VivirLatino

ugh, how sickening.
but as you wrote, mala, you know and live that experience of educating latino children. reality means nothing to a man who wants to make an easy buck off the back of his people.
i mean, what the hell IS this??
"Why Hispanic culture’s trouble with education, democracy, and economics stems from Mother Spain and the “five-hundred year siesta” she induced in Latin America."
500 year siesta? wtf?

I'm disturbed by the personal attacks rather than dealing with some of the issues Badillo has raised. I worked in the school system and noticed an enormous difference between Hispanic students and non-Hispanic students. Yes, many hispanics didn't show up for parent-teacher conferences. Yes, I personally thought billingual education was sub-standard education and sold the student's short.

But the most frightening part of your review is that you somehow think you speak "collectively" for Hispanics, when you're really only talking about your own opinion.

Badillo's accomplishments are many and yet you completely side-step that to discredit his criticism. How is the Hispanic community supposed to improve if it rejects any type of criticism or is nestled to comfortably in the nest of victimhood and righteous indignation?

Both your experiences and my own are anecdotal but I will ask of you why , for example do many Latino parents not show up to Parent Teacher conferences. It has been my experience over the last few years of working within the NYC public school system that many parents do not show not because as you and Herman would say, because they do not value their child's education but because the school institution hasn't offered information in Spanish about the conferences, hasn't offered translation services at these conferences or hasn't taken into account the working schedules of Latino parents. As for Badillo- I urge you to look at his history and record especially when he was on the CUNY board and would then ask you if his actions match with someone who claims to be so concerned with the education of his community. Maybe he's just kissing republican culo so he can run for something.

Wow, a contentless, churlish diatribe that essentially confirms every major premise of Badillo's polemic.

You done good, senorita.

LA RAZA!!!

*prolonged eye roll*

We are all to blame and we need to find solutions. So let's unite!

« Hispanics Studying English on their Own | GED Programs | Eric Schneiderman Talks About Gregorio Luperon »

September 06, 2006
New York City Promotional Exams
WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN NY CITY?

By Profesor Martin N. Danenberg “El Quijote del GED”

The very same problems may be going on all over New York State and other states. Why are so many students failing promotional exams? This article raises the issue about the Chancellor’s ability to turn the schools around.

When one half of the glass is full and one half in empty, people show there optimism or pessimism by their responses to the question posed. With the cities’ students repeating the third, fifth, and seventh grades, we can see how many students have failed to pass the promotional exam and we can determine if the glass is full or empty.

First we must know the number of students who were eligible for summer school and that number is 15,981. Of those who did not pass the first exams, there were those who were promoted upon appeal and that number is 2,801 in the three grades. An additional 7,813 did not pass the test. So 10,614 never passed the test and may experience educational problems in the near future.

You buy cars from professionals that provide the best information to you about engine size, trunk space, miles per gallon, and more. Those who lie are probably selling you a lemon and then you get stuck. This is probably what is happening to parents and children with the instruction for promotional exams.

1. Do teachers receive an analysis of all the weaknesses of their summer school students before starting the actual instruction?
2. Do they teach according to the individual needs of each student or are they instructing only or mostly the entire class.
3. What is the strategy of each teacher during the final two weeks or so? Do they have a strategy for each student?
4. Are parents informed about the weaknesses of their children at the start of summer school so they can assist or have a family member or a tutor help out?
5. This probably goes on all over NY State, not just NYC.
6. The predictor test for the promotional exams of NYC’s third and seventy grade students would tell you what percentage of the children were expected to pass before classes started. If you get a figure that is around 50% of the students are expected to pass and only 50% passed, you can conclude that all of that instruction helped hardly anyone one and the summer program was unproductive.
7. Suggestions have to be made to parents, too, concerning the discipline of their children during the summer weeks, concrete suggestions that keep the children from lapsing into bad study habits.

MARTIN N. DANENBERG
7 BLAZER DRIVE
ISLANDIA, NY 11749
GEDHOTLINE@AOL.COM
631-348-1341
www.geocities.com/gedhotline
www.ahorre.com/ged
www.ahorre.com/noticias

Latino Blogs Hispanic September 6, 2006 06:39 AM | Noticias | GED Math

Ahorre: Paginas Web

All people need to do is read the blurb on the book jacket expressing the sentiments of Mario Cuomo.

Yes, that Mario Cuomo.

As far left as they come politically, but aware that in order to succeed in this country you need to adopt certain mainstream values, one of them being a priority placed on education and upward mobility.

If you Kos Kiddie bozos and leftist racial separatists had any confidence in your baseless claims, then you would attack Mr. Badillo on the MERITS of his argument.

The fact that you choose to engage in slander and libel-and distract from the issue at hand-is illustrative of the vacuousness of your position.

A question to Maegan la Mala,do you feel our schools should offer translators to all languages, that might be spoken by other students and their families, such as Chinese, Italian,German, or French, or just to the Spanish speaking families and students in our school system? English is the primary language spoken in our country, the other foreign speaking immigrants who come to this country know this and really try to learn our language, why should America enable the Spanish speaking families to continue with their native language instead of learning to communicate in English as the rest of the people have to do? I am sick of this reverse discrimination practiced against all other then Spanish languages that is now going on in our country.No, our schools should not have to provide translators to the Spanish speaking families, it is their responsibility to learn our common language of English in order to survive in our country, not the responsibility of America to provide translators for them!!! Edwin McDonald, Okla.

