By Andrea García, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, and Carmen Martínez-Roldán, Universtiy of Texas, Austin, TX
Literature educates not only the head, but the heart as well. It promotes empathy and invites readers to adopt new perspectives. It offers opportunities for children to learn to recognize our similarities, value our differences, and respect our common humanity. In an important sense, then children need literature that serves as a window onto lives and experiences different from their own, and literature that serves as a mirror reflecting themselves and their cultural values, attitudes, and behaviors. Bishop, cited in Wolf, 2003.
Literature can become a conduit-a door-to engage children in social practices that function for social justice. Botelho & Rudman, 2009, p. 1
When inviting teachers to share their initial responses to Return to Sender, focusing on the ideas or themes that resonated personally to them as readers, Cynthia created a Graffiti Board response that zeroed in on the larger sociopolitical issues that frame the story. Return to Sender has the potential not only to serve as window and mirror for many readers but also to invite children and teachers to engage in social practices that function for social justice. Throughout the novel, Alvarez presents a multiplicity of voices on critical issues with consequences for social justice, such as the issue of immigration and undocumented immigrants.
This week we would like to focus on one specific event in the story: the town meeting held in the school lunchroom. Julia Alvarez captured both the anti-immigrant discourse and a critical alternative discourse. The first discourse is represented in that scene by Mr. Rossetti who proposes, “So, I want to put a motion forward that says that anyone who’s not here legally needs to be rounded up” (p. 189), an ideology enacted in real life by Immigration and Customs Enforcement through “Operation Return to Sender” in 2006.
Mr. Bicknell, the teacher, represents an alternative discourse and he became the voice of the community in his respose to Mr. Rossetti’s motion: “But the bottom line is that this country, and particularly this state, were built by people who gave up everything in search of a better life, not just for themselves, but for their children. Their blood, sweat, and tears formed this great nation” (p. 191). That voice had a transformative power over Mr. Rossetti.
We invite the reader to share his/her thoughts about Alvarez’s depiction of the town meeting and the two positions that collided. How do you see Mr. Bicknell’s role as a critical teacher and citizen? How do you see teachers’ roles when such discourses emerge in the classroom?
References
Botelho, M., & Rudman, M. (2009). Critical multicultural analysis of children’s literature: Mirror, windows, and doors. New York: Routeldge.
Wolf, S. (2003). Interpreting literature with children. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Please visit wowlit.org to browse or search our growing database of books, to read one of our two on-line journals, or to learn more about our mission.
- Themes: Andrea García, Carmen M. Martínez-Roldán, Julia Alvarez, Return to Sender
- Descriptors: Books & Resources, Student Connections, WOW Currents
The town hall meeting was a strong scene for me and it caught my attention for different reasons. I felt a sense of pleasure when Mr. Bicknell stood up and spoke for what he believed was right. Many people forget how the U.S. came to be. One of the wonderful things about the U.S. is that its very constitution is comprised of a variety of people and cultures. The only true difference through the centuries is the waves of different immigrant groups migrating to the U.S. from different parts of the world during different periods of time. Also, I believe the mentality that only certain people are entitled to pursue the American Dream has always existed – the target group being the most recent immigrant wave. I believe this has recently been exacerbated as the latest Spanish speaking immigrant wave has been arriving in numbers never seen previously. The sheer numbers forced some to label this immigration as a problem. Others, such as Educators, have responded by altering their teaching methods and approach to help immigrants pursue the American Dream. We still have a long way to go, but recently during the Winter Olympics, I was pleasantly surprised to see a girl from Asian decent represent the U.S. in figure skating. For me, to see this on national television on a global stage, speaks volumes of our changing times. To have someone that is not Anglo and blonde is a true representation of the U.S. culture. Our skin color and hair color does not make us American or non-American. Every parent that immigrated into the U.S., whether that was centuries ago or now, has come here for the same reason, to provide a better way of life for his or her children. By speaking up Mr. Bicknell was trying to show that we shouldn’t forget these facts and we should continue to empower people to think critically in an effort to continue to make the U.S. the great nation that it is, The Land of Opportunity.
I believe that as a teacher we will have to show our students to also think critically. In order to achieve this, we will have to show both sides of the story. We can’t limit our students to see and understand only one side. For example, while immigration makes the U.S. rich in different cultures, providing opportunities for many people, there are also negatives related to immigration. I saw a documentary just yesterday on the National Geographic Channel. This is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. The documentary showed a mom, illegally here in the US, who left her children behind in the U.S. while she went to visit her father who was deathly ill in Mexico. While trying to illegally re-cross the border back to the U.S., she was caught and sent back to Mexico. This shows that opportunity comes at a cost. In that same documentary, Customs and Border Control caught ten men trying to illegally cross the desert from Mexico into the U.S. Each man carried a large box on his back full of marijuana. As a concerned mother, I was glad to see that these criminals were caught. Thus, providing our students with facts from both sides of the story, we provide them with the tools necessary to be critical thinkers and draw their own conclusions by themselves—this is probably one of the best tools teachers can provide their students.
Delia, I couldn’t agree with you more.Mr. Bricknell was right on when he said how we forget how the U.S. came to be.There are waves of immigration and that should always stay true, as we are the land of the free and the brave. Now we just need to become the land of acceptance and tolerance and justice for all.
I agree with both of you. When we think of immigrants nowadays, we think of those coming illegally and we tend to overlook everything else about immigration as well as the good that comes out of it. As both Amy and Delia said, Mr. Bricknell made a good point when stating that America is a country that is builty by immigrants. Those who have come here have had a huge impact on the development of our country.
