In Issue #1 of the Curtis Log, the staff wrote about the impacts of President Trump’s executive orders on the school’s population of immigrant students. One of these many orders involved the elimination of sanctuaries – sites that provide undocumented people with asylum, and protection from deportation. The institutions that previously held sanctuary status have had mixed responses to the order. The difference in response, or even the absence of a stance on the matter from other institutions, has sparked uncertainty among immigrants.
In Curtis’ case, certain faculty members have stated that they’ll do as much as they can to protect undocumented students. In the event that ICE does request access to the building, or student records, Curtis faculty will first contact a lawyer, and refuse them entry. However, what responsibility does the school have to immigrant students beyond this, and are schools doing enough for them?
Outside of President Trump’s executive orders, immigrants face many struggles, chief among them being the language barrier. Ms. Cary Barrett, the World Language instructor and ESL coordinator, works to provide opportunities to the immigrant and English-learning students that grapple with this obstacle. She has coordinated several programs that aim to enrich students’ experiences, and prepare them for the workforce.
Take for example the 30-hour OSHA workshop geared toward parents and students eager to develop skills in safety and construction. Part of working to improve immigrant students’ lives at school also involves parent outreach. Since March, the ENL department has held numerous English classes, taught by Ms. Aberkane and Ms. Canino, for immigrant parents.
“As a department, our goal for our ENL students is to help them develop language skills and learn the English language. We provide a supportive learning environment in which students are willing to learn and take risks,” she explained, when asked what impact she hopes to have on the students. “We hope our students see that being bilingual or multilingual is a strength that they should be proud of. We are here to help them navigate the learning process and celebrate their diverse backgrounds. We give students the tools they need to achieve their goals inside and outside of the classroom.”
Creating a safe environment for immigrant students goes beyond just promising them safety. It’s up to schools to foster an environment where they have the chance to attend school, and develop their skills with enriching programs. High schools must find ways to support students in immigrant families, ensuring they feel safe, valued, and able to thrive in their educational environment. As the debate over immigration policy continues to unfold, educators, parents, and policymakers need to work together to protect the educational and extracurricular opportunities of all students, regardless of their immigration status.
While Curtis faculty are already taking steps to create a welcoming atmosphere, other schools need to take action to protect their immigrant students. Fostering a climate of understanding, inclusivity, and respect is the first step to mitigating the negative effects of President Trump’s actions.