I have been working in the local public school to encourage and get translators in the primary languages spoken by families in the school, including Spanish, Chinese, Russian and more. So it's not just a Spanish language thing. There is a a large immigrant population . It isn't realistic to expect families who just arrived here from other countries to speak English and since there is (thankfully)no English only law here, the obligation is to provide equal access to information and services. Oh and by the way, in the school we also offer free English classes for non-English dominant families and we provide free childcare during these classes as well.

I have no idea who this Badillo guy is. I can say that I praise him
for having the courage to speak a truth of our Hispanic community. He is not saying that all Hispanic families are not involved but that most Hispanic families simply don't get involved. I can understand the many obstacles that any immigrant in this country faces in order to succeed, but why not admit that a lot of immigrant families are more concerned about making money to live day by day, hence the lack of involvement in their children's lives. If most families somehow instilled the magic formula of success (education) then at least families could be more involved and the school system could probably set up resources for families with those needs.
Unfortunately, from my personal experience as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, parents believe that the job of learning and teaching is solely on the hands of teachers. There is not a continuum in the home. Furthermore, there was always an inferiority complex where a teacher or school official was seen as a professional, and as such somehow there was always an intimidation. It was in a way that this professional teacher was way above a humble poor parent. This goes into cultural differences and a gap is formed.

I believe that Hispanics and everyone alike can seek out resources to help aid in education. I don't understand why some people see him as a sellout if all he is saying is a truth that is clearly seen in our communities.

There is always a tendency of co-cultures (minorities) who make it into office or persuasive power to immediately be called sellouts. My opinion is they are where they are because they have worked hard for that position. That usually means that they have gone through the rigorous motions of our American society. They have got themselves educated and are trying to live their American Dream. Why don't we support people who somehow represent us instead of taking things personally. People who do are being blind to the fact that we do need to get our communities continually involved in the education of our future (our children). Face it,
we need to instill the importance of education to every single child out there. It will surely diminish social problems.

It's paternalistic to place the onus of a child's education on the system rather than the parents. I found, as I was a student teacher for 4th grade, that so few parents came to student teacher conferences because they just didn't want to come, for whatever reason. They were working, or doing something else. The information was always given in Spanish and English, but not in Chinese or Vietnamese. My Asian parents CATEGORICALLY came. It was uncanny, especially since I spoke neither of those languages. This is just an anecdote, but it seems to reflect a statistical fact. Currently, 2 out of 3 Hispanics are dropping out of high school, the Asian graduation is nearly triple that. What's going on?

i just want to know why mr badillio has a problem with latinos who label themselves "people of color.i am an healthcare professional and my patient is from the same hometown as mr badillio. CAGUAS. but she and her family are proud to be labeled as a person of color, giving that her ancestors were taino indians.

I'm a Latina, my parents didn't subscribe to the book of "victimhood" when they came to this country. Their priority was to assimilate and provide the best education they could possibly afford for us (four children, all professionals). My parents wisely decided NOT to enroll us in a local public school where we would've been forced to be in a bilingual program and marginalized. Instead, they sacrificed to put us in a private school and we learned by English by immersion and we excelled in school. We didn't need nor require "special programs" to learn, assimilate or acculturate. It was a family priority and it worked. As for Spanish language learning, we were taught at home and took Spanish as a Second language all through grammar, high school and even college. Mr. Badillo tells it like it is, and the truth is unfortunately not pretty right now. The statistics don't lie, there is a problem with some Latino families that don't value education and instead use the public school system as a "warehouse/daycare/babysitting service" for their children. Hispanic teens have not only the highest drop out rate but the highest teen pregnancy and out of wedlock birth rates. I'm not ashamed of what Mr. Badillo is pointing out - it's obvious. I'm ashamed at those that refuse to see the reality and change the way some of these families think. It's not the schools that are failing the children, the families and the children don't take responsibility for their futures. I have close relatives who do teach in schools where there are many Hispanics and they bear out exactly what Badillo states. When it comes time for conferences, homework, projects, assignments or the least amount of parental support or involvement with the students work, the Hispanic families are absent. It's a crying shame. So, let's do something about that.... let's not condemn Barillo for pointing out the truth. Let's change the way some of these families think about schools, and their children's education.

My parents didn't subscribe to the victimhood mentality either and raised my sister and I according to the assimilation model as well. But as a mother myself, active in the NYC public school system, what I see and deal with on a daily basis with the Latino parent community doesn't jive with Badillo's sweeping charges and accusations.

If you really think that schools aren't part of the problem then you obviously aren't a parent. Hearsay from those relatives doesn't negate the wonderful work and effort I see from Latino families daily within the public school system. It really is about a partnership between the home and the school

Megan: I am a parent of four children. I DO know what I'm talking about. My parents attended every conference, my mother volunteered at the school library, and was an active, involved parent even as a Cub Scout and Brownie leader. Homework was reviewed every night, rewards were given for excellent grades. We were encouraged to always do more than what was expected and be the best. My parents set a great example, one I have followed for my children.
"Latino" families of which Mr. Badillo speaks need to stop playing to the politics of separatism and instead, encourage their children to assimilate, and acculturate. Embrace this nation's customs, norms and certainly make learning, speaking and using correct ENGLISH a top priority. Avoid "bilingual programs" at all costs.

