Border Policies Affect Classrooms

Teachers and children around our state are busy preparing for the beginning of a new school year. Each year I ask myself what I can do to be a better teacher.

This year I have decided to increase my support and public advocacy for students and families whose voices are rarely heard, yet they face the direst of circumstances that most definitely limit their children’s educational opportunities.

Over the last five years, dozens of my students and their parents have expressed to me their fears and grief related to the separation of their families due to U.S. immigration policies and the exponential increase in violence in Mexico.

The stories are heartbreaking, and the situations cause repeated disruptions to students’ learning.

My students’ parents — and the students themselves — have told me about family members who have been shot dead, who have received death threats, who are so concerned about the violence in Mexico that they tell their loved ones in the United States not to come to visit them.

These are families in crisis that have no good options and suffer no matter what choices they make.

It’s time for those of us to work with these families to start speaking out about what we have seen and heard, and the impact that this violence has directly or indirectly on all of us.

For inspiration, I am looking to the example of Javier

Students have told me about family members who have been shot dead, who have received death threats.

Sicilia, a prominent Mexican writer, turned human rights leader and citizen diplomat, when his own son was killed. Sicilia was named one of TIME’s 2011 Persons of the Year for his work.

Albuquerque is fortunate to have the opportunity to meet Sicilia in person next Saturday, Aug. 18, from noon to 2 p.m. as his peace caravan, which is traveling from coast to coast, makes a stop at the Holy Family Parish in the South Valley, 562 Atrisco SW.

The public is invited to hear Sicilia, those who accompany him from Mexico and local voices describe the situation that too many of my students are facing.

I hope that the testimony and discussion that takes place, as well as the art, poetry and music that will be part of this event, are the beginning of healing for my students and their families.