What I thought was really effective was when Mr. Bricknell proceeded to discuss Mr. Rossetti’s origins and how if it weren’t for those who came here from that ethnic group, there are certain things we wouldn’t have today. America is a country of immigrants and many people, whether their family has been here for 200 years or 20 years, have their origins in another country. This country’s diversity is what makes it great and as teachers we need to make our students realize this, and like Amy said, be tolerant, accepting, as well as appreciative of our differences.
How do you see Mr. Bicknell’s role as a critical teacher and citizen?
I believe that Mr. Bicknell did the right thing by speaking his mind in the lunchroom, despite the possibility that he might be in the minority opinion thereby singling himself out. In other words, it is great that he is an active, aware, and informed citizen. As a teacher, however, I would have issues with him speaking his mind in the classroom. It is the teachers responsibility, in my opinion, to present the students with a balanced point of view, and allow the students to build their own ideas. Stated differently, I believe that teachers should not preach in the classroom, lest they created a threatening environment, or at least a sense of tension between the students and him/herself.
The town meeting scene is a very realistic scene. It reminded me of the many immigrants who are constantly humiliated because they are not legal in this country. Many people still can’t understand that most of the individuals who immigrate to our country are here in search of a better life. Of course, there are immigrants who are criminals (like many American citizens) and they should be treated as such. But all the hard working people should be treated equally no matter if they are legal or not.
I agree with Delia that as teachers we need to provide our students with facts of both sides of the story. This allows students to form their own opinions of the issue. That is, like Carlos stated the teacher should inform students and not preach them of his/her (the teacher) beliefs.
Mr. Bicknell is certainly an educated, active citizen. He is aware of what our nation has gone throughout the years. Listening to people like Mr. Bicknell stand up in front of a crowd is very inspiring. Many people don’t voice their opinions because they are afraid to be rejected. Mr. Bicknell is a positive activist role model who speaks for many people.
When I finished reading this scene in the book, all I could say was, “Yes! You tell them Mr. Bicknell!” He made a really good point. All immigrants in this country, whether old or more recent, have come in search of a better life for themselves and their families. They have helped build this country. The Chinese immigrants of the late 1800s, for example, helped build this country’s transcontinental railroad. More recently, newly arrived Latino immigrants have taken on jobs in construction and the service sector. Jobs that many in this country would refuse to do. This is where I think back to what Mr. Bicknell said. “Their blood, sweat and tears formed this great nation.”
There was a really powerful documentary on the life of Gloria Anzaldúa, a Chicana who was influenced by her identity as an American woman of Mexican decent, that I saw last semester in my Mexican-American Women class. In it a woman interviewed talked about the immigrants that have arrived in this country as “the best of the best.” She described them as this because of the strength and courage they demonstrate when they decide to cross the border into this country knowing there are risks. Not only this but they survive this dangerous journey-a miracle in itself. Once here they are eager to work, to earn money for their families, and live happy lives. These are the qualities that many of us admire. This has to do with what Mr. Bicknell was trying to let those at the town meeting understand-that we are human beings above everything else.
When it comes to being critical teachers, I believe that students, with the help of teachers, should learn about all sides of the issues so that they can make their own decisions. With this I believe we must also teach tolerance by having students place themselves in other people’s shoes. This is exactly what Mr. Bicknell did for everybody at the town meeting. He reminded everyone to be understanding of what immigrants have gone through in the past and what they go through in the present.
Carlos, I think you brought up a good point. As teachers, we are supposed to be unbiased and not necessarily show our students that we are taking sides. As you said, students should be aware of both sides of an argument. In this case, Mr. Bicknell was clearly taking a stance on the issue and was very passionate about it.
Putting this aside, I think that him taking a side and speaking his mind in a setting where his opinion was not necessarily the majorit one showed students that if they feel there is some injustice going on, they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up. They should not be afraid to take a stand.
I agree with Carlos. It was great that Mr. Bicknell spoke his mind at the meeting because that was an appropriate setting in which to do so. In the classroom, however, students need to understand that the teachers opinion is not the only opinion, and should be given the information needed to come up with their own beliefs.
Mr. Bicknell had every right to stand up for what he believed in. I agree in what you said Delia about the different waves of immigration to the U.S. This country did not only have immigrants from one sole country. There are people of different nationalities all over America. People come and go from all over the world. It is nothing new to us, and Mr. Bicknell wanted to remind people of that. As educators we should be able to give both sides of a story and give the whole story versus leaving out parts to inform students. If our students are informed of such issues like immigration, then they can make informed decisions for themselves regarding their own opinions. Mr. Bicknell did what he thought was right and what many teachers are afraid to stand up in because of such controversy on the issue of immigration. Personally, as a future bilingual educator, I find it critical that we address these issues since the majority of our students will have ancestors or themselves be immigrants coming from a different country.
This is by far one of my favorite scenes from the novel. This scene evoked in me a range of feelings, from feeling disappointed to complete happiness and a sense of pride. Mr. Rossetti’s comment was really disappointing to hear and, sadly, there are many people that still feel that way. They view and regard immigrants as low life criminals that have no business here. When the reality is far from that, there are many immigrants here that are not criminals and that come here to better their lives and provide their children a better future. Which has been the case of immigrants long ago and present immigrants. There are also many immigrants here that are willing to go through the process of becoming legal residents but the process is a long one and visas are limited. Thus they are faced with an obstacle, crossing the border illegally, which many feel is worth overcoming in order to have a better life. Having lived in both, Mexico and the United Sates, allowed me to see and experience the reasons why many people come to the United States and the harsh realities that they face upon arriving here. They face discrimination, hunger, and abuse. Yet despite that, many immigrants are hardworking people that are willing to take on any job to provide for their family, many jobs that no one wants to do but need to be done. It is to this that Mr. Bicknell refers to when he states that this country was “built by people who gave up everything in search of a better life, not just for themselves, but for their children. Their blood, sweat, and tears formed this great nation.” What many citizens of this great country forget is how big of a role immigrants have played on the United States. Immigrants have long been a part of this country and have made many great contributions.
