I taught in an inner city HS in Austin where immigrant children from a number of countries south of the US order took ESL classes but also had to perform on the same standardized tests that students whose main language was english. There was not near enough funding to bring these children up to that level of performance. Many were traumatized by war or worse and understandably their scores contributed to the lowering of test scores for the school. This was huge when we were about to retire. Inner city schools were under attack by those, we felt, were using testing as a way privatize school through the charter movement and through vouchers. I was so conflicted about it all. Here I was, a One World type who on one level believed we would be better off without boundaries and on another level believed that we were being tasked to educate without enough resources for these immigrant children, and through God knows no fault of their own, could well become the straw that broke the camel's back for us.
That was ten years ago, the year I retired. Now, tens of thousands of teaching positions have been cut across the country. What can be done for education of those kids now? We are a country of immigrants, but as the late Dem leader Barbara Jordan said our democracy depends on an educated and informed population. What to do? Hey, I scream to the Tea Party types who are responsible for all the cuts, fully fund education for them of course.
Activism around Immigration Reform
I have been encouraged see the activism around reforming immigration laws, and thought this might be the area that would bring more latinos to the Democratic Party. I have mixed feelings about amnesty and other reforms being advocated but still I liked seeing the involvement and had hoped that in Texas we could get strong enough turnout to elect Wendy Davis. Of course we all would like to see strong turnout because if that happens the Democratic Party wins.
That the Democratic Party leadership has stumbled on the handling of this issue is very evident by the shit storm Mr. Obama's announcement has brought:
Published on
Saturday, September 06, 2014
by
Common Dreams
Punting Reform, Obama Pulls 'Bait and Switch' on Immigrant Community
Confirming his cave to political pressure, White House official said President pushing promised executive action until after midterm elections
by
Lauren McCauley, staff writer
The news is a dramatic reversal of a promise Obama made in a June 30 speech, during which he declared that he had tasked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder with presenting him a list "before the end of summer" of possible ways the administration can bypass Congress to "fix" our immigration system. Obama added that, once received, he intends "to adopt those recommendations without further delay."
SNIP
Latino voters historically back Democratic candidates, particularly in presidential races. In the 2012 election, Latinos voted for Obama 71% over Republican candidate Mitt Romney, according to Pew Research exit polling.
In her statement, Jimenez vows that immigrants and immigrant rights groups "will not soon forget the President and Democrats’ latest failure and their attempts to fool the Latino community."
The problem we have in TX is low voter turnout. I had hoped that maybe this issue would energize Latinos and others to get to the polls in November so that we could get Dems like Wendy Davis elected.
Delay Defended
Wondering if the President is concerned about the armed wingnuts along the border getting so much press ? What a really screwed up deal, exacerbated by irresponsible Republicans like Rick Perry.
Obama defends delay to immigration action
Advocacy groups say move is a ‘slap to the face of latino and immigrant community’
AP
Published: 14:12 September 7, 2014
By Obama’s own calculations, politics did play a role in his decision. In his remarks to NBC, which were to be aired on Sunday, he said a partisan fight in July over how to address an influx of unaccompanied minors at the border had created the impression that there was an immigration crisis and thus a volatile climate for taking the measures he had promised to take.
“The truth of the matter is - is that the politics did shift midsummer because of that problem,”he said. “I want to spend some time, even as we’re getting all our ducks in a row for the executive action, I also want to make sure that the public understands why we’re doing this, why it’s the right thing for the American people, why it’s the right thing for the American economy.”
Reflecting the passion behind the threat of deportations, immigration advocacy groups that have criticized Republicans for not passing an immigration overhaul instantly turned their anger on Obama.
Elections Matter
Turnout is key.
Will Dems retain the Senate Majority? Will there be gains in the House?
We all hope so.
Goes without saying a great deal depends on energizing the base.
Perhaps the President can walk this back?