of online discussions being led by Macalester students. This weeks topics is: Immagration & Public Schools. To sign up, visit:
http://mapnp.geeks.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul-topics Note: I�m observing discussions from out of town this week and next, so I might not be as responsive as usual to requests or questions. ----- Forwarded message from Julia Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 00:07:04 -0600 From: Julia Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Julia Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [SP-TOPICS] immigration and public education To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Welcome to the third week of discussions led by the Political Geography: Spaces of Citizenship class from Macalester College! This week�s discussion will address the integration of immigrants into St. Paul�s and Minneapolis�s public school systems. This week we would like to open the discussion forum to those involved/connected to/interested in the Twin Cities� public schools. The moderators of this week�s discussion are Elianne Farhat, Carolyn Fryberger, David Johnson-Igra, Julia Roberts, Emily Roroagen, Patrick McGarrity, and Sam Worley-Ekstrom. We have invited a number of individuals and groups highly involved with the Cities� education systems to the forum, including St. Paul�s English Language Learner (ELL) program manager Heidi Bernal and supervisor Greg Anderson. Hopefully we will have a stimulating discussion! We chose this topic because of the recent influx of immigrants, especially Hmong and Somali, to the Twin Cities. In fact, this year an expected five-thousand more immigrants are expected to take residency in the Twin City area. The sheer number of new students in public schools, not to mention language and cultural barriers that will arise, are going present a variety of difficulties and complications which will require alterations and accommodations to current conditions. This process of immigrant incorporation has been ongoing in the Twin Cities; though recently more drastic changes have been made to the education system to adjust. We would like to begin by inviting everyone to voice any experiences with the effects of the assimilation of a large number of immigrants into public schools. How has this influx affected your child�s education or your job? What do you foresee in terms of potential costs/benefits? Are there any strategies in place that you see as particularly successful or unsuccessful? We hope this discussion fosters a progressive and cooperative approach to the integration of immigrant children into public schools. This dialogue will be most successful if information and ideas exchanged within this forum can be applied directly to programs and procedures in the schools. Through our invitation of leaders in the immigrant communities, public school officials and educators, and leaders in the ELL programs, we believe this application is possible. If you know anyone else who you think would be a valuable contribution to this discussion, please invite them to join. Thank you for your participation and your contribution. Julia Roberts Macalester College If you�d like to learn more about various aspects of this topic, take a look at the links provided. 1. <http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/programs/midmorning/listings/mm20041 115.shtml> "Schools work to accomodate Hmong Refugees"- link to original MPR program which you can listen to in full--it's under the wed nov 17 section 2. <http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/199903/08_nymanl_home/index .shtml> a comprehensive piece by MPR with four parts about the Hmong experience here and in Laos as well as portraits of four Hmong people 3. <http://www.jefflindsay.com/Hmong_tragedy.html> a bunch of articles about the Hmong in the US 4. <http://www.lacrosseschools.com/longfellow/sc/hrc/links/> a list of links to Hmong organizations and about Hmong culture in general from the Hmong resource center 5. <http://www.mnadvocates.org/> website for MN Human Rights Advocates 6. <http://www.mncn.org/hmongbriefing.htm> an article about Hmong refugee resettlement for the MN council of nonprofits _______________________________________________ Stpaul-topics mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/mailman/listinfo/stpaul-topics ----- End forwarded message ----- _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