When I read Mr. Bicknell’s response to Mr. Rossetti I couldn’t help but smile and feel proud of his response. I thought it was a great idea by Alvarez to have an Anglo character be the one to bring up such a point. I loved how his response became the voice of the community and how it encouraged Mr. Rossetti to have a change of heart. I feel that as a teacher Mr. Bicknell provided the people and students at the town meeting with a different perspective and point of view to a very controversial topic. I see his character as portraying a critical teacher because he raised a valid point of view that should be taken into consideration before decisions are made regarding the lives of others. He exemplified tolerance and empathy towards others, which are qualities that embody what a citizen is. As a future teacher I feel that our roles if a situation like the one described in the book is to emerge, is to provide students with insights and perspectives of both arguments. We must also not show preference over one argument in order to allow the students to make their own decisions. But most importantly we must instill in our students the importance of tolerance and empathy towards others and to place themselves in the lives of others before making a judgment. Which is why I loved Mr. Bicknell’s response because that is exactly what he did. His response was not biased and it allowed the audience to see a different side.
This was one of my favorite scenes in the novel as well. It’s great that there are people like Mr. Bicknell out there who are trying to make a difference. His entire speech was very moving, but there was one quote in particular that caught my attention. “We’re all born human beings. But we have to earn that e at the end of human with our actions so we can truly call ourselves humane beings.” (192) Alvarez shows us in this scene and throughout the rest of the novel that all it takes is the actions of one person to help lead others on the path to becoming ‘humane beings’. To me, the town meeting seems like the beginning of a turning point for Mr. Rossetti. Although he is old and clearly resistant to change, we see him becoming slightly more tolerant as time goes on. Although he may not be a perfect ‘humane being’, we can see that he is at least making an effort.
Karina, I agree with your comment, “As educators we should be able to give both sides of a story and give the whole story versus leaving out parts to inform students.” You might recall a discussion we had in our Social Studies methods class, a couple weeks ago. The professor asked, “Should we teach our students everything about history, good and bad, or should be only teach the good?” I believe the majority of our class agreed that both sides should be taught. I myself am a strong believer that both sides of any story should be taught. We should learn from history to not repeat past mistakes. If we only teach one side, we are preventing our students, the makers of our future to be well informed and make the best decisions. Teaching our students half of the story will handicap them and they are likely to repeat past mistakes.
I completely agree with Stephanie’s statement. The basis on which this country was founded was so that people of all creeds, colors, race, religions, ideology could form a weave so tight that it is impossible to tear through. The immigrants who make this enormous almost blind leap of faith – have come with an ardor not only to survive, but to succeed. That is why we see them relentlessly refusing to give up what this country promised they could do without fear of persecution…to pursue those certain unalienable rights with which man has been bestowed from his inception – Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness. We cannot justly deny OUR EQUALS these rights, for to deny them based on the country of origin, or class (because immigrants do get different treatment based on such petty categorizations) without denying ourselves. For those first immigrants of this country came bearing a plight similar to our brothers who today seek haven from their war-torn, politically corrupt countries. This is not to say that our country is perfect – it is far from it, however, it is in those imperfections that we can find the common thread that binds us together – our humanness, and need for refuge. At one point or another in this uncertainty that we call life we will all need a refuge, who will we turn to in our time of need we close our doors to those who seek it now? With what face will we dare ask for what we ourselves denied others?
I do believe that we must remain neutral – however there is no such thing. As we discussed in class, to remain silent IS to take a stance. In such a turmoiled time we cannot afford to spread such indifference to our future. As teachers, we also have an obligation to spark in our students civic responsibility. You CANNOT teach responsibility by standing by and watching. So in reference to Mr. Bicknell’s role as a critical teacher and citizen – it is admirable and a lesson in itself. Why are we so afraid of opinions in school, as if they were toxic derailments to students’ learning? We cannot be afraid to challenge them. Voicing opinions in the classroom doesn’t necessarily mean we are instilling them in our students, we must take advantage of our duty as role models to let them know that we do not have all the answers, we do not necessarily have to share the same opinions to respect each other. I find that in this country, we are afraid to challenge our teachers, as if that were to somehow going to negatively impact our learning process. It’s hard for me to imagine Socrates censoring his teachings so as to remain neutral for Plato.
Fatima, I agree with you, students should be told the truth. Our country’s history cannot be changed. It is our duty to tell our students of the injustices that have occurred in the past and the issues that are controversial at this moment in time. Just like you mentioned Delia, good and bad should be taught in school. How else will our youth learn not to make the same mistakes as those who came before them?
Samla you made a really good point, just because you state an opinion does not mean you are telling your students to believe the same thing. You could even make it a point to tell your students right off that this is something you believe and that it is their choice whether they agree with it or not. Also, encouraging respectful discussion about their opinions can let students hear from peers, learn more about the topic, and further analyze their own beliefs. To do this students must feel that their classroom is a safe environment where they are free to express themselves. This is where we come in as teachers to help mediate the conversations, ensuring that students gain as much out of them as possible. Both in terms of thinking critically about society and how they fit within the scope of these topics.