I apologize for assuming that you aren't a parent but what makes you or your parents different from other Latinos? Or my parents for that matter? There has been no national study (not that I trust studies) to prove that parents are not reviewing homework etc (I personally don't reward for good grades- that is what expected y punto). But I also don't buy into the politics of assimiliation, which basically add up to Latinos conforming to a white supremacist model of education - a one size fit all model - a no child left behind model which has proven to fail all children regardless of racial or ethnic background- but especially children of color.

Hi,
I respect your arguments about some of the reasons why parents don't show up to conferences (language, timing, etc.), but I think one has to counter the center of the arguments in the book:
- Social promotion is bad
- Parents cannot be bystanders in their children's education, and hope the local gov't does it (look at gov't during Katrina)
- bi-lingual education ultimately does more harm than good

Whether one agrees with this or not, it serves no purpose to label "sellout" and not question whether there is a better way to do things.

Cheers, and Happy New Year.

I disagree with Badillo on what seems to be his basic premise i.e. that participation by the parents in school activities is the panacea that will bring the average Hispanic student up to the standard level of performance. My parents never attended any school function with the exception of my high school and college graduation ceremonies since they could only speak Greek. Clearly that is not a necessary condition for excelling in school. They did however impart their expectations for my performance in school both in Greece and after we emigrated to the U. S. It is this expectation that is missing in most poorly performing students. This poor performance is greatly exacerbated by coddling students with ESL when up until the age of 12 to 14 all normal children have an instinct for learning a language. It is in fact those parents, those of you who seek power by doing a great disservice when you scream and denigrate those that speak the truth and the pandering politicians who are the root of the problem. Oh well, if you all are trying to ensure that we have a continuous supply of gardeners and hamburgers flippers you are on the right track.

It seems that Chicanos and Puerto Rican ultra-leftist have been bored for some time, but apparently they are on a roll now. After Linda Chavez’s “Out of the Barrio” book published in the early 1990s, a book that made so-called Latino community leaders piss blood, they have now found their latest target: "One Nation, One Standard," by Herman Badillo.

Now before “they” start labeling me a Miami Cuban and stuff, I am not. However, we all know that there exist a lot of problems with the Latino community but apparently the community Gestapo objects any criticism that does not agree to their group think.

Good for you, Mr. Badillo. Like Chavez’s book, I will buy it and I can guarantee to you that I will not agree with all that you write. And you are not a "Vendepatria". You are simply part of the Hispanic legacy of this country.

Now, as many people know, education does not rank high in the Hispanic community. Yes, there are many, many… and I mean many Hispanic parents in the US who do care about education and go to PTA meetings and get involved with the homework of their kids. However, the vast majority of Hispanics, I will say, do not. And the numbers prove that point.

One of the many reasons may be because many of these parents lack an education themselves. As immigrants (and yes, there are many exceptions), most have a third grade education or less. With little education, parents don’t have that discipline to recognize the value of education and how it moves people up in the socioeconomic ladder of the US. In fact, Latinos often see “working hard” as a way to triumph. Well, immigrants are working hard already and mostly in shitty, poorly paid jobs.

That is why Asians (in particular Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese), excel in education. Culturally they have grown with the Confucius mentality that the intellectual is the highest level of social prestige. In Latin America, on the other hand, “working hard” is the motto of the urban poor in order to get ahead.

Many of these Latinos function in every-day Latin America. But once in the US, they clash in a country where education and technology is zenith; preparation is extremely important, and “working hard”… well, we are all working hard. How about “working smarter”.

Many of these immigrants simply don’t know how to function in an information society. They may have the “ganas” for working with their hands but that will take you only so far.

"Ganas," for the most part, will give you crappy jobs that do not necessarily leave you much energy when you come home, tired, where you live in a crappy noisy neighborhood, have limited money, don’t have papers, don’t have INFORMATION to know about city resources, etc, etc… Immigrant kids are left to the destiny of the schools. But Schools can only do so much. The foundation is in the home. No exception.

And certainly, in these immigrant homes you will rarely see a book shelf with books. Oh, yeah, you will find the latest CD of Los Tigres del Norte or Thalia, however.

Badillo, my hat is off to you. Good job. I hope the bitter medicine (er, your book) results into something positive. The Hispanic community has to stop caressing itself with complements and be so thin-skinned.

Oh, and those un-elected community “leaders” should turn around and say: “hey, there might be something important to Badillo's letters. Let’s try harder and hammer Badillos’ education message to the community”. But Nooooo.

Instead they raise their fists and chant “sell-out!”

Yeah, who are really the sell-outs, I say.

El Picador: Having been labled one of those ultra leftist Latinas and since you directlt attack points that I have made I will respond. I have been watching Badillo plug his book and his arguments are confusing and additionally have yet to be backed up by any credible sources save anecdotal. So it really is becoming a war of who has better stories of Latinos and education. Show me a verifiable fact from Badillo. Second , you using other people of color groups only serves to play "model minority" and serves no one except those in power. You'd rather play into the stereotypes of what Latinos and play divide and conquer politics. I have been active in the public school system here and in the community at large so I can raise my fist and yell sell out cuz I walk the walk and talk the talk.

