Educational Barriers Immigrant Families Face

Rosa-Isela Trejo

Tracy Allen

Graduation Project

November 24, 2015

Educational Barriers Immigrant Families Face

Everyone faces educational barriers but immigrant families face educational barriers as soon as they come to a new country.  It is hard to come to a new country without knowing anything.  Immigrant parents want a better future for their children so they have to send them to school.  The first barrier the child will face is the language barrier.  The children grow up speaking another language so it becomes difficult to learn another one.  Another barrier is the trust barrier.  Parents cannot trust a school they know nothing of.  All they care and know about is that they have to send their child to school every day.  If the family is going through a problem, they would not go to the school for help.  The last barrier is the participation barrier.  Most immigrants work many hours in order provide for their families.  The parents are not around too much.  This leads them not to know what is going on with the child’s school life.  These three barriers are the educational barriers immigrant families face.

The language barrier is a barrier for both parent and child.  If a child is sent to school at an early age then it will be easier for them to learn English.  From my personal experience, I was sent to school at the age of 4 and I had to learn English on my own.  Since my parents did not know English at the time either, my teacher and the school were the ones to teach me.  I am now 17 years old and speak English fluently.  It would be difficult for me to learn another language at this age.  If I were to leave to Mexico today and have to go to school there, I would have a hard time learning since I am used to an English speaking school.  

Immigrant families are disadvantaged by not knowing English especially the parents.  Margaret F. Steele from the New York Times states, “Language is a barrier to every immigrant family.  The majority of immigrant parents find it difficult to learn English.  This effects the child because the parents have no communication with the school.”  For example, if the child has behavioral problems in school the parent will not aware of it.  The school would contact the parents but the parents would listen to voicemail but not know what the teacher is saying.  “It found language barriers make it hard for parents to understand preschool or childcare center's rules or procedures. Immigrant parents are also less likely to question a teacher or school director if they don't like a certain aspect of how things are run” (Deepa Fernandes).  If the school system and parent are not speaking the same language then they will not be able to communicate.  No communication leads to mistrust.  

The parent can ask the student to translate but in some cases the student can take advantage and lie to the teacher and his/her parent.  Evelyn Beck from PTO today stated, “If parents with poor English skills aren’t attending your parent group meetings, don’t assume it’s because of a lack of interest or concern. “I have not yet met any parent who says ‘I don’t care what the school does,’” Han says. “They always say ‘I want the best for my child.’ However, something’s keeping them away. Figure out if it’s language or culture or comfort level.” Beck states that sometimes parents don’t even attend the meetings but it is not because they do not care.  Parents probably do not attend because they find it pointless if they will not understand what the teacher is saying.  A good way to get rid of the language barrier is to provide translators.  Also in Beck’s article it states, “Once these parents feel more comfortable attending events and meetings, figure out the best way to continue communicating. Some groups favor equipment that allows for simultaneous translation—an interpreter speaks into a master transmitter, and parents with receivers listen through headsets. “It really saves time,” Villanueva-Saucedo says.”  Parents do not have time to learn another language so equipment like these headsets could help a family out a lot.  “Language hurts a family because there is not communication between students to parents or parents to school.  It is difficult to learn an entire new language and parents to not have time to learn” (William Hawkins). Parents have enough stress with work and bills, they will always they do not have time to learn English.  My mother has tried to learn English but she works and has housework to do.  She has asked me to teach her English but I also have a lot of schoolwork to do and our time schedules do not match either.  Someone like my mom want to learn but does not know how to. Paying for an English class requires money and we do not have much of that either.

The second barrier is the trust barrier.  Immigrants go to another country seeking new opportunities for their family.  They lack the fact of getting to know the new country such as the school system.  Since they know nothing of the school system, the parents will not trust it.  If the family is going through problems they would face it on their own and not even notify the school.  This can lead the parents to stop sending the child to school.  I interviewed social worker, William Hawkins, he stated, “Some parents do not send their children to school because they do not want any evidence that they are in the country illegally.  This hurts the children because they do not get an education.” This becomes a barrier for the child as well because they get behind in school.  For example, if the family becomes homeless, the school can help find them a place to stay or at least try to.  The school can send them to a shelter or a church.  Parents are also scared of getting caught, they do not wish to get deported.  It is hard for immigrants to accept help because they do not trust people they do not know.  Their mindset is to stay hidden and quiet.  This is the biggest reason why they run if a social worker goes to visit them.