This year the Philadelphia School District is mandating that all its employees go through training on how to keep schools’ immigrant students “safe and supported” in this “charged political climate.”
Every school-based employee, “from principal to cafeteria worker,” will receive the guidance.
Throughout her piece at Philly.com, Kristen Graham cleverly foregoes the term “illegal” from “illegal immigrant,” and she begins with the scare paragraph right off the bat:
“More than half of Furness [High School’s] pupils are immigrants, and beginning last November, some were so frightened they did not come to school. In the new world order, would authorities come for them? And if they did, would their teachers protect them?”
Of course, if authorities did come to school to inquire about an immigrant student, it would be regarding an illegal immigrant student. But hey, why mince words, right — even though it makes all the difference?
Keep in mind too that, to district officials’ knowledge, there’s been no instance of ICE agents coming to a city school and demanding any info on a[n illegal] student. Just one such inquiry was noted — and that in New York City — and it’s this which “indicates the kind of climate that worries families,” district teachers said.
Set against the tension of the current political climate, including the heat Philadelphia is taking federally over its “sanctuary city” policy, the school system’s training is important. It appears to be in the vanguard; a spot check of other local districts reveals no similar practices. Pittsburgh’s school system declared itself a sanctuary district, but that designation was symbolic, and a spokeswoman said it had no immigrant-rights training sessions planned. …
Students’ fears began to swell after President Trump’s election in November, [English teacher Tiffany] Lorch said. She started receiving calls from parents asking what would happen to children if the adults were deported. Being potential targets of hate also weighed heavily on students, so Lorch asked them to write about their feelings. …
The teachers talked stereotypes about immigrants (they take away jobs from others, they’re dangerous), learned about refugees and those seeking asylum, or asylees, and addressed the history of immigration in the U.S.
More than half of Furness’ immigrant students are refugees with documentation, which allows them to apply for college financial aid and receive other government supports. Some are asylees who might have to miss school to attend court hearings that will determine if they win permanent residence. And some are unaccompanied minors who fled dangerous situations and arrived alone in the U.S.
Near its conclusion, the article indicates support for the training by City Councilwoman Helen Gym. Gym has earned quite a reputation in the city for, among other things, leading a campaign against a “racist” food truck called “Wheely Wheely Good” (the truck’s owners are Asian, as is Gym), and demanding the statue of former city mayor Frank Rizzo be taken down after the events in Charlottesville.
Most recently Gym publicly backed Mayor Jim Kenney on Philly becoming the latest “sanctuary” city to sue Attorney General Sessions for restricting federal funds to such municipalities.
MORE: Student gov. gives free rides to illegal immigrants, makes other students pay for it
MORE: Illegal immigrants at Columbia demand counselors, sensitivity training
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