MEAGAN LA MALA DISES HER OWN KIND

Holy Smokes! Meagan, come out of your "ethnic group think box" for crying out loud!

Are you writing from a Chicano clubhouse at UC Berkley or something?

As I noted in my initial comment, I will be buying Badillo's book and I guarantee I will not agree with all that he writes. But it is important to hear what he has to say. There is too much self-censoring in the Hispanic community by those who don't accept views outside of their collective thinking and politics of victimization.

However, the overall message of Badillo's book is that Latinos are not doing well in school. Sugar coat it if you will, be in denial but it is a FACT.

It’s not because of a Hispanic DNA dysfunction, rather in part because the immigrant from Latin America is for the most part poorly educated, passing this lack of information to their kids. Parents of immigrants often experience a learning curb of how the education system works but by then, the student has dropped out or flunked or barely graduated with a "C" from highschool.

Case in point: If immigrant parents have a 3rd grade education and their kid comes home saying, "Mom, dad, I need help with my algebra homework, can you help?"

Meagan, what do you think these parents will answer?

At the same time, many of these immigrant parents leave their kids to the school system that was NEVER designed to be a daycare. But many Latino parents, flanked by community activists, often blame the school district because of Latino poor educational performance. Nevermind the hurtful fact: parents need to be constantly coming down on their kids to do their homework, to study, and if the parent does not know how to help with the homework, to seek out help at the school with tutors for their kids.

As far as your apparent annoyance at Badillo for plugging his book, so what! What would you expect him to do? Oh, look! It's Rodolfo Acuña, legendary Chicano militant who is selling his book "Occupied America" via Univision! That's OK, though. He thinks we should be dependent on the government… for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!

As for your comment "you using other people of color groups only serves to play [the] 'model minority' and serves no one except those in power."

How the hell does this help "those in power"?

If anything, it lights up a match in the ass of the Hispanic community to have a point of reference and to hustle. Without a point of reference than we relax and start coming up with copouts such as needing the schools to adopt a “culturally comfortable curricula,” a water down system where there is little accountability because there is no expectation point.

Asian kids are not putting any "buts" when it comes to education and learning in the American educational system--even if many of these kids have immigrant parents (SEE my previous blog comment). Hispanics can also do the same. But this fire of wanting to excel in the US school system has to come from within the community. Unfortunately, the politics of the Hispanic community and many of their quixotic dimwits is to look for the victimization angle; entitlements and "if I did not excel is because I have been discriminated" mentality.

Hispanic students with C+ grades fall in the line of fire when they get into an university (with such grades, however, they would likely be through Affirmative Action programs), and many drop out once they see that they can’t hack the learning pressure. They are unprepared. Asian students are rapidly taking over the specialized and high-tech high-paying jobs; while Hispanics are making strides but are dramatically falling behind even though in 50 years we will be 1/4th of the population of the US.

I beg to God to keep being compared to Asians! I want to belong to that elusive "model minority" title so I can benefit those in power and be paid extremely well in my engineering job while my wife and kids live in a three-bedroom house, have health insurance and I am preparing my budget for the little ones to go to Ivy League schools, daaah!

(Your “serve those in power” comment is just as ingenious as when students in Latin America riot and destroy the host university in protest because they want everyone to get an education.)

Now, Meagan, I suppose you need to do some catch-up reading. All that I have noted above has been well documented by various sources--academic, political, cultural and economic sources. Seek 'em out. The fact that you have not run into any of this huge load of info is beyond me.

Again, sensor him or not, Badillo's opinion is just as legitimate as that of your favorite ultra-lefty writer. Oh! You do know that Badillo is a Democrat, right?

By the way, Hispanics can make it in the educational system of the US, without any sad violins playing in the background. Cuban-American kids, for the most part, have showed this and are on par with Anglo kids. But I must be clear here, I am speaking of the middle-class families that fled Cuba in the 60's. Present student generations of these "exiled families" are doing very well in schools. Oh, and before you ride the stereo-type bandwaggon that they were all "Cuban millionares" (a very, very, VERY small fraction in fact were, and the vast mayority middle-class), the secret is those middle-class parents got involved with their kids education as most middle class families do around the world.

Meagan, how about less walk and talk and more reading out of the box?

First off I would appreciate you at least spelling my name correctly. When I work with children of immigrants who seek out help for children , it's the very least I ask of them.

Second I am not Chicana, I am not on the west coast. So if you would like to stereotype me, at least do so my correctly identifying me, my roots and where I live and work.

I'm glad that you see no problem with playing the Ethnic minority olympics. If I really need to explain the divide and conquer politics used historically in people of color communties then I'm not the only one that needs to catch up n reading as you suggest I need.

LEVEL 1 THINKING vs. LEVEL 2 THINKING

M-a-e-g-a-n.

1. I will spell your name correctly from now on. It was my error and I am able to admit it.

2. You may not be a Chicana or even live in the West Coast [and Southwest for that matter], but you do represent such ultra-liberal thinking that make individuals such as a moderate Democrat as Badillo look like a right-wing nut. I cannot identify you of your roots because I don't know them. However, it is irrelevant to what we are discussing here.

