There has been a lot of controversy recently about students leaving school to protest ICE. While some Texas residents scorn it, others believe that they are simply exercising their right to protest – even if it is during school hours.
Yet in these divisive times, a real educational opportunity exists. However, heaven forbid it encompasses compromise.
Let’s face it: we have failed to teach our youth about civics. Those classes fell by the wayside years ago, even though there is a dire need to bring them back. Taking advantage of the students’ desire to protest can offer a unique opportunity for them to learn about both history and civics.
The first major roundup of immigrants took place during World War 1, when then-President Wilson ordered deeper scrutiny of Germans. Even though most were already US citizens, they were still suspect of collaborating with “the Kaiser.”
The rational proposal provides that students will be granted a day off to protest, provided that:
They draft a paper on the issue in four parts, each requiring a minimum of two pages, on the following subjects:
- The history of U.S. immigration beginning in 1850 – the good, the bad and the ugly.
- How the issue came to be so polarizing over the past forty years.
- What do our laws and Constitution clearly state about illegal immigration, and how do our immigration policies compare to Mexico, Great Britain, and China?
- A policy paper on how to truly “fix” our immigration crisis while carefully considering both sides of the political spectrum.
Students will have one week to submit their papers with a minimum of eight completely written pages.
- Parents will need to submit written authorization for their children to participate and release the school from any liability after the students leave campus.
- Failure to meet either of these requirements will lead to a minimum of one month in Saturday school (detention)
If a student is unable to carry out and complete this assignment, then they should not be out of class in the first place. But for ones who are granted “their day to protest,” they stand to learn valuable lessons that help prepare them for the future. Perhaps some of them may become part of the solution to this divisive argument.