Antonio the model student from Oaxaca

Antonio is that kind of student that reminds you of why you went into teaching. May his work ethic and enthusiasm for learning be passed on to all students--John Gay Camp  June 17, 2013. 

http://gypsysouljourneys.tumblr.com/

My daughter Rachel Taylor has just finished week two of her 8 week internship in the Dominican Republic Amy and I will be going to visit her in several weeks. 

The photo below is Rachel's current Facebook profile picture.

I absolutely love this photo of Rachel!

Eager to learn

For me there is nothing more touching and exciting than to experience young children who are eager to learn . . . eager to learn in spite of obstacles that make learning such a challenge. 

My friend Jose is back!

For the third summer in a row, my friend Jose has returned with his accordion. I admire the fact that he manages to find room for his musical instrument in spite of having such limited space. 

This might help to explain . . .

This photograph might help to explain why so many migrant workers risk so much to come to the United States to work in the fields. This is the "main street" of Tecomartes, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the home of several of our migrant workers this year. One of these men, in fact, studied computer technology at a university in Mexico before making heading to the long journey to El Norte. He is one of a growing numbers of migrants who actually have a bachillerato, a high school diploma, from a high school in Mexico. 

Even with the dangerous journey, the sparse living conditions, and the difficult work at barely minimum wage, the economic alternatives can be for those who remain in Mexico and other surrounding countries. 

Bcahuasaz Hidalgo does not exist

Each time we register an OSY, we must fill out the COE (Certificate of Eligibility)--a legal document. One piece of information we need is the student's place of birth. I have just spent about 45 minutes on Google trying to find the location (or the correct spelling of "Bcahuasaz, Hidalgo, MX."

The Good news is that I came across the website below which contains detailed maps of each of the 31 states in Mexico and an alphabetical listing of the major cities, towns, and villages in that state. Based upon my research, there is nothing close to the name of this town in HG.

I spent another 20 minutes trying to locate a previous registration of Diego in a national database of migrant workers www.msix.ed.gov using his first name and birthday, but again no listing. Since this worker has an H-2A visa and just arrived several days go from Mexico (and says that it is his first time in the USA), it was unlikely to begin with of his being registered in msix. So that leaves one possibility, we will pull him aside during the next class, show him a map of Hidalgo, and try to solve the mystery of his birth town together. 

Good recruiters try to be as accurate as possible in the recording and reporting of their data. In the past, I might have randomly chosen one of the larger cities in a particular state and simply put it as the student's place of birth. While this would probably not be a major infraction, considering the efforts involved sometimes in being accurate, it just bothers me. If the recruiter goes the extra mile today to get the data correct in msix, the life of the next recruiter will be that much easier tomorrow. 

I also enjoy the search--it's like being a detective sometimes. 

Helpful website for migrant recruiter

Film of the Beaufort County MEP made for the May 25, 2013 Orientation Meeting

Below is a Windows Movie Maker film I made for our meeting on May 25, 2013. It contains about 100 photographs taken over the past 3 years in the Beaufort County South Carolina Migrant Education Program. 

Migrant Program Film 2013 

Excerpts from the film . . . 

Migrant Program Film May 2013

The Dreams . . .

To learn enough English to be ready for the baby in November

   To earn enough money in the next three years to  buy a car in the United and to drive it to Mexico to give to family members. He would then return to the USA to continue farm work. 

Of learning enough English to relieve some of the stress of not being able to speak English in a country where so few individuals speak a second language. 

Of having fresh blue crabs for dinner caught after a long day of farm work.

 Of having enough open space to give a home to all of the living creatures that seem to find Luis almost every day. 

       

       

To live near the sea where there are real boats and sea breezes and pirates.

                       

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. Camp Songs and English Acquisition.

For the past year or more, I have gotten away from using my guitar to teach English in the migrant camps. As we talk more and more about pre and post assessments and measurable objectives and outcomes with regard to migrant education, I think I have become too caught up with this educational jargon and forgotten how effective music can be as a tool to teach and learn a second language. 

I can hear the State Director of the Migrant Program South Carolina asking why does it have to be an either-or situation. Why can't you do a pre-assessment of what parts of the body an ELL knows before the song and then a post assessment after the song is over? Of course it can be done this way, but these measurable objectives seem to interfere with the joy of the moment at times. At the same time, I know that we are moving away from migrant education programs that are more like summer camps to MEPs that are more outcome based. I just have to combine the joy-of-the-moment with a planned lesson with measurable objectives in a way that students are having fun while learning at the same time (and I can show that they are learning. . . and the State MEP and the Feds know they are learning too . . . and more importantly, my migrant students are beginning to realize that they are learning meaningful skills while enjoying a simple tune at the same time.)

Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose . . . Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Our Guests Enjoy Themselves in our Luxurious Pool!

5-26-2011

Three Nights and Four Days in Sunny Beaufort, South Carolina.

 Itzel asked us over month ago if she,  her little sister Vanesa, and brother Chris could stay with us when her mother had to go into the hospital for several days. I don't think we had a chance to say no. The 3rd grader was quite persuasive. They were our guests from Wednesday night until Saturday morning when Rachel and I drove them back to the migrant camp. 

They loved swimming in our olympic size swimming pool, watching the boats on the Beaufort River from the Henry Chambers park, and feasting on ice cream of all flavors. When Vanesa was born two years ago, Itzel and Chris stayed with my family while their mother was in the hospital . It is so amazing to me that Itzel seems to remember every little detail about her stay in our house: our dogs names, our day at the beach (and the fact that we accidentally left all her shells at the beach that day), and Rachel's bedroom full of all kinds of wondrous things. 

I wish that all the children who live in the small rooms of the camps could spend time on the beach, playing in the waves, and eating ice cream on hot summer days. I am concerned that these visits to our house make it difficult for the children to return to their home in the migrant camp on St. Helena. We tend to really pack in a lot of activities during their visits. I just don't want to complicate their lives any more than they already are. 

Depending upon another doctor visit this week, there is the chance that these little guys might be staying with us for an extended period of time. Amy and I realized that we are not as young as we used to be, but we are trying to figure out the best way to proceed in the event that their mother might need to spend an extended time in the hospital. 

Without Rachel, who will be in the Dominican Republic for most of this summer, it's hard to imagine that Amy and I can provide the care that we would want to give these kids should they stay with us again. We shall see. 

 

Pine needles and migrant workers

April 11, 2013

My son Zach is a migrant recruiter working for the State of South Carolina. His travels take him throughout the state while I only work with migrant who come to harvest the tomatoes and watermelons of the lowcountry. 

The following photos of the long- leaf pine needle workers were taken by Zach in Chesterfield County, SC in the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. The State contracts several different groups of migrant workers to rake up the needles that will be used in landscaping projects throughout the United States.

A Visit to the Camps

April 5, 2013:

Today I had the pleasure of taking Beaufort Academy teacher Laura Cenci, her two sons Michael and Nicky, and student Ting to visit some of the migrant children on St. Helena. I think everyone enjoyed the interaction, especially with the soccer ball. While some friendly conversation and the kicking back and forth of a soccer ball might seem insignificant,  I think it can really make a difference in the lives of every one involved.

Xenia and Ting share a love of soccer. 

One of the men in this photo tried to teach us a few words in

 Tzotzil, one of the 64 languages spoken in Mexico. The native

name of Tzotzil is Bats'i k'op; [ɓatsʼi kʼopʰ]). It is a Maya 

language spoken by the indegenous Tzotzil Maya people in the 

Mexican state of Chiapas.

The sun came out for the first time in several days. It

has been quite chilly this spring for the lowcountry of

 South Carolina.

True of False?

SCMEP Training on March 27, 2013

Today I attended our annual meeting/training session at the Department of Education in Columbia, SC. I just wanted to publish some of the info we received at this meeting.

First a True / False Quiz:

1. Undocumented children may, in some instances, be excluded from public school because of immigration status.

2. The U.S. Supreme has not directly ruled on the right of immigrant children to attend public school.

3. Schools can require that an enrolling child provide a social security number.

4. It is permissible to ask enrolling children or their parents for immigration papers.

5. It is permissible to require a birth certificate to be presented before admitting a child in school.








(Simply False)

Last Day of Farm Worker Awareness Week March 31

Farmworkers Deserve Equal Workplace Rights!

Sunday March 31

"Farmworkers do the difficult and debilitating work that brings food to our tables every day -- and they do it for poverty wages" (http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/ our-view/x290597523/Farmworkers-deserve-equal-job-treatment).

Farmworkers are some of our nation’s most vital workers, as their labor enables us to enjoy high quality, low-cost, fresh fruits and vegetables all year round. Despite farmworkers’ economic and cultural contributions to the communities where they live and work, they continue to be some of the lowest paid, least protected, and unhealthiest workers in the United States. However, together we can raise the living and working conditions farmworkers. All workers deserve dignity and equal treatment in the workplace and in society. Join the movement for justice in agriculture.