I think it is useless to bring out our resumes of what we have done in THE community. We have all added our grain of sand—for better or worst.

A well known and researched fact—and published in The New York Times in the mid-1990s—is that the vast majority of Latino activists are far more liberal than the community they claim to represent. The respected Pew Hispanic Center has also information about that. If this is a revelation to you, so be it.

Level 1 thinking: identifying the problem but not giving a solution (anyone can do this. Anyone).

Level 2 thinking: identifying the problem and forwarding a solution (this is a tough one that not anyone can do. It entails being informed and going against conventional thinking. Risk your name and career… and in some cases, subject to violence). Badillo is at Level 2.

So far you have stayed at Level 1… and remember, the public is reading… it’s watching your limited responses on this blog.

Clearly, as Linda Chavez found out (SEE my previous write-up), the ultras got so pissed off by her book “Out of the Barrio” (against bilingual education, affirmative action, and other topics) that she was punched on the arm by a Latino activist at a NY college. Can you believe it?! Watch out, Badillo!

Ethnic Minority Olympics? Aw, Caramba! Can you give me more than that? You really don’t address the questions I have given you. Your views are limited to sarcasms rather than trying to win others over to your solid-proven views, right?

You say “Divide and Conquer.” Well, the coin has two sides. Your way of thinking does divide and keeps Hispanics conquered. Half-assed educated Hispanic students can only result in lower-level jobs and a host of legal complaints as to why they have not moved up the corporate ladder.

PS: are you one of those Latinas who demands to be called “Latina” rather than Hispanic?

Hmmm.

I teach in Orange County, CA. About 1/2 my students are hispanic and I can tell you that the hispanic students are almost unteachable. They have this attitude of "this is just some place I have to be" (ie. school). I'd say 90% of them have zero interest in learning. The boys only seem to want to be the tough guy and join a gang or start a fight and the girls only want to get pregnant. They are really pathetic. My best students are Asians and close second are the white kids.
Jim

I am utterly ashamed of many hispanics in this great country!
Being of hispanic heritage, I am first and foremost an American without any hypen in it.
Illegals MUST come to this country LEGALLY as my grandparents did.
They learned English, became US citizens (without amnesty!) vote, and refused to pay any alligence to Mexico--a country that did NOTHING FOR THEM.
They paid the USA back by learning English, by assimulating to this country. They NEVER expected the government to pay for their children in any way.
They had four children. All did well in school. Two went on to college while my uncles joined the army and went to vocational schools.
My mother and father had two children.
We work, pay taxes, and are big supporters of the Minutemen groups and other border control groups.
Shame on you people for taking advantage of this great nation. And shame on you for having too many kids you can't afford and then expecting the USA government to bail you out! Don't have kids if you are still working at McDonalds!
And if I may add, shame on SELL OUT Congressmen who feel it is alright to screw Americans and put illegals before American citizens. (REAL American citizens not these anchor babies who are simply being raised to honor Mexico!)
WHy in heavens name don't you hispanics who seem to LOVE Mexico so much, start your own revolution down there and take back your country. It has been so corrupt for so long...do something about it. Mexico could be just as profitable as Canada with it's natural resourse, tourism, coastlines etc.

WE are not interested in a Northern Mexico. We are Americans. Either get on board with that or GET OUT!

And as for Preschoolers and elementary kids being too fat?? Get a grip! Lay off the tortilla and beans, exercise, and eat more fruits and vegetables. They aren't that expensive.

First, I want to say that they are not immigrants, the vast majority are anchor babies or illegal aliens ie. border jumpers, criminals, parasites who leech off American taxpayers for food stamps, free education, free health care, welfare, WIC, EIC tax credits, and housing subsidies. Mexicans are basically parasites, that's it in a nutshell. Mexicans (and most latinos) have an almost animalistic mentality which shows in their tribal gangs and graffiti. Every latino neighborhood in the USA is a 3rd world dump. Just look at the hispanic areas of Chicago or East L.A. - worthless cesspools of poverty and crime. The ONLY solution is to round this brown filth up and deport them back to their 3rd world trash cans of "countries". Mexico doesn't tolerate illegal immigration from it's Southern neighbors, why should the USA?

Jim Robertson, M. Rodrigues and Kelly--if those are really your names...

Boy, reading your comments tells me more of what sad environments and education levels you guys have had and live under than what should be done about the issues. All of you stayed at level 1: bitching without real solutions (see my previous blog comment).

The great thing about blogs for you guys is that you actually speak your minds off anonymously while wearing a serene smile and a respectable tie in public.

For Jim:
I am writing to you from Seattle. Clearly you make it sound as if you are stuck in one of the shittiest schools of Orange County. Your writing tone leads me to put into practice my CIA analysis and profile making: you are relatively new in the education field and therefore, most likely a young teacher too (between 25 to 35 yrs of age). Also, you do NOT teach History. You seem to be overwhelmed by some of the pretentious tough-ass (but dumb-minded) Latino students and simply you have thrown in the towel. Your emotions run high, but you keep your feelings to your self, save home and close friends. Indeed, you find that your thoughts can be called racist by many but it is the environment of frustration that leads you to believe this, not that you really feel yourself a real racist. After all, you have a few Latino friends.

While it is true that your frustration with these kids knocks out any feeling for helping them out, it seems you are in the wrong profession and simply holding on to a paying job.

Possibly you may have tried a few times to put some sense into these retched Latino kids you speak of or did not want to mingle with them; becoming ever more cynical about them and, oh what the hell, the culture they came from. In the end, you have decided to shut your eyes deciding to teach those who want to learn (though Hispanics are welcomed) and the hell with the thuggy and baby-popping cholas.

Do you even speak to these kid’s parents to see what can be done, or how the parent can pressure them to get their assess on the ball? Too much extra work for you? Or simply there is a culture/language divide (and I would add history, too)? So you have detected a problem but have decided to stay at Level 1 thinking. Is the faculty/school district doing something about your concerns? Safety concerns? Does seeking help label you as weak/incapable amongst your peers so you rather endure a silent rage? Are you REALLY interested in making a difference? Did a prior “incident” with a Latino leave you with a bad taste?

Well, you are the only one who knows the answers to all this and I would not expect a true blog response. But there you have it. To be a teacher means to be philosophical. You are not, deciding to become just another number. You seem to be burned out, ready to vent without real intelligent solutions—AND YOU ARE A TEACHER FOR GOD’S SAKE!!!!!

Here is your jewel of the new year: “The boys only seem to want to be the tough guy and join a gang or start a fight and the girls only want to get pregnant.” Holy smokes!

You are next, Rodrigues...

To the Chicano M. Rodrígues… spelled with an “S”:

Bottom line is that be as it may be, you are still a Mexican when it comes to the circles you hang out with. Sure, try to distinguish yourself as “different” than the illegals, but really, you are still a Mexican or Chicano or Mexican-American.

You have one of the most, most common names in “Mexican.” Geesh, terrible thing to be: old farty, and confused. Believe me, you can preach how American you are but you will never be accepted by Nazi as a “real American” or any group. You are still a Mecskin.

Your world is too simple… and your comments too easy to counter. No challenge here. I am done.

Kelly:

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You're Irish. Enough said.

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First, I want to say that the Irish are not immigrants, the vast majority are anchor babies or illegal aliens ie. boat jumpers, criminals, parasites who leech off Protestant American taxpayers for food, education, health care, welfare, and housing subsidies. Irish are basically parasites, that's it in a nutshell. Irish (and most Celtics) have an almost animalistic mentality which shows in their tribal gangs and graffiti. Every Irish neighborhood in the USA is a 3rd world dump. Just look at the Irish areas of Boston or New York - worthless cesspools of poverty and crime. The ONLY solution is to round this red skinned filth up and deport them back to their 3rd world trash cans of "islands". Erie doesn't tolerate illegal immigration from it's Southern neighbors, why should the USA?

-- From the American annals of 1847

Maegan la "Mana":

Get real... Hernan Badillo has hit the nail in the head. I work with the immigrant community, I lived in Mexico (Legally, thank you) for four years and have traveled throughout Latin America and three other continents and I can tell you that Mexican parents place a low priority on education. First: Mexico, or at least the regions from where most illegal aliens hail from, is an agricultural society gone awry. The concept of education is directly in conflict with earning your keep.
Second: Let's not fool ourselves. Most Hispanic "Recent arrivals" are more likely to lack proper documentation. The reeason they are not involved in school activities is that they are out working two or three jobs so they can send their ill-gotten wealth to their cleptocratic homeland.

Rather than get translators, foreign language students should be compelled to learn English, much in the same way that Mexican schools don't provide English translators for a gabacho kid.

Illegal alien children cost our taxpayers thousands of dollars in tuition alone. Let's not talk of meals and medical care. The very least these children's parents could do is try to be good guests and not try to impose their culture on their hosts.

Personally, I would hope that our immigration laws would mirror Mexico's so not only illegals would be summarilly sent to the border (I would prefer to put them on a barge and send them to Progreso Yucatan), but those who aid illegals would face swift and Napoleonic justice for their role in aiding and abetting. Maybe then our children could move forward without the socioeconomic ballast that has been foisted upon our communities by blindly ambitious and inconsiderate delincuents. And therein lies the rub... When the children see their illiterate parents making good money, outsmarting the gringo law enforcement apparatus and pushing their ethnocentrist agenda on those of us who realize that this is an Anglo-Saxon, protestant country, in the name of "diversity", I can only ask you what kind of diversity do you see in those countries? In the many I traveled to, Nationalism and jingoism seemed to carry the day.

Henan Badillo is right on the money. The only way for HISPANICS to get ahead is through education. You'd do well to heed his words as not only are you a few acres left of center, but also south of the "C" line. If you were teaching my son anything other than domestic economy, I'd sue the school district.

To: El Picador
The Irish didn't get squat in social freebies such as food stamps, welfare, WIC, EIC tax credits, etc etc. since those programs didn't exist back then. So keep your beaner apologist mouth shut you latino leech. You know Mexicans are trash, everybody says it, nobody speaks highly of Mexicans, they are just thought of as "dirty cockroaches". Go spray some graffiti and destroy another highway sign, isn't that all you cholos do?
Kelly

Dear Kelly Patrick O'Hara:

I think I hit an ahrrish nerve. ; )

Well, you know Patricio, Eagan or Kelly (oh, what the hell! It’s all the same anyway), you thought you had a hard-on and doing it on top. Now you find that you have been rammed from behind all along! Man, you are making me grin.