Karina, I loved how you brought up the point that as future bilingual educators it is critical that we address issues like immigration. I completely agree with you, I think that immigration is an issue that will concern our future students and it is important that we discuss it in class. We should not avoid the subject just because it is controversial, our students deserve to be informed about issues that are or may affect them in the future. Even more so, because we live in a border state, where we do not have the option of not addressing this issue, as it is constantly on the media. Why as teachers should we not be allowed to address the issue of current immigrants? When we teach history we don’t neglect to teach our students of the wave of immigrants from long ago, such as the Italians? I applaud Mr. Bicknell’s action, because he reminded people about our country’s foundation and how culturally diverse we came to be but, most importantly “how to be a decent human being” (Alvarez 191).
I agree with Stephanie and Fatima that many immigrants work low paying jobs that many Americans would refuse to do. They have barely enough money to pay their basic needs (food and home expenses). They don’t have enough money for luxurious items like many other people are fortunate to have. Many leave their high status jobs in their home country to come to a nation that they hope will provide their children with a better education. This reminds me of a friend who immigrated to the U.S with her family when she was 12 years old. Her dad was an accountant in Mexico but was working here as a janitor in a high school. He gave up his job in Mexico that paid him a lot more than the one he had here all for his family. As Mr. Bicknell states, “this country was built by people who gave up everything in search of a better life, not just for themselves, but for their children.” This just shows how strong immigrants are. They are willing to take risks and don’t let anything impede them from reaching their dreams. What’s sad is that once they arrive to the country of their dreams they also have to go through the turmoil of being unaccepted by the people of this country. Therefore, I think its very important as teachers to teach tolerance like Stephanie mentioned. No one should judge others before actually knowing what they are going through. Students need to learn that we are all different and that’s what makes us unique. Role-playing in the classroom during a social studies lesson could be a good way to have students experience the lives of people around the world. Students could learn that our country wouldn’t be what it is now if it weren’t for all the immigrants who arrived from all over the world. And like Mr. Bicknell said, “Many of us wouldn’t be here.”
I was very excited when Mr. Bicknell stood up and defended those that could not defend themselves. That was a very brave, and I’m sure, difficult thing for him to do. He could have been subject to ridiculed and harassment and yet, with no regard for himself, he did it anyway. He knew it was the right thing to do. I’m sure others wanted to say something but were afraid of the ramifications. Sometimes the right thing isn’t always easy. When I was in high school I stood up to a bully who was always teasing a shy, plain, pimply-faced girl. I thought for sure I was a goner! I was scared and afterwards I went to the bathroom and cried. No one else ever stood up to him. He was popular and had lots of friends. I assumed I would become his next victim but I didn’t care. I just couldn’t take it anymore. He never bothered me or the girl again. As teachers, we need to model this behavior and let out students know that they should stand up for what they believe in. I also agree with Carlos that teachers shouldn’t preach. However, I believe that a teachers role as moderator is important in the classroom and that all sides of a story must be presented in order for our students to to make an informed decision. We must also teach our students that nothing is black and white. There is a lot of gray in our world. This is where we must teach tolerance, repect and understanding as Amy, Daniela, Stephanie and many others stated.
Roseann, you brought up a great personal example. It shows that issues of tolerance can happen really close to home for students. As teachers we can use these school-related examples as a way to create connections to other issues in their community and nation. This is how students come to understand how others must be feeling, what their experiences are like and if there are ways to make their situations better.
Alvarez, in her scene at the town meeting, makes the issue of “illegal immigration” boils down to one of the tensest moments in the book. The reader is confronted to make a decision to which side he or she is on, and that would perhaps change his or her moral views of the law. On one side you have Mr. Rossetti, a person who is angry at the fact that people who he knows are breaking the law by hiring undocumented immigrants. He is a person who wants “anyone who’s not here legally … to be rounded up”. On the other side you have the many families, not only those who are undocumented, but also those who hired them, that would be affected financially and emotionally if Mr. Rossetti’s wishes come true. However, Alvarez does a good job in showing Mr. Bicknell, a school teacher, arguing in favor of those whose families would be affected if “anyone who’s not here legally … to be rounded up”. I think Mr. Bicknell is the perfect person to argue in favor of the immigrants, because he is a teacher and teachers have a substantial knowledge of history, and know that just like in past times, sometimes people have no other choice but to ignore the law because that is the only way they have that would take them out of miserable situations that are out of their control.
I believe that when discussions like these emerge in the classroom, the teacher should give a wide view of both sides and back up the arguments with historical facts, just as Mr. Bicknell did. Also, a teacher should warn students of the danger of marking someone as a criminal without listening to both sides of the issue. I see it all the time. People call undocumented immigrants criminals when the only thing they did is come to this country to work.
I have seen and heard confrontations on the immigration issue on the TV and radio. I have also witnessed, with sadness, that argument, such as the one that Mr. Bicknell gives, “this country… were built by people who gave up everything in search of a better life….” (p. 191), not sufficient to make people sympathetic to undocumented immigrants. They still want to treat them as criminals. In the book, the reader is able to sympathize with Mari and her undocumented family, because Alvarez is able to convey, very effectively, how the Vermont family is able to keep their farm thanks to Mari’s family workforce. And that leads me to believe that if Alvarez had not shown that the Anglo family was saved by the undocumented family’s workforce, perhaps Anglo readers wouldn’t sympathize with undocumented immigrants. I guess that was Alvarez’s point, to show Anglo Americans that everyone benefits from each other.
