A University Course That Shapes Future Teachers' Views on Immigration
At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a first-year education course is sparking conversations about its approach to immigration topics. The course, "Identity and Difference in Education," includes lessons that focus on the language used to discuss immigration and the experiences of immigrant students.
Key Lessons and Topics
- "Living in Uncertainty: Understanding Immigrant, Migrant, & Refugee Student Populations"
- Emphasizes the use of "humanizing language."
Suggests avoiding terms like "illegal immigrants" or "illegal aliens" as dehumanizing.
- Differences Between Immigrants and Refugees
- Immigrants often move to pursue better opportunities.
Refugees flee to escape persecution, conflict, or violence.
- Statistics and Reports
- Cites a PBS News report claiming 13.7 million illegal aliens in the U.S.
A 2018 Yale study suggests a higher number, between 16 million and 29 million, with a mean of 22.1 million.
- "Shifting Support for Immigrant/Refugee Student Populations in Schools"
- Compiles headlines about the negative academic impacts of stricter immigration policies.
Reinforces that an anti-immigrant/refugee climate can increase discriminatory practices, make students feel unsafe, and increase absenteeism.
- Study by Professor Gabriel Rodriguez
- Examines the reactions of 11 "Latinx youth" in predominantly white suburbs.
- References "White supremacy and xenophobia brought on by... Trump."
- One subject, Jose, expresses his fear of deportation and the importance of his grades in building a case for his stay in the United States.
- Dealing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Schools
A student in the class, who spoke with Fox News Digital anonymously, said these lessons are presented as things future educators need to know and do.
- Implicit Meanings of Silence in the Classroom
- Suggests that silence can be a result of racial or sex-based discrimination.
- Defines "Internalized Oppression" as "assumed racial inferiority on the part of people of color."
Suggests that students, particularly those with minoritized identities, may use silence as a survival and resistance method.
- Anecdotes from High School Students
- Joaquín, a senior, reported being ignored when giving his opinion, suggesting his race played a factor.
Lissette, a student, was cut off by her white peers during a group discussion.
- Microaggressions and Stereotype Threat
- Defines "microaggressions" as "everyday, verbal, nonverbal slights, snubs, or insults regardless of intent that sends a hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their minoritized group membership."
- Defines "stereotype threat" as "socially premised psychological threat that arises when one is in a situation or doing something for which a negative stereotype about one’s group applies."
Student Concerns
A student in the course expressed concern that the course is not teaching about:
- How to set up a classroom.
- What methods work best with kids for learning.
- Basic curriculum like math and science.
Instead, the course focuses on social issues and how to address them in the classroom.