Dumb Celtic.

See, many recent Hispanic immigrants know little of Irish history and can't defend against green-blooded, zombie white-skin, orange freckles types. They'd do well to learn it so they can toss your kind around and see that you got nothing on 'em.

I am having fun.

But let's put the record straight: the Irish ethnics have only recently “graduated” into the American main stream. Before their re-invention (and immigration amnesia), they had to bear immense humiliation and overwhelming put downs—just like your blog comments—for over a century by the Anglo status quo.

Sure, present day potato eaters like O'Reilys and the Buchanans feel themselves on top as “real Americans,” but we all know that American history has documented their ethnic secrets differently: they were the Mexicans of yesteryear.

Yeah, it was a pity that the sons of Éire were beaten, sneered, humiliated, segregated, called “sub-humans,” called red-haired chimps, ghetto diseases-breeding filth; kid-popping rabbits who slept 8 to every Murphy bed; were horribly lynched, killed, legally framed, miserably discriminated by the status quo and labeled as super dumb and superstitious.

Oh, I am not done… Also called thugs and gangsters, uncivilized who could not stop their endless booze zipping, which in turn nurtured crime. And lazy, lazy, lazy… something Mexican immigrants are never called and in fact are feared for practicing the Protestant work ethic a little bit too well... and not the Irish work ethic, mind you.

Yep. Got you by your little orange leprecon balls, Pat, Kelly, Ryan, whatever.

See, the problem for you is that I know about your history, something you never expected.

You know nothing of mine and you are assuming I am Hispanic. It’s tough to punch in the dark.

What you have noted in your comments about Hispanics is simply a rant. What I have noted above is actual documented History available at your local public library.

See Pat? :)

Look, sure, the Irish didn't get any “modern” freebees, as you say. But they got the biggest one of them all: They squatted their way to California and the then-Mexican Southwest, ripping off half of the Mexican territory.

The Irish stole land, squatting their way all over the west, looting Mexican-owned land en mass (funny how history repeats). Oh! Guess what, you can read about it in “The Decline of the Californios,” written by one of your own, Leonard Pitt.

And finally, not all Irish wanted a freebie. During the Mexican-American war in the mid-1840s, many Irish immigrants thought the American war with Mexico was immoral, forming the San Patricio Battalion and fought and SERVED Mexico and Mexicans.

Mexico lost to the US, leading to a huge immigration exodus and land grab from the east to the west, many of these were Irish immigrants trampled and squeatted on these haciendas of Mexicans whom overnight were made second-class citizens like the Irish.

Meanwhile, the Battalion “Irish traitors” were captured. Called “the vilest, most despicable of traitors and cowards,” severely beaten, tortured and then hung and in some cases, their bodies beheaded and quartered. A very sanguine Anglo punishment to the Irish. Your great grand father might have been one of them.
Shame.

Hey, did you see that article some time back in the NY Times about European scientist tracing the Irish DNA roots to Spain?

I'm not foolin' Look it up!

Top ‘o de morrnen’ govna… cuz your world is getting smaller. Or should I say, buenos dias?

I think Mr. Badillo makes some great points. Having lived in Mexico and Central America, speak the language and know the society from the top down. The proof is in the pudding and the fact that the asians have been so successful says something. The wealthy in Mexico speak of being "Spainards" not Indian. In Mexico there is a wholesale racists attitude towards Native Tribes and those of African descent. There is a reason why here in California prisons there are more problems between brown and black than the white population. It is time the Latinos joined the whole society rather than belittle their own as "acting white". What Mexico has done is dump their problem on the United States as other countries have done in the past.

Timray,

Though I would have put it differently, I would essentially come to the same conclusion as you: The failings of Mexico have turned into a US problem.

Indeed, as you say—and little talked about within the Hispanic community and self-named "community leaders"—is the fact that racism is deeply rooted in the Hispanic community.

About Latin racism:
As you say, in Latin America (and we will focus in this case with Mexico since countries like Costa Rica, Argentina and Uruguay are predominately populated by people of European stock), is the huge racist bias that exist south of the border but little talked about in Mexico. Yes, Indians, mestizos of darker Indian complexion, and Afro-Latins are deeply discriminated against. Mexico’s power elite are predominantly white, with rare exceptions.

About Immigration “dumping”
Indeed. As you note, "What Mexico has done is dump their problem on the United Staes as other countries have done in the past." Of course we would have to take each individual case study and see what were the "push-pull" factors and not simply have a summary judgment to every nation in the world.

But yes, from the settlers fleeing religious persecution from old England; potato famine Ireland, starving Italians, persecuted Jews and poverty stricken Slavs of Eastern Europe, today we find Mexico at the forefront of that long immigration chronology to the United States.

Now, Timray, I must remind you that Mexico just came out of a 7 decade corrupt dictatorship. Many expect that Mexico gets its act together overnight. If the most powerful super power in the world cannot make a democracy out of Iraq, less can be said of our neighbor to the south riddled with poverty and disproportionate income distribution. Mexico will need some time before things begin to change under a democracy. But most people simply see Mexico’s history in one poorly defined blur. No analysis is made by many, but quick to spit out "popular" opinions.