I like what Roseann and Stephanie were saying about discussing school-related examples of discrimination. We as teachers need to help our students understand that yes, there are some people who are different than they are, but that doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with them. Whether they are recent immigrants, someone of a different cultural background or even just a person with a disability, we need to treat them the same way we would anyone else.
I agree with many of the others who said that this was a great scene from the book. It really showed how some immigrants are viewed. They are treated terribly and as others have said, they are discriminated against. There was a quote that stood out to me right after the town meeting. Mr. Bicknell had said, “We’re all born human beings. But we have to earn that e at the end of human with our actions so we can truly call ourselves humane beings” (p 192). This could not be any more true. By being accepting and tolerant and by going that extra mile to stand up for what you believe in in order to help others, makes a person humane.
I agree with Beth, Roseann, and Stephanie. We need to help our students understand that we are all different. As teachers we need to set expectations in our classrooms in where no type of discrimination will be allowed. For instance, bullying is an issue that affects many students negatively and emotionally. We need to inform students that it’s very important for them to notify an adult (school staff, parents, etc.) if they are experiencing any type of discrimination at school. Many times students are embarrassed or afraid to tell an adult and therefore have to go through everything on their own. This can affect the child negatively in many ways such as leading to depression or even suicide.
After reading all of the comments above, I have to agree with some sentiments and disagree with others. I agree that all sides of an issue should always be taught (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and I agree that the classroom is no place to preach – which is why I am going to put myself out there and say that I was disappointed in Mr. Bicknell and his speech. That town meeting WAS his classroom – he mandated that his class attend, and therefore during that meeting he was doing exactly what everyone just said he shouldn’t; he was preaching to his class. Also, I agree that this country was founded on immigration and immigration leads to a melting pot of wonderful things; however, the connection Mr. Bicknell made to previous immigration was not correct. The Italians he referenced entered this country legally through Ellis Island, along with the Germans and Irish (who were also put down and humiliated by their immigration status for a VERY long time). Mr. Bicknell did not give his class all sides of the story as he was preaching to them – he lost sight of the fact that the immigrants to whom he was referring came to this country illegally, which was the point Mr. Rosetti was making (albeit in a very closed-minded way). In my opinion, he should have been teaching his students how they can work to change the laws that are already in place and not have been preaching about breaking laws further.
Juan, very well stated, “I guess that was Alvarez’s point, to show Anglo Americans that everyone benefits from each other.” I really hadn’t thought of it that way. You are so right though. I can’t tell you how many times in driving around Austin with my parents that I have been reminded of this. My father (now a U.S. citizen) will point at a bridge or at a building and will say, “I helped build this, I helped build that, I was a supervisor here, I supervised that.” I father did tough labor work for many years, he doesn’t do it anymore, he can’t. It was not easy for my parents to leave their home country, Mexico, but I have personally thanked my parents on multiple occasions. Their sacrifice allowed my siblings and I to have a better live than what would have been. My father did the work that many American Citizens still refuse to do today, hard, labor work. As you state Juan, everyone benefited from each other.
There was another phrase that stood out to me when Alvarez writes, “But maybe it’s like the Underground Railroad: helping slaves find freedom.” (117) History has shown that every new wave of immigrants has been discriminated in one way, shape, or form. African Americans did not have a choice; they were forced to come here. Europeans were forced to change their names to be Americanized. It is now the Latino community that is being faced with this kind of discrimination or even worse discrimination. One can only hope that Legislation steps to do the right thing soon!
I believe that Samla, is one hundred percent correct when saying that as teachers, we have an obligation to spark in our students’ civic responsibility, and especially when we see the injustice of an issue. We, as future bilingual teachers have the responsibility to arm our students with a wealth of knowledge that can help them debate the many anti immigrant sentiment that they will face at one point in their life. Julia Alvarez shows us in the character of Mari that undocumented students suffer every time they are reminded of their legal status. Therefore, it is our duty as bilingual teachers to make our students aware that they did not do anything wrong and that they should always walk with their heads high. This is very important if we want our students to grow up with a positive self identity.
I couldn’t even imagine leaving my family and friends at the age of 16, coming to another country where I don’t speak the language or know anyone, and begin a new life. Yet, that is exactly what my grandparents did. How very brave of them and of all immigrants! They did encounter discrimination and turmoil as Maricela and Kaitlyn discussed and yet, they built a wonderful life for themselves, their children, their grandchildren and for generations to come. My favorite part of the Town meeting was how Mr. Bicknell was able to change Mr. Rossetti’s opinion of immigrants in our country. I believe this was a turning point for Mr. Rossetti too as Beth stated earlier. He was uninformed and ignorant, as many people are, and after hearing what Mr. Bicknell had to say, he began to see the light. Teachers have a duty to inform their students so they too can “see the light”. By that I mean to help them be knowlegable, tolerant, understanding and compassionate. Teachers must present all the facts so the students can come up with their own educated conclusions. However, I also agree with Kaitlyn. I don’t think a teacher should preach. Although, when teaching tolerance, understanding and compassion, it may seem like preaching. It is teaching children to do what is right, to be good citizens and ultimately, to become concerned, caring adults.
Kaitlyn – I don’t think Mr. Bicknell expected to have this discussion with Mr.Rossetti at the meeting. I believe he was very passionate about this and was just, in the heat of the moment, defending those that could not stand up and defend themselves. I understand your sentiments that the immigrants he talked about years ago did enter our country legally(as my grandparents did) as opposed to many immigrants today that enter illegally. You are right! The laws need to change.
