Has U.S. illegal immigration contributed to the decline of its own educational system?

Question

I'm thinking in terms of non-english speakers and the idea that some teachers may feel they need to "teach-down" to these kids - possibly holding back the rest of the class.

Answer 1

It sure has. Illegal immigrants do not pay more taxes than legal residents, yet there is significant more money spent on "ELD" departments. (ELD = English Language Development) Our science department receives $.65 per month, per student. Yes, that's 65 CENTS to run laboratory classes. All students are required to take at least 2 science classes, so we reach the whole school. On the other hand, the ELD department has a budget of $200,000. Lets say half the school is a part of the ELD department (so 1,000 students). That comes to $200 per student a year, or $20 per month (10 month school year). I'm not sure how many students are in the ELD department, however I know its not 1/2 the school. EVERY student deserves the opportunity to learn. We should be able to spend as much money on our own children as we do on those of illegal immigrants.

Like another poster stated, all students take the same state assessments, and the lower ELD scores bring down the scores of the whole school. The students who ARE legal, are penalized once again.

Answer 2

Yes, very much so. Not only is money being spent to give them special tutors because they do not know the language, but the overcrowding in schools was becoming a major problem before we ever took on all the extras. In the mid to latter 1800s students knew much more after 8th grade than kids do now graduating from college, this is due to over crowding. Our schools, teachers and students can not handle this over burden of growth.

Answer 3

Well, it has opened the eyes of my peers and me as we see how different people are from us. Even though some of the students are illegal, they have taught us alot about their culture and different ways of doing things.

But..... becuase of so many more kids coming to our schools, and their parents aren't paying any taxes, it is costing our school more money. It is making our school lose money, so it is harder to have money to go on field trips, or to buy textbooks, and stuff like that. Even though i am an adolescent, I understand how this is affecting our school systems, and I am saddened that soi many people just can't immagrate here legally. I hope that they will someday, so our nation can be at peace.

Answer 4

Certainly in Arizona it has. Arizona has AIMS tests that all students are supposed to pass in order to graduate from high school. Due to the influx of non-native speakers (as the person from Texas pointed out) many schools with disproportionate number of non-native speakers are performing poorly on these tests. In some cases standards required to pass AIMS are being lowered to accomodate these students. Since they will be required to compete against fluent English speakers (who passed AIMS on merit) in the working world, they are being under-served by our schools. Schools are supposed to educate. If they don't they fail ALL students by not preparing them.

Teachers in Arizona spend more and more of their valuable class time preparing students for AIMS and attempting to bring no-native speakers up to speed at the expense of the education of other students.

Answer 5

Yes. When our educators have to spend extra time teaching those that do not speak English, it takes away from those that do. With state required tests, (TAKS, in Texas), the minority (children from Mexico, etc.) usually cannot master these exams, causing the schools to receive poor ratings, which in turn means less money for that school.

Answer 6

not necessarily. most children of illegal immigrants go to public school, which are funded by tax dollars. Illegal immigrants do pay taxes, so it's not like they're just living off the system. they do make for larger class sizes, but i don't think it's really that huge of a problem.

Answer 7

YES!!! Sometimes kids refuse to learn American history, they have bad grammar, and-depending on how third-world their country is- they are often flat out stupid. Plus, their parents can't help them, so you have a very small chance they won't bring down everyone else's education.

Answer 8

TAX Dollars spent on spanish version books that could have funded other material/programs.

Answer 9

Sure it has.