Minnesota: Immigrants See Charter Schools as a Haven

[Che -Guevara]

 

MINNEAPOLIS — Fartun Warsame, a Somalian immigrant, thought she was being a good mother when she transferred her five boys to a top elementary school in an affluent Minneapolis suburb. Besides its academic advantages, the school was close to her job as an ultrasound technician, so if the teachers called, she could get there right away.

 

“Immediately they changed,” Ms. Warsame said of her sons. “They wanted to wear shorts. They’d say, ‘Buy me this.’ I said, ‘Where did you guys get this idea you can control me?’ ”

 

Her sons informed her that this was the way things were in America. But not in this Somali mother’s house. She soon moved them back to the city, to the International Elementary School, a charter school of about 560 pupils in downtown Minneapolis founded by leaders of the city’s large East African community. The extra commuting time was worth the return to the old order: five well-behaved sons, and one all-powerful mother.

 

Charter schools, which are publicly financed but independently run, were conceived as a way to improve academic performance. But for immigrant families, they have also become havens where their children are shielded from the American youth culture that pervades large district schools.

 

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[MAXIMUS POWERS]

while voluntary isolation has preserved and contributed to the character of the Twin city Somali community with its strong sense of family and common Muslim identity. This form of charter schooling will only promote segregation in the long run and will have serious consequence for the Somali community! It will affect their job opportunities in the work place and will create high unemployment. The high rates of unemployment, combined with limited integration will indeed excluded a route into wider society.

 

Instead, they should be promoting an all-inclusive schooling that promotes respect, diverse and multiculturalism that prepares these young people for the future! What happens when a young person who has never encountered other people from different backgrounds goes out to the work place or high school!

[Che -Guevara]

^You have little insight about life in America beyond TV shows and holidays visits?

[Chimera]

MARX - 75/80% of Somali Americans are self employed and the fastest group off welfare according to a recent study, so Somalis through their individual and collective business endeavours will create job opportunities for themselves.

 

Che - thank you very much for this beautiful story. The Chinese overseas communities have been doing this for years hence why they are so successful.

[Xidigo]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

^You have little insight about life in America beyond TV shows and holidays visits?

Isaga iyo qaar kaloo badan from London

[N.O.R.F]

^Why not inform him and us?

 

How do Charter schools perform vs normal schools?

[Thierry.]

This is an excellent idea in fact the Jewish community has been doing this for many years with their private schools, it gives the kids the best of both worlds and they have no problem integrating with society. Somalis in the UK are doing a similar thing with weekend schools and the academic performances shows it works.

[roobleh]

Marx, ur four steps ahead of maryooley and their backward-thinking. Kudos brother, let the insult pass by. That's all they got when they're challenged.

 

As the Chinese, they do go to private schools, if they can afford, and not an isolated charters of their own. And the other comment about Somalis doing well in US, well, how many of those are properly educated and able to make ends-meet?

[Che -Guevara]

Originally posted by roobleh:

Marx, ur four steps ahead of maryooley and their backward-thinking.

Kadaroo dibidhal.Xaa dhaantaa dadkaa ceyneesid. Do you even know what we were referring mase Soomaali budh inaa iska la da,bogasho jecashahe.

 

 

Adam..np bro.

 

Norf...I wasn't talking about if charter schools are better than public schools-just talking to his assertion that these schools promote isolationism, something one would know is not entirely true have they have any insight into this.

 

And on average, charter schools are better than public schools-catholic schools, Jewish schools, Islamic schools, and other private institutions produce more collage graduates per school than public schools. It is controlled environment where children can be taught, and parents are demanded to be involved in their children's education.

 

The most isolated communities in America are those in the ghettos. Economic isolationism is bigger problem in America.

[Geel_jire]

I think this is a fantastic idea for those who can afford it.

 

A few months ago I was helping out at the Somali community center .. with Somali high school kids .. in Mathematics & Physics, and it was very depressing to see how and what they were being taught .. public schools are now like factory-lines with now Quality control.

 

The brits have it much better from what i hear ... but Africa and Asia have a much higher standard of education in secondary school then what can be found in north america.

[Fabregas]

those kids all look brothers.

 

 

Marx, being "integrated" and having a crap degree/schooling is worser than going to a segegrationist/religous school and coming out with the top marks.