I agree with the point that Juan brought up, about how everyone benefits from each other. Many people do not think about the fact that employers who hire immigrants benefit from their status. They hire immigrants to work for less than the minimum wage in order to save money. Just as they benefit from their status, immigrants benefit from them because they are given a job. I like to see it as a mutualistic relationship, but sadly many people only view immigrants negatively and not the employers. For this reason I believe that as teachers it is our job to teach students about tolerance so that such views can be changed. I believe that the classroom is the perfect environment to teach students about tolerance because we can draw from many examples presented in schools. As I mentioned in a previous post, as teachers we must provide our students with both sides so that they can develop a full perspective of a situation. They must be able to weigh both sides before making any judgments.
Fatima, you touched many important aspects related to why people come to this country undocumented, and I believe that people need to know those reasons in order to understand each other. Like you said, undocumented immigrants want, and have tried to legalize their residential status, but the current system makes it nearly impossible. And one thing that I would add, as a Hispanic, and personally knowing many undocumented immigrants, that many of them want to go back to their native country if they had a legal way to come to the U.S. on a regular basis just to work. Many immigrants in this current system feel trapped because they are far from their immediate families, (wife, children, mother, father), but they know that if they go back home, they won’t have the means to survive. Therefore, they have to stay.
Throughout American history, immigration has played a significant role in the population. The influx of immigrants into the United States has led to new laws and tougher enforcements to help manage the ever increasing population. With all the proposals that have been made however, few changes have actually been made to the law,
Mr. Bicknell’s response to Mr. Rossetti was quite simple yet laced with layers of underlying political issues. Mr. Rossetti’s name is undoubtedly Italian, and synonymous with Rossetti’s father and many others like him, they came to the US in search of work. Had it not been for the generations of Italians and the cultured rich craftsmanship they brought to the US, then as Mr. Bicknell stated, we would have missed these opportunities of having beautifully constructed buildings as well as great pizza. The fact is that the US in essence has been multifaceted in its ethnicity from time immemorial and in being multicultural has become this rich, varied and fascinating culture that gives this country an invaluable resource.
Mr. Bicknell’s response brings to light that people came to the US in search of a better life not primarily for themselves but for their children’s. The bloody history that is an intrinsic part of the US has unfortunately made this nation what it is today; as human beings we must not forget this. Mr. Bicknell’s voice is most discernibly a voice of the masses. He exemplifies who a citizen should be expressing his right to freedom of expression and as a leader in society. In being this admirable figure, he establishes the forgotten values that are innately human; values that surround the lives of the migrants like Mari and her family as they intermingle and become a part of a new world, if only for a while.
Kaitlyn, the argument that you have put foward is quite persuasive, and you certainly are right…Mr. Bicknell did not disclose this aspect of immigration. Many immigrants came to the US illegally and I believe that this is the underlying political issue that gets cloudy when things get heated. The fact remains that illegal immigrants place excess burden in the various sectors of the economy like social services as well as others. Clearly, something has to be done about this issue of illegal immigration, either the US government needs to enforce penalties on those who employ illegal immigrants or maybe rather than restricting immigrants from trying to earn a living while can be extended a visa that could allow them to work with restrictive benefits of living in the US.
I think Alvarez did a great job showing two real life points of view on the issue of immigration here in the U.S. through the scene of the town meeting. On one side is Mr. Rossetti, who just wants to put all illegal immigrants in jail. It saddens me to think that there are people living in this country who have this same mentality and think it is a valid solution for the issue of illegal immigration. On the other side is Mr. Bicknell, who explained well that this country started from immigrants and we would not even be here if they did not move to this country. In my opinion, most people that come here illegally do so because they want the opportunity to live a better life or give the opportunity of a better life to their family. I believe that most of these undocumented individuals are just trying to live their lives. This is why I think Mr. Bicknell’s speech was really important. He showed the citizens of the community that this country was founded on the ideas of people uniting for a better life. In my opinion, when these discourses emerge in the classroom, it is the teacher’s responsibility to lie out all the facts and use the topic as a way to teach different lessons. The main point of the discussions should be for students to learn about the topic and to listen and be respectful to other’s opinions while creating their own opinions.
I think Samla had many great points. As teachers, it is our responsibility to teach students civic responsibility. We need to show them that it is not enough to just sit idle by, but to create their own opinions on issues and then act on the one’s that really bother them. As a future bilingual teacher, this is a topic that I’m sure many of my students would have strong opinions on. Also, like Fatima said, we need to use discourse in the classroom in order to teach tolerance of other’s opinions, because that is our civic responsibility as future teachers.
I agree with both Juan and Delia in that Alvarez is very successful in gaining readers’ appreciation for Mari’s family as she shows their hard work allows Tyler’s family to keep their farm. Their role in saving the farm definitely exemplifies how many American citizens benefit from the often unappreciated labor of immigrant workers. I also feel, however, that much of the sympathy that is gained for Mari and her family comes from Alvarez’s very emotional and personal telling of what the family has gone through. By learning Mari’s story, one that inevitably plays out in real life, and hearing her thoughts and fears, readers get a heartfelt glimpse into what life is like for some immigrant families. I feel many people’s lack of empathy is caused by their lack of knowledge of what some families really go through in their quest for a better life.
“Why are we so afraid of opinions in school, as if they were toxic derailments to students’ learning? We cannot be afraid to challenge them. Voicing opinions in the classroom doesn’t necessarily mean we are instilling them in our students, we must take advantage of our duty as role models to let them know that we do not have all the answers, we do not necessarily have to share the same opinions to respect each other.”
