Oakland Teachers Struggle to Get Help for Kids Fleeing Violence
Unaccompanied minors fleeing violence in Central America are still arriving to live with family members or guardians in communities across California, while they wait for their court dates to find out if they can stay in this country. In fact, the numbers of children being detained at the U.S.-Mexico border has more than doubled in October and November compared with a year ago.
In California, Los Angeles County has the largest number of these kids, and Alameda County is next. A steady stream of newcomers in Oakland has now filled all four of the school district’s high school newcomer programs to capacity.
In her first-period ethnic studies class for newcomers, Castlemont High School teacher Carrie Haslanger goes over how to communicate feelings in English.
“Scared. RepÃtelo: scared,” she says. The class repeats the word. “Very good. ¿Y cómo se dice poderoso en ingles? Powerful.”
Of the 10 students in this class, eight arrived just last week, from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. For the other two, it’s their very first day. Then, halfway through the class, three more students show up. Haslanger receives them with a smile.
“Yes, more students, great! Bienvenidos,” she says.
Close to 500 Central American students seeking refuge enrolled in Oakland schools since the district started tracking them in June 2013. The newcomer program at Castlemont High School was set up just this year, because three other high schools with newcomer programs were full. The district expected 100 new arrivals to enroll at Castlemont throughout the year, but the program was at capacity before winter break. Oakland Unified just announced four new teacher positions for newcomers and is looking at where to enroll new high school students Oakland Teachers Struggle to Get Help for Kids Fleeing Violence | The California Report | KQED News:
