Sharing Web Resources

Teaching Tolerance e-newsletter contained an article entitled, “Alabama Immigration Law Tough on Students” by Sean Price. The article discusses the effect of Alabama’s anti-immigration law that was upheld by a federal judge, making the state “No. 1” when it comes to cracking down on immigrants. The law authorized law enforcement to detain people suspected of not being U.S. citizens and requires schools to ask new enrollees for a copy of their birth certificate. Students who are U.S. citizens by birth, but their parents may not be are most likely going to leave the state. Many children have been in tears. They are afraid. Several legal groups, including the southern Poverty Law Center plan to appeal the Alabama Law (Price, S., 2011).

I explored two links on NAEYC’s website; the first was the Newsroom and the second was Position Statements. In the Newsroom I found two recent press releases. The first was released on July 28, 2011 entitled, “U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Kay Hagan Introduce NAEYC’s Recommendations for ‘Ready Schools’ for All Children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act”. This legislation, building on the National Education Goals Panel Report on Ready Schools, as well as work in Ohio, North Carolina, and other communities, will help elementary schools provide the conditions and collaborations that will support all children in sustaining the gains they make in preschool through the early grades. Readiness includes ready children, ready families, ready communities, ready early care and education, and ready schools. Becoming a “ready school” includes conditions such as the use of developmentally appropriate curricula and teaching practices, support for teachers to enhance their knowledge of child development and learning, strong collaborations with families and community early childhood education providers, and professional development for school principles (NAEYC, 2011).

The second press release was dated October 11, 2011 and entitled, “U.S. Senator Robert Casey Introduces NAEYC’s Recommendations to Strengthen the Birth to Third Grade Continuum of Learning in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act” The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act encourages further state, community and school-level policy and practices that reflect what we know is needed to create an effective continuum of development and learning from birth through age 8 that sets the course for every child’s success in school and life (NAEYC, Oct., 2011).

The Position Statement tab on NAEYC’s website contains 35 plus position statements, standards, and “where we stand” statements. Positions statements I felt to be relevant to our topics of study are “Positions Statement on a Call for Vigilance and Action by All Policymakers on Behalf of Children and Families” and “Anti-Discrimination Position Statement”. Respectively, these position statements address legislation in Arizona with respect to immigration and related issues as a concern for NAEYC because it does not benefit children, and a commitment to the rights and interests of all children with respect to the hiring and retaining individuals working in the early childhood field (NAEYC). Relevant standards and “where we stand” statements include “Standards for Professional Preparation Programs” and where we STAND on standards for programs to prepare early childhood professionals. Both are about what future teachers should know and be able to do by addressing six standards that emphasize inclusion, diversity, family and community relationships, assessment, curriculum, and becoming a professional (NAEYC).

Completing this research provided insight that some states are not supportive of immigrants and have adopted laws that are harmful to children born in this country who have parents that are not citizens.

References

NAEYC (2011). U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Kay Hagan Introduce NAEYC’s Recommendations for “Ready Schools” for All Children in the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Senators_Brown_and_Hagan_introduce_…

NAEYC ( Oct., 2011). U.S. Senator Robert Casey Introduces NAEYC’s
Recommendations to Strengthen the Birth to Third Grade Continuum of Learning in
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Retrieved from
http://www.naeyc.org/newsroom/pressreleases/senator_casey_introduces_naeyc/recomm…

Price, S. (2011). Alabama Immigration Law Tough on Students. Teaching Tolerance.
Retrieved from http://www.tolerance.org/blog/alabama-immigration-law-tough-students

NAEYC web site. Position Statements.