Migrant Education Program helps students advance
by
Dara Newson
Story Created:
Jan 23, 2012 at 11:52 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jan 24, 2012 at 1:21 PM CDT
One program in Hastings is helping children of migrant workers stay ahead in the class–room. It's called the migrant education program.
The program is offered during the school year in Hastings at three different school sites including, Abraham Lincoln Elementary school.
News 5's Dara Newson had the chance to sit in on one of the tutoring sessions and see how the program is helping the students.
These children deal with a number of different problems. They move around a lot losing friends, switching schools. But the main issue is disrupting their education.
This program in Hastings is helping the children finish at the head of the class.
Tutors take on four to five students at a time helping solve math and reading problems.
Because migrant parents of these children often relocate within the United States, students are going from school to school. Re-adjustment causes them to fall behind on their school work.
"It gives the kids socialization skills helps them practice their English cause a lot the students in the program are non–English speakers or learning English," said tutor Mary Mohlman.
But these migrant students are anything but behind. Ranging from grades kindergarten through 5th grade many are bilingual.
Over at Hastings College Professor Antje Anderson, claims this quality will make them more valuable as they get older.
"Almost everywhere else students do learn second languages and by the age of 15 or 16 they can hold a conversation—typically English, sometimes Spanish," said Anderson.
Over 100 students at Lincoln Elementary already speak a second language.
Professor Anderson claims at the high school level many students aren't given the option to take a second language at all.
"You want to apply for a job as a bank teller if you can speak Spanish as well as English you'll have a much better chance of becoming a bank teller," said Anderson.
Back at Lincoln Elementary, though many migrant workers seek temporary or seasonal work in agriculture, fishing and related industries their bilingual edge will give them more options for the future.
"The job opportunities for those who speak at least one other language - specifically, for people who speak Spanish but then also Chinese, for example, is definitely up and coming - are just so much better," said Anderson.
The Migrant Education program has offices throughout the state of Nebraska and is funded through a grant.
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