The Importance of Equal Education
With 2012 elections poised conspicuously in front of us, hot topics like the economy, jobs and war are everyday fodder for political pundits.
But two issues that seem to be strategically avoided by the candidates as they boil just below the surface of these debates are immigration and education reform. Indeed, these issues have the potential to clearly delineate campaign positions, for better or for worse. And they are not mutually exclusive. Or at least, they shouldn’t be.
In two recent Washington Post articles, common perspectives of US minority communities and the roles they play in society are challenged. In one article, we learn that the percentage of Hispanic students finishing high school and attending two-year colleges is dramatically increased over the past decade. In another, the number of highly skilled immigrants in our country now outranks the number of low-skilled immigrant workers.
It’s important to realize that the study of Hispanic students finishing high school does not distinguish between immigrant status, and the study of immigrant workers only generally distinguishes by race (Latinos tend to be lower-skilled). However, as Tara Bahrampour points out in the latter, “the report also offers a new perspective on the national immigration discourse, which tends to fixate on low-skilled, and often illegal, workers.”
With various bills pertaining to immigration and education reform undergoing scrutiny across the country, the United States is facing a pivotal moment in how it chooses to invest in its future.
For more information, check out:
Alabama gov. signs nation's toughest immigrant law (WaPo, 06/09/11)
Obama’s border visit renews focus on immigration policy (Reuters, 05/09/11)
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