– Samla
I would have to disagree with the opinion-in-the-classroom-from-the-teacher because of two main reasons. As adults with power over the students, we may do ourselves a diservice. Picture a student who does not agree with you politically or religiously, perhaps even morally….getting a low grade. Ideally you would have evidence proving why he/she got the grade…but why give him/her ammunition by making it a possibility that simply because of your differences they got a lower grade. (I hope that was clear).
Second, don’t spread your opinions at all until you have tenure in the school. Administrators can throw you out unless you have that protection known as tenure. I plan on staying quite, and perhaps opening up once I’ve gotten tenured.
I definitely understand Carlos’ feelings about being too open with certain opinions in the classroom regarding job security. Sadly, diversity of opinion is not always valued and having thoughts that differ from others will not always work in your favor. However, I do agree with others as well that holding and supporting our opinions and respecting others whose views differ from ours is something that needs to be modeled for our students. As teachers I don’t believe our opinions should be forced upon our students but, as many have stated, students should be presented with facts and information from many perspectives so that they may make their own educated opinions backed with reason.
On the back inside flap of the book there was a quote by Alvarez that stood out to me. “Sometimes, it’s only in the world of story that we understand the human side of political and loaded issues. Through the imagination we can rise above the borders that divide us and make a new homeland together through reading and friendship.” I think her sentiments are very meaningful and accurate. As educators I think it’s important to realize the power that novels can have over ourselves and our students and how useful they can prove in opening up our students’ eyes and hearts to issues that affect their lives and the lives of others around them. I believe Return to Sender accomplishes this important responsibility.
I think that teachers should be aloud to have opinions but they must also be objective and allow others to voice their opinions and feelings without making the student feel wrong just because they don’t agree. I also agree with Carlos in that teachers should be careful when they have strong opinions on very hot topics. There is a big difference between an opinion on which is the best ice cream flavor vs. an opinion on which is the best religion, or political affiliation. I also want to bring into the equation the home dynamic and how parents, family members, and friends may be teaching racism, discrimination and intolerance. When a child is taught to be helpful, understanding and tolerant in school and then goes home to parents that teach the opposite (and they are out there) it is very confusing for them. How do we as educators, teach tolerance, understanding, consideration etc…when it is not taught at home. Parents are a child’s first teacher. Children will do what their parents do and say. There are two bullies in this story. One of their fathers stood up at the meeting to 2nd Mr. Rossetti’s motion to round up all the illigals. Like father like son!
Mr. Bicknell’s speech, so to say, about our country being formed by people who were in search of a better life is such a key event that really forms the shape on this book. I personally enjoyed and was enlightened by this part of the book while reading because he brings up a point that I’m sure many of us don’t really think about. The story really focuses on how nervous and “on edge” Mexicans were while trying to build a life in the United States. Family members and even children lived so cautiously that their life was really defined by how they can stay safe and avoid being deported. Like Mr. Bicknell explained, the Mexican people were only in search of a better life for their family, the very reason why people immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. How is this any different? It got me to thinking that all of the Europeans and other immigrants who came over to the United States a hundred years ago really helped to build this nation when it was young. The 1900s were a time of growth, rebuilding, invention, and creating a definition as to what life is like in America. All of those who immigrated helped to set that tone and create an American way of life. As I was reading, I thought, well how can new immigrants contribute to the culture of American life after the foundation has already been set? This is something that we are still trying to figure out, especially in schools. Children who come to this country tend to adapt to American ways, feeling apprehensive about bring the native culture into the mix. As teachers, we need to address this issue, and help make our students feel comfortable. We have to let them know that someone is on their side, just like Mr. Bicknell did for his students.
I am on board with comments made by Beth, Stephanie, Roseann, and others. We sometimes don’t realize that as teachers, we are celebrities (bear with me). No matter what age, people tend to lend an interest to certain celebrities and more than three quarters of the time pass judgement on what they are doing, wearing, marrying, saying, singing, etc. Kid do the same thing to us. If they only paid that much attention to their academics, test scores would be through the roof. Kid notice teacher behavior. Just like they notice if you got a haircut or changed your nail polish color, they notice the language we use, the way we say things, our facial expressions, and how we interact as a staff and how we interact with kids in general. Like Roseann said, we need to model considerate behavior across the board. And in our classroom, specifically relating to Mari and Tyler, we have to show our appreciation for those who are different and share our differences and struggles with the kids. If we set the foundation for an accepting classroom community, kids will work to shine.
How do you see Mr. Bicknell’s role as a critical teacher and citizen?
I could have not agreed more with carlos (#4) it is important for the teacher to be free to say his or her opinion outside the classroom. Teachers are great because most of them have enough education about the situation to not be pressured by other people into choosing what is right in his or her mind (unless he is not tenured…we all need a job). Outside the classroom teachers are citizens who deserve their voice to be heard but the only thing is that many parents and children see teachers as the voice of reason and if this teacher would of said mr rosetti is right than i dont think anyone would of questioned him.
In the classroom teachers must not give their personal opinion because students need to have their own beliefs and this should not be changed by a preaching teacher
Mr bicknell…and by the way i had a teacher named like that..haha
Mr Bicknell brought up a great point about this country being the land of immigrants…I think we some times forget that when we tell people “speak English, your in America” or when we call people that they are “aliens” :(. These are words that are used to remind people that they are different from us but we fail to see that we all have the same dream “the American dream.” Why cant the new immigrants achieve what we have…Delia I know that you were talking about the negative side of immigration but just remember that drugs dont only come from mexico. There is crime every where and if that guy was coming her with it ,his boss might be anyone even an american.
