FRED HAYES: Public education and illegal immigration

May 15, 2008 09:13 am

FRED HAYES: Public education and illegal immigration

By Fred Hayes

The Texas Constitution states: “… it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”

The 1982 United States Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe, stated, “… children of illegal immigrants have little control over their place of residence and that denying the children in question a proper education would likely contribute to the creation and perpetuation of a subclass of illiterates within our boundaries, surely adding to the problems and costs of unemployment, welfare, and crime.”

Why then, is this an issue that I am writing about in 2008, since the law was written in 1877, and the court reached its decision in