| Residents of the Dominican Republic, | | | | priority, as it is with the wealthy families |
| especially the impoverished ones, have long | | | | there. Though early schooling is free for |
| viewed the United States and especially New | | | | children, it is seen as a costly endeavor for |
| York City as a land of limitless wealth. All | | | | families just trying to make ends meet. |
| you have to do is live there for a few years, | | | | Clothing for school, meals, school supplies, |
| and you too will be wealthy.This erroneous | | | | books, and transportation are luxuries for |
| vision was fostered in the 1980s with the | | | | such families. According to the World Bank, |
| crack epidemic centered in Washington | | | | 13 percent of children ages 7-14 work outside |
| Heights, an area located north of New York | | | | the home, rather than attend school. |
| City and predominantly populated by Dominican | | | | According to Unicef, 16 percent of children |
| immigrants. Thousands of dollars in cash were | | | | ages 10-17 are illiterate. Usually, one or |
| sent back to the families, who still lived in | | | | both parents have little or no education, due |
| the Dominican Republic.Though the days of | | | | to less long-term educational exposure for |
| easy money have passed, the Dominican poor | | | | children of poorer families. Is it any |
| still believe that, if only family member can | | | | wonder they may resent the mandatory law for |
| reach the U.S. and remain for a few years, he | | | | their children to attend the New York City |
| or she could bring the entire family | | | | schools?Though cultural differences present a |
| remaining in the Dominican Republic out of | | | | major obstacle, language is the biggest |
| poverty. Thus, the Dominican Republic is the | | | | difficulty for these immigrant children in |
| largest exporter of immigrants to the New | | | | the New York City schools. According to |
| York City schools. Dominican immigrants now | | | | Robert Mercedes, Principal of Middle School |
| comprise ten percent of the 1.1 million | | | | 390 in the Bronx and President of the |
| students in the New York City schools.These | | | | Association of Dominican-American Supervisors |
| young New York City schools immigrants face | | | | and Administrators, Dominican children arrive |
| particularly difficult problems as they | | | | at the New York City schools lacking the |
| attempt to acclimate into American society. | | | | basic native-language skills of the Dominican |
| They face the pressures to integrate at | | | | Republic. This makes transitioning them into |
| school, while facing the pressures to remain | | | | the English language even more difficult.They |
| the same at home. Parents too face challenges | | | | feel like outsiders in the New York City |
| with the New York City schools.The first | | | | schools. They are in a language and cultural |
| problem is culture shock. In the Dominican | | | | isolation. They are generally dumped into |
| Republic, children always must defer to their | | | | bilingual classes at low-income schools, and |
| elders and hold their tongues, having no way | | | | feel more of a burden to the New York City |
| to express their own feelings or opinions. In | | | | schools than an equal to the other students. |
| contrast, children quickly learn in the New | | | | The victim mentality takes over for many of |
| York City schools that American children are | | | | these youth, who separate themselves into |
| vital members of society, like any adult. | | | | close-knit ethnic groups. They are especially |
| They realize that adults care what they | | | | vulnerable to street gang recruitment, which |
| think. They become more outspoken both at | | | | pervades the areas around the ghetto-like |
| school and at home, finding the social | | | | atmosphere of some of the New York City |
| freedoms compelling and liberating.Parents | | | | schools they attend.On one side, the New York |
| feel themselves losing control of their | | | | City schools are a haven of new opportunities |
| children, who are shedding their cultural | | | | for the Dominican children and their parents. |
| restrictions. They view New York City | | | | Yet, these same opportunities can be the |
| schools children as arrogant and flamboyant, | | | | downfall of the immigrant family values and |
| with no respect for their elders. Such | | | | the children, as well. It is a dual-edged |
| contrasting expectations between children and | | | | sword, afflicted with stressful difficulties |
| parents cause stress at home. Of course, many | | | | and insurmountable obstacles for many.This |
| parents blame the New York City schools for | | | | information on New York City schools is |
| their children adopting these attributes, | | | | brought to you by Hawke is a staff writer |
| where they did not wish to send their | | | | for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth |
| children anyway.The Dominican immigrant home | | | | reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 |
| environment is not always conducive to | | | | schools. Patricia has a nose for research and |
| learning. For impoverished families in the | | | | writes stimulating news and views on school |
| Dominican Republic, education is not a | | | | issues. |