Not withstanding, Mexico today in many ways is what the US was in the 1900s.

Perhaps the only nation that does not fit the category of “dumping” its problems on the US is Spain. After all, it was that Iberian nation who first settled in the Americas and in what eventually became the US. The oldest city founded by Europeans (Spaniards and their colonial subjects from Cuba)in the US remains St. Augustine, Florida—not ol’ England. Hence, Spanish was the first language to be spoken in the United States. Yeah, history is never linear as some would conveniently like it to be.

As far as immigration, the US and Mexico will need to come to some sort of migratory agreement, as the European Union did with its more poor country-members like Ireland and Greece.

The US has proven over and over again that it needs immigrants (and privately preferring illegal immigration: 12 million illegal immigrants?!). History bares witness to this

About Badillo’s book
But going back to Badillo. His interpretation is a good medicine that many overtly liberal Latino community activists need to listen to (though he will be vilified) but that many Hispanic families, frankly, agree with him.

Education has to be spearheaded by such "community leaders" and not fall into the easy pattern of blaming the English-speaking majority as the result for the socioeconomic shortfalls among Latinos.

Education needs to be zenith and under the same standards as non-Hispanic whites.

Badillo's views may not all be on target but his points need to be listen to.

CORRECTION to above blog comment:

..."Hence, Spanish was the first language to be spoken in the United States."

It should read: Hence, Spanish was he first EUROPEAN language to be spoken in the United States."

El Picador.....points well taken and thank you for bringing to light that there were other languages here long before Spanish came to North America. Sometimes speaking to Mexicans here in San Diego I have to remind them that long before the Spanish/Mexican intrusion into California there were people here already. I have to remind them that the Aztecs never explored any territory north of Mexico City. Another point I would like to inform people is that while in Mexico I was a member of the Arts community which included some of the wealthiest families in Mexico. Not only was I chided for paying my help too much but also because my friends working in my house and grounds were Cora Indians. Not only did Maria and Jose help me greatly but both were artists and made for me things which became treasured gifts to my family and friends. I was asked several times why i did not hire Mexicans. Once when I was in Tepic, Nayarit I met Jose and Maria in the market place and invited them to join me in lunch at a very nice restaurant several of my gallery friends frequented. We were ignored by the restaurant employees and so naive was I it was Jose who had to tell me it was because they were Indians. Cora Indians have a certain costume they wear. I was so embarrassed we left and ate in the market place where my money was good....and I might add where I truly preferred to eat. I realize we have this here in America too but we have lawful recourse here, yet that too was not always the case as we all well know too well. Badillo has a message for us all...white, brown, black and yellow....get an education. If you are going to be bringing children into this world be parent enough to care about them. Encourage education and bring your flavor into the common market place we call America. I used to live in Minnesota and was frequently asked what I was, my answer was always American. Not Scandinavian, not English, not Irish, not French, not Spanish, not Native American but American.

Picador,

In some countries people go to jail for the fearsome beating you did to “Kelly.”

I originally got into this blog page to talk about Badillo and his book but apparently the subject sidetracked. I have not read his book but I will be buying it since his arguments sound refreshing from the common arguments spinning out of many Hispanic writers of today.

But seeing your battle, I decided to step back and read, watching your responses and at times even laughing at the flattening of your opponent.

If I were to judge, I have to say that your argument was superior to Kelly who seemed to come up with graffiti thinking and nothing more. Oh! By the way, I was not aware that many Irish fought on the side of Mexico during the war with the US.

I also looked up the article in the New York Times about the DNA origins of the Irish being traced to Spain. Extremely interesting! It blew me off my chair. I have since found other articles on the subject as well as about the Mexican “Irish” heroes. You used history to defend your argument very well.

Oh, am I Hispanic? No. I am of northern European background (not Irish) and a teacher who has witnessed the increase (and my concern) of Hispanic student population in southern California. But what you say about the Irish is true. The same can be said of the Italians and Eastern Europeans immigrants. Newcomers to this country seem to go through an “initiation” process from racists before they are admitted as “full members” of our diverse society, it seems.

But we are already witnessing a future that cannot be stopped and therefore we have to work with it. Americans of Mexican origin are increasingly rising to the very top of American power. For example, though our governor Arnold gets all the media glitter, the second most powerful man in California is low-keyed Cruz Bustamante, the Lt. Governor. And just like many swore that there would never be a Catholic in the White House, quiet talk is made about the future of Florida’s Jeb Bush’s son who is partially of Mexican background. Of course, I don’t have to say much about current presidential candidate, Bill Richardson. Who is the current White House Attorney General?

Certainly, the demographic predictions say that by 2050 1/4th of the US population will be in one way or another of Hispanic origin (mostly from Mexican ancestry). So, in the middle of this century, it is very likely that 25% of the US population will be recalling their history “border history” the way Irish-Americans do about theirs difficult American experience after landing on Ellis Island.

Wow, this man is my great uncle. No flaming! I'm twelve.

And I don't see the difference between Latinos and whites. We're just as smart and talented. I do understand the quote at the top though. Many Latino's do not graduate, but it's the same with any other culture. I think it just depends how you're raised.

Another thing, parents need to start teaching their children to speak English properly. I'm sick of hearing slang in the schools. It's just making children so much more uneducated.