Another crisis is brewing as a result of the influx of immigrants into the United States: The crushing academic overload as well as the health and safety of students at public schools.
Massachusetts is decrying the surplus of Central American immigrant children into their public schools. Gov. Deval Patrick accommodated Barack Obama's request to shelter illegal immigrant families – which happen to be in some of the poorest neighborhoods – and, of course, illegal immigrant kids are mandated by Attorney General Eric Holder to attend school at the taxpayer's expense.
Chelsea, Massachusetts, City Manager Jay Ash not only struggles to handle hundreds of immigrant students academically, but he also remarks "that many of the minors have social and emotional issues that may disrupt classrooms, demanding more counselors." Schools will become a clearinghouse for additional government employees to be present to handle crises. We've already seen heated confrontations between Hispanic students and white students over patriotism. Campus war zones presently exist on many school campuses, and a huge influx of illegal immigrants simply adds to the mix. Why? Not because they are immigrants, per se, but because school officials are powerless to enforce laws. Illegal immigrant students already know that the president stands with them against our laws, so that simply fuels the frenzy of those who decide to act out. Do we really think school counselors will intervene in heated campus disputes when the president and attorney general endorse hardcore lawlessness? Please.
In a recent "Dear Colleague" letter administered by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, school officials were reminded that in a ruling upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1982 case of Plyler v. Doe, "a State may not deny access to a basic public education to any child residing in the State, whether present in the United States legally or otherwise. Denying 'innocent children' access to a public education imposes a lifetime hardship on a discrete class of children not accountable for their disabling status. ... By denying these children a basic education, we deny them the ability to live within the structure of our civic institutions, and foreclose any realistic possibility that they will contribute in even the smallest way to the progress of our Nation."
The letter states that school officials may ask for proof of residency to determine where a student should be educated, but officials are prohibited from "inquiring into students' citizenship or immigration status, or that of their parents or guardians would not be relevant to establishing residency within the district. A district should review the list of documents that can be used to establish residency and ensure that any required documents would not unlawfully bar or discourage a student who is undocumented or whose parents are undocumented from enrolling in or attending school."
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Oh, and let's not forget the overage, gray-haired illegals who are posturing as 16- and 17-year-old students and crashing classrooms with relatives and lawyers in tow, demanding education. How many of these "students" are pedophiles, rapists, drug runners or otherwise unlawful persons? In one instance, a minor produced a warrant for arrest to prove his age! The Department of Homeland Security was notified, but to date, there's no record of an arrest being made. Are we shocked?
And so the crashing of thousands of illegal immigrants into American public schools further exacerbates the slippery slope of "Big Education." Already, we contend with Big Brother, Big Government and Big Health Care. Might as well completely sink whatever's left of public education.
Common Core is bad enough; now educators have to contend with trying to find common ground with an influx of illegal students who cannot even speak the language. To make matters worse, funds for English-speaking students are now in direct competition with illegal immigrants who are supposed to somehow assimilate into a society that is forced not only to accommodate them, but educate them as well – at the expense of American citizens. Why does anyone expect the majority of them to want to live like law-abiding Americans when they are afforded the right to supersede our laws?
When school funds dry up at the local level, well, of course, "Big Education" will step in and save the day with government assistance from state and federal agencies. Yep, just what public schools need: less of whatever is left of parental input and local jurisdiction and a complete sweep of education control by the federal government. What other choice will school administrators have to accommodate the infiltration of illegal immigrants into their classrooms? They have their backs up against a wall as it stands, powerless to stop the Obama-orchestrated takeover of America's public schools. Illegals crashing into public schools on such a wide swath leave no option except for "salvation" by Big Government.
Thousands of illegals crashing America's public schools also place a national health risk to students, faculty and family members because many of these children carry contagious diseases. Parents used to be concerned only with a cold or flu spreading to their kids. The biggest "plague" when my kids were in school was head lice. Now contagious diseases are the norm. Expect the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make their rounds and inoculate all students whether parents want them to or not.
Diseases and viruses such as tuberculosis that have been absent from society for years will re-emerge. According to Dr. Jane Orient, executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, "Legal immigrants have always been required to undergo health screenings, but these kids coming have no medical screenings and no vaccine records. They're likely coming here with a number of infectious diseases that will spread like wildfire.
"Norovirus is also an extremely contagious virus with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea," Orient explained. "All we need is one outbreak of that virus and we would have an overwhelming public health crisis."
She continued, "We no longer have natural immunity against diseases such as measles and chicken pox because we haven't had them in this country for years. … Many doctors have never even seen these diseases so may not recognize them."
Public schools are now the epicenter of emotionally unstable children, illegal immigrant criminals and disease-ridden classrooms.
Welcome to Obama's crash and burn – or rather, "crash and burn US" – immigration policy.
Media wishing to interview Selena Owens, please contact [email protected].
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