Willow Glen Resident

Letters & Opinions

Immigration issue is a great civics lesson

By Moryt Milo

A teacher couldn't ask for a better hands-on lesson in civics than the controversial immigration legislation being proposed by Congress.

Last week thousands of high school students throughout the South Bay walked off their campuses in a peaceful show of force to protest laws that could threaten their future and their families. Although the outcome of these proposed laws is still unclear, the educational opportunities are crystal clear. High school teachers have been handed a rare moment in history, where students--the non-voting population--are actually interested in what our government is doing. And, more importantly, can relate to it.

It opens the door for a dialogue, where earlier moments in history, such as America's isolationism before entering World War II, or our extreme xenophobia during the mid-1880s and the 1920s can be discussed in a way that makes sense to 21st-century youth.

This is an excellent time for teachers to point out the surge of German immigrants into the corn belt during the early part of the 20th century had state legislators there grumbling, "These immigrants should speak only English if they want to consider themselves Americans." Doesn't that sounds like Proposition 227, passed in 1998, that required California schools to conduct classes only in English? Or what about the Irish potato famine during the 1840s that had Irish families pouring into our country? Their entrance into America was seen as a threat to the U.S. labor force. It produced signs in merchant windows that read, "No Irish need apply." Sounds like what people are saying about the Latino population today.

These events affected populations on the East Coast, in the Midwest and western plains. But the West has had its
share of intolerance as well, with its fears about Japanese-Americans during World War II, and their subsequent internment in 1942.

Our country is once again divided over the immigration issue, with a significant percentage of our population saying Latinos have flooded the country and threatened the livelihood of American citizens. The situation has brought the immigration debate to the forefront in California.

No matter what side of the border you are on, it's hard to argue against this golden opportunity for classroom discussion on the impact of change and our long-standing national difficulty with it.

The demonstrations during the last 10 days show students are eager to address the issue, and teachers should embrace their passion. High schools can use this moment to teach the importance of making a difference, by reinforcing peaceful behavior, tolerance, staying active in the community and abreast of what their government is doing.

And then who knows, maybe the next generation will turn out to be more welcoming of other ethnicities? After all, let's not forget that the only non-immigrants in this country were the Native Americans. All the rest of us came from somewhere else.

Moryt Milo is the editor of the Willow Glen Resident. She can be reached at 408.200.1051 or via email at mmilo@community-newspapers.com