Click here to see a video about farmworkers' rights.

Take action in support of farmworker rights:

http://www.witnessforpeace.org/section.php?id=86
http://www.gainesvilleiaij.blogspot.com/p/farmworkers.html
http://www.ncchurches.org/2013/03/national-farmworker-awareness-week/
http://action.ncjustice.org/
http://farmworkerjustice.org/support-farmworker-justice

Farmworker Awareness Week March 30

The Cause


Saturday March 30

Latinos, the fastest growing minority, making up 16% of the nation's population, made their mark on election night [November 2012]. The number of registered Latinos has increased by 26% in the last four years to 12.2 million. (http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/09/politics/latino-vote-key-election).


United, our voice is powerful. Farmworker Awareness Week partner organizations, from non-profit to university-student organizations, have worked to elevate the livelihoods of farmworkers. We strive to educate farmworkers and our community through panels, booths, publications, art and demonstrations. Our programs offer health support to farmworkers in the field, and fight for their basic rights to water, shelter and a decent wage. Our supporters send letters to their legislators and big corporations to state our case and to petition for positive change. Our faculty and students educate themselves in the history and contemporary struggles of farmworkers and work to create solutions on campus and in the community. You may not think your vote or voice will count but with everyone working together, we will make a difference.


Click here to see a video about the cause.

Grab your megaphone and add your voice today. Take action for the cause for farmworker justice:

http://www.friendsfw.org/

http://www.elcentronc.org/index.html

Farmworker Awareness Week Friday March 29

 Awareness Week March 24-31, 2013

 Another challenge facing migrant farmworkers is . .

CHILDREN WORKING IN THE FIELDS

FRIDAY MARCH 29

“An estimated 33,000 children incur farm-related injuries each year in the U.S... Over 100 of these children die as a result of their injuries.” (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae168).

Farmworkers were excluded from child labor laws in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The FLSA sets 12 as the minimum age for farm work, not 16 as in other jobs. When we think of our children, we think of their innocence, their carefree nature and their potential to do amazing things. But for farmworker children, their innocence is torn from them by performing untrained, back-breaking work, receiving little to no heath care (90% have no health insurance). They are unable to answer the question as to why the other kids at school move upwards and onwards, while more than 50% of them are unable to even end the cycle of poverty in their own homes.

Click here to see two videos about children in the fields:
The Childhood We Deserve
Children Working in the Fields

Take action against child labor:
http://www.ncfan.org/child-labor/
http://www.thesame.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=60

Farmworker Awareness Week March 24-31, 2013

Another Concern Facing Migrant Workers is  . . . 

ACCESS TO EDUCATION

THURSDAY MARCH 28

“The median highest grade of school completed by farmworkers is sixth grade.” (http://saf-unite.org/content/united-states-farmworker-factsheet).

For most students, sixth grade is just the half-way mark, but for many farmworkers, this is the end of their education. Farmworker children are more likely than any other child to quit school even before high school graduation, not because they want to, but because they have to help support their family. They are not able to be rooted in one community and school system; they may attend up to three different schools in one year. For many children it takes roughly three years to advance one grade level. How can they get the education they need, not only for academic progression but even for knowledge of their basic rights?

Click here to see a video about access to education.

That is where you come in. Take action to ensure that all children can reach their full educational potential:
http://www.saf-unite.org/content/access-education
http://en.adelantenc.org/
http://elcambio.webs.com/takeaction.htm

Celebrate Farmworker Awareness Week March 24-31, 2013

Another Challenge Facing Migrant Workers is . . . 

A FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS CHEAP BUT IS BUILT ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR IS NOT MORAL AND IS NOT SUSTAINABLE

WEDNESDAY MARCH 27

"Migrant farm labor supports the United States’ $28 billion fruit and vegetable industries. Yet half of all farmworker families earn less than $11,000 per year.” (http://www.ncfh.org/docs/fs-Facts%20about%20Farmworkers.pdf).

Every day, we take the abundance and low-cost of our food supply for granted. Ironically, farmworkers, those whose lives are spent harvesting the fruits and vegetables we eat, can rarely afford to eat decently and healthily. Nearly 5 out of 10 farmworker households in NC cannot afford enough food to feed their families. As environmental and public health concerns related to food issues gain traction and the word “sustainable” is used more often, it is important to remember farmworkers as a critical piece of the equation. They deserve dignity, fair treatment, and access to the essentials we take for granted every day. Their efforts bring food to your table. Help us bring dignity to theirs.

