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Immigrants and Class
It is important to remember that
immigrants can come from all social classes. Many times, the first influxes of emigrants from a country are the most educated,
most skilled people, and of a high social class. Then, later waves emigrating from the same country are filled with middle
and then working class people. Interestingly, “although the least educated of today’s immigrants are only half
as likely as native-born Americans to have finished high school, the most educated immigrants are more likely than native
born to have graduate and professional degrees,” (Rong, 5).
Sometimes people regard all immigrants as "unworthy"
of being admitted to the country, forgetting that almost everyone in America today is, in fact, descended from an immigrant.
Further, many people do not recognize the constraints that others have to fight because of their class, immigrants especially.
It is a privilege, not a punishment, to have these people here.
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Immigrants Change Education
Mann
When
immigrants first came to America, education was important to them. The mid-19th century was a time “in which enormous
changes took place with unprecedented speed,” (70) because of the same industrial revolution that Marx experienced.
Horace Mann led the way for public education, giving reasons of both preparation for citizenship and as a mode of equality
of opportunity.
Dewey
John Dewey followed in the progressive movement of the early 20th century,
and sought to provide social stability as well as mobility with his child-centered theories (73).
Public High
Schools
Then, in a short period of time, the public high school suddenly flourished and then became compulsory,
causing educators to scramble for a structure and define its purpose (76). The great debate between vocational and liberal
curriculum was a central point of debate for many educators, and the argument is still not solved today.
Tracking
Tracking
started early in American education history, but with the influx of immigrants in the 1920’s, it was widely used, then
again with another immigration wave in the 1950’s and again today. That each period is marked by a rise in immigration
is a curious and yet not unexpected event. The social stability and mobility that Dewey sought were truly important for keeping
the country educated and moving toward the same goals.
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