"Still separate after all these years" - the race matter in American schools

I've just read an interesting article on racial segregation in contemporary Americal schools. You can find it here: http://economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9079930 . And below I wrote a summary.

1954 the Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Board of Education case segregation in American public schools unlawful. However, although years have passed since the practice of racial segregation was outlawed, black and white children still learn in different worlds.

The authorities have been trying to keep the racially integrated school district system ever since Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, considering it a part of the affirmative action. In fact, black students have to make up a certain percentage of the student mix in every school. Nevertheless, some white parents complain about this quota system and accuse school boards of unfair treatment towards their children. Depriving white children of school places for the sake of the racial mix is their major reproach. One question arises: is it sensible to fight for this racially integrated school system even if this means sacrificing the quality of education? We slowly get to the core of the matter…

The main problem dividing blacks and whites is their income and their home. The former tend to earn less and live in city centres. By contrast, the latter can afford to move into suburbs and send their children to suburban private schools the poor blacks have no access to. This is how racial segregation is being fuelled nowadays – by financial means. By quitting the public school system affluent families contribute to the decline of inner-city schools attended mainly by poor non-whites.

School boards are drawing a conclusion from the simple connection between low income (which in most cases concerns the blacks) and students’ poor performance at school. That’s why they want to concentrate on this issue and take measures against it. For instance, instead of mixing them by race, the Wake County school district in North Carolina began to integrate students from different economic backgrounds. It offers free or price-reduced lunches for the struggling students. Besides, it’s been trying to put more of them in one school so that they don’t feel alienated. The results of this policy are striking: well-off white families are enrolling their children in those public schools. The integrated school models are working well.

Although the main educational goal in contemporary America is to support slow learners from low-income families, the politicians ignore this unpopular issue. Instead, they are trying to win support of the middle class. This is the class with more influence and financial means after all and that’s what it is all about in politics. In the end the poor are neglected as always and the gap between the blacks and whites is growing.

How good are we really?

http://www.economist.com/index.html

“The Economist” is definitely a newspaper you should have a look at. Don’t feel discourage by the world “economist”- the articles are not all about banks, mergers, stock markets, etc. I came across this title reading an article in “Uni Kleine Zietung” about bilingualism of many international students and their good chances on the international job markets. Unfortunately I couldn’t read the whole version in the Internet, because you have to subscribe to gain access to older articles, but it doesn’t apply for the more recent ones. Anyway, below you can find a kind of summary of what I read in “Kleine Zeitung” and my reflections upon it.

It’s becoming more and more common nowadays that university graduates from non-English speaking countries have a perfect command of this language in addition to their impeccable qualifications. This fact makes them become strong competitors for the best jobs against native English speakers. What the others don’t have is knowledge of a foreign language. A survey made last year by the European Commission that just 30% of Britons can converse in a language other than their own which is rather a meagre score. Non-natives are in contrast often competent bilinguals, people with open minds who are used to travelling abroad and facing challenges.

However, English in the language of science. You read and write in English if you want to be acknowledged by the international scene. In this context English speaking scientists have nothing to fear, but what about managers, doctors, architects, etc.?

This topic made me consider my own future job perspectives. Is two (let’s say three in my case) foreign languages enough for us, translators, to get a decent job? Honestly, I don’t believe that each of us will work in their profession. To my mind only the best ones or the ones with the most luck will become “real” translators. The others will have to settle for some more “universal” jobs they’ll have to combine more skills in. That’s why I’m already uneasy about what will happen after graduation. Maybe it’ll be sensible to study something else in addition? As an example I’d like to tell you a story of my cousin who had not so long ago a job interview at one of the most reputable banks in Poland. She, a law graduate with a good command of both English and German and four (or five – I can’t exactly remember) years of work experience, was told that I’d desirable I she could speak Russian as well. After I got to know it I just thought to myself: are you kidding? When are you supposed to manage it all? After all she didn’t get this job…

How to Be an Illegal Alien

An illigal immigrant Mimi describes in an article under http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0513,york,62456,2.html how to settle in New York within two weeks. In six easy steps she gives some useful advice what to do step by step:

• Seek your opportunity to get into the USA, either by boat or with American invitation with a tourist visa or even over the fence ;)
• Once you’re in the country try to get married. This entitles you to a green card and after three years to permanent residency.
• Find a job.
• If you don’t have a Social Security number and have to live off your tips, claim someone else’s identity – let it be your friend who will cash your paycheck and give the money back to you or a deceased U.S. citizen's identity your overtake the Social Security number from. Besides, there are workplaces where you can get cash in hand at a bit lower rate.
• If you don’t know the language, look for employment at your fellow countryman’s.
• Don’t leave the USA since with some luck you might be granted legal resident status.

Furthermore Mimi argues that the illegal immigrants don’t have a harmful impact on the U.S. economy: “We're just here to live our lives the best we can”. In fact they are the ones who toil for minimum wage to be allowed to stay in the country.

Mimi claims that altogether everyone is illegal in New York. The most important point she makes is that New York City was from the beginning of its history made up of immigrants and in this way illegal aliens are more natural and legitimate residents of the Big Apple that any other residents.

It becomes clear to us that there are certain methods for those who are determined enough. The point is that immigrants are not the baddies - they just want to live decent lives which is impossible in their home countries. And to achieve it they really have hard time in the beginning. Anyway, they don't came to us to abuse our social system, etc., but to look for better opportunities.