Click here to see two video about our food systems:
Is Cheap Food Good Food? 
On the Backs of the Poor

Take action to support a more just food system:
http://www.urbannutrition.org/
http://www.justharvestusa.org/getinvolved.html

Farmworker Awareness Week March 26

Farmworker Awareness Week March 23-31, 2013

Another need for migrant workers  is  . . . 

WORKER UNITY
TUESDAY MARCH 26

“In 1966, Cesar Chavez and a group of strikers set out on a 340-mile march from Delano to Sacramento to draw attention to the plight of farm workers, and during this strike the union won its first contract.” (http://nfwm.org/campaigns/ufw/).

Since Chavez’s time, more and more farmworkers have begun to learn about and fight for their right to collective bargaining, safer working conditions, better wages, fair housing, and more access to health care. And yet hundreds more, if not thousands, are left vulnerable and exploited by the system that uses their labor, yet keeps them in poverty. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers do the important work that feeds America - the work upon which we all depend.  Today, many farmworkers are immigrants with language barriers, low education levels, and obstacles of immigration status. We must stand in unity with workers and support their right to self-determination and to a life with dignity.

Click here to see a video about Worker Unity.

Take action to support workers today:
http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5796
http://act.aflcio.org/c/758/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5757&tag=facebook
http://nfwm-yaya.org/take-action/
http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?b_code=take_action
http://www.floridafarmworkers.org/

 Farmworker Awareness Week March 24-31, 2013.

Another challenge facing migrant workers is . . . 

SEPARATION OF FAMILIES

MONDAY MARCH 25

“Most farmworkers are married and/or have children; yet almost six out of ten farmworkers live apart from their immediate family members.” (http://saf-unite.org/content/united-states-farmworker-factsheet).

Because agriculture is one of the most dangerous and lowest-paying occupations in the United States, the U.S. agricultural industry cannot recruit citizens to fill much-needed jobs. Rather than improve wages and conditions in the fields, the industry recruits workers abroad where there are more laborers, fewer jobs, and much lower wages. Workers are also lured to labor on United States farms by the promise of a better life for themselves or their children: the “American Dream.” Many people in developing countries face extreme poverty, lack of jobs, natural disasters, armed conflict, and civil unrest. As economic refugees, many immigrant farmworkers have made the difficult decision to leave their homes and families in search of new possibilities in the United States.

Click here to see a video about Separation of Families.

Take action to support migrant families:
http://www.migrantstudents.org/chavezchallenge2013.html

Farmworker Awareness Week March 24.

PESTICIDES, HEALTH and SAFETY
SUNDAY MARCH 24

“Each year, an estimated 1 billion pounds of pesticides are applied to U.S. farms, forests, lawns and golf courses… Pesticide applicators, farmers and farm workers, and communities near farms are often most at risk.” (http://www.panna.org/issues/pesticides-101-primer).

Not only is pesticide use increasing in agricultural production, but so are associated illnesses and health issues, such as increased risk of certain cancers, birth defects, neurological diseases and learning disabilities. Farmworkers may face long hours of arduous work exposed to these dangerous pesticides and are often fearful to report pesticide exposure because of the threat of losing their jobs. Many are also denied proper protective gear and even the most basic of amenities such as clean drinking water and washing water. About 90% do not have access to necessary medical care and insurance.

The following 3 minute video introduces why all of us need to be concerned about the pesticide exposure:

http://vimeo.com/album/2310640/video/62262941

For more about Farmworker Awareness Week 2013 go to the following website:

http://saf-unite.org/farmworkerawareness

A Happy Birthday

 

On this beautiful day in March, the children in this camp gather as we help to celebrate an eighth birthday. She receives her new clothes and a pocketbook that comes with fabric markers. After cake and icecream, the birthday girl will spend the rest of her party carefully coloring in the fabric designs on her pocketbook.

Some migrant children live in the camps year round in Beaufort County. Some live under the same roof with both parents. More typically, the father travels to find farm work in other states, occasionally reuniting briefly between crops and travel. Quite often the women will find work cleaning or doing other odd jobs while their children attend the St. Helena Elementary School. Some women take turning taking care of the children while the other mothers work.

Although the first tomato crop will not be ready until the first week in June or so, many migrant workers are already here getting the fields ready for planting.

Today it's about cake, ice cream, and celebrating a special birthday of a little girl who loves going to school.