When the talk of immigration comes up in class…I feel a pain in my heart beause I see it from both sides because I know people who have come to this country illegally and I am also a citizen that doesnt like the neg side of immigration
Delia, you make some very good points, starting with the town meeting. The town meeting was a way I believe Alvarez was able to show various views from American society about immigration. What is most important is that we must stop being in denial about racism in this country. There was a hierarchy of European-descent immigrants. Unfortunately, each new European-descent immigrant was on the bottom of the melting pot and had to stir their way to the top to be respected and become a recognized citizen of American society. But, as long as they could be considered “White” then, eventually, at least by the next generation, the European-descent immigrant was accepted. However, color does matter in this society. Those who were not acceptable EVER, were those whose color, hair or facial features could not be accepted as “WHITE”. These immigrants are Asians, Hispanics,(not European Spaniards)Arabs,Africans, or Caribbean people. We now have a Black president and he gets hundreds of death threats a day compared to past “White” presidents. They are still, even TODAY, outcasts in American society. Why do we not have this “immigration” issue at the Canadian border? Canadians are “White” and their country was not exploited by the IMF or International Banking System of Rich European Monarchies and Families as “Third World”countries have been over the last 500 years. We must also remember not to speak as if certain groups are “invisible” Most Africans who came to American shores, were not “immigrants”. They were “slaves” Horribly mistreated and stripped of their cultural connections. Racist whites have said, Well, if they don’t like it here go back to Africa, well, when many did try to go back to Africa they were stopped, and jailed as conspirators. (Marcus Garvey) So, the intent of our government is not justice and human dignity it is EXPLOITATION, which is the cousin of CAPITALISM. TOO many Americans don’t read more poignant and accurate information on history. Too many citizens accept the ignorant rhetoric of the recognized few historians, mostly of European-descent. Teaching our children to read (with all the techniques, phonics, literature-based, whole language, writing and reading, drill, memorization and grammar, spelling, etymology,dictionary skills, etc.) is what is most important so they can find and seek the truth on their own and not have dependent mentalities.
Tiffany, I applaud your comments and I agree that lack of empathy is part of the problem. But, prejudice, racism and ignorance of the formulation of the countries of North and South America is why people are not empathetic.
For example, I often have to remind my Black brothers and sisters about making statements that Hispanics “should” speak English in front of them, as if ENGLISH was our original language. Black people are so far removed from our origin, our African roots, they we don’t even know when we are making an ignorant statement. Hispanics are speaking Spanish, which is NOT their original language either. So, this whole confusion about speaking “Spanish” is a smoke screen, another racist tactic to cause various ethnic groups to have conflicts. Only very wealthy European-descent whites are learning many languages and understand how important it is to be fluent in many languages. If America really believed in the “melting pot” ideology, the immigration of Hispanics, the Mexican border and speaking Spanish would not be an issue. Until we stopping lying to ourselves about the forces in our society that are fighting to preserve a “white anglo-evangelical, conservative, protestant-christian” society, and until we stop lying about our “Founding Fathers” (White males) when this was the land of Native American, Ameridians, Mayans, and Africans, then perhaps we could begin to really SOLVE our immigration problems. Why can’t we focus on all our citizenry, especially our children, being fluent in at least two or more languages. But, our educational system, especially for poor children is so broken, that mediocrity is the norm.
Teachers should be facilitators of knowledge. This is a great responsibility. Therefore, teachers must be readers and believe in reading all kinds of information. We want the children to read books like, Return To Sender, then, teachers must be willing to read more intellectual materials on various topics. However, too many teachers in America are not readers of various subjects. Too many teachers are not even “willing” to read about different subjects. Even if you plan to be a high school teacher and specialize in a particular subject, you should be a good writer and reader and you should be a worldly person. Teachers should be travelers or at least be well read in global subjects and cultures. You cannot be a good teacher and only have traveled thirty miles from your home, only have met or lived with one group of people or only have eaten one kind of ethnic food or experienced only one custom. People who are uncomfortable about discussing or learning topics such as politics, history, business, racial conflict, law, etc,or uncomfortable about meeting different kinds of people, should not be teachers. DO SOMETHING ELSE! Too many teachers are mediocre students. Too many teachers, are get over artists. They majored in education because they believe it is easy. They lie and say they love kids. Teachers have to deal with controversial issues on all grade levels. Therefore, it should be mandatory for teachers to participate in an anti-racism course or workshop for a year. All teachers should take North and South American, European, African and Asian History and Economics. All teachers should take speech and debate,and philosophy. All teachers should take acting and theatre performance classes in order to speak well and “perform” their lessons. If you have a fear of speaking in front of an audience, you should not be teaching. An educator will have to answer some difficult student questions at some time in his or her career. Consequently, it is imperative that teachers are better prepared to handle this responsibility.
The classroom teacher not only has to teach technical skills and knowledge to the students. It is equally important for him to create a learning environment where acceptance, respect and collaboration, and support will be used to help each individual to reach their intellectual and social potential.
Since the student body is made up of individuals who may possess different views of the world, social experiences, cultures and social skill, the educator has to train these children to perceive the world through different lenses. In the process, they will learn how to separate facts from opinions. They will also acquire the skill to put each data in their proper place. I think Mr. Bicknell, accomplished this very well during the town meeting. In the end, everyone left the meeting with a more accurate view of the issues discussed.
We teachers have a duty to prepare the students for the real world and that means knowing all types of reading not just the ones the district says is okay.
Teachers do have a duty and are obligated to teach culture and accept every child that walks into their classroom for who they are.