Deportation may become mandatory lesson
Kevin Lee
03/06/2009
The Times (Illinois)
A controversial part of American history neglected by Illinois' public schools could become part of standard curriculum as early as next year.
During the 1930s, the federal government deported between 500,000 and 2 million Hispanic people following public outcry about the scarcity of jobs during the Great Depression.
But according to a Chicago lawmaker, the story of the deportees, many of them citizens, hasn't been told in Illinois' public schools.
State Sen. William Delgado, D-Chicago, whose bill would require lessons on the deportations at both the grade and high school level, said the idea was brought to him by Spanish-language television news anchor Vincente Serrano from Telemundo, whose aunt and uncle were part of the mass deportations.
"If America had a piece of its conscience back in its place, and we were able to put this in our schools, it would serve as a tremendous reference," Delgado said.
Opponents are concerned that if the bill passes, it would create a mandate — a state law that requires local school districts to change policy or alter curriculum.
"We seem to be spending all of our time figuring out ways to make it tougher for schools to take care of what they're supposed to do, then we don't provide funding or anything else," said state Sen. Gary Dahl, R-Granville.
Mandates force administrators to either squeeze new information into an already crowded curriculum or take time out of existing programs.
The Legislature handed down 17 mandates last year, including requirements for teaching sexual assault awareness and the basics of purchasing a home.
Administrators expressed frustration over what they view as interference by state lawmakers in the local education process and the cost of mandates, both in time and money.
"Can we squeeze one more in there? Unfunded and overused mandates put stress on schools," said Egan Colbrese, principal of Northwest Elementary School in La Salle. "I understand it's hard to say 'no' to this particular one — it's extremely important. But you can only ask so much and have to look at what you can do."
State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, echoed the sentiments of district officials who prefer local control, saying these decisions should be left to locally elected school boards.
"What makes them think the 59 men and women here can make a better decision?" Rutherford said.
Colbrese is concerned the teaching quality may suffer if teachers have to teach more material in the same amount of time.
"You either add something, or cut the quality of it," he said. "Now, you can probably knock this out in a lesson. But it's the accumulation of all the things you're asking of us. Introducing it doesn't mean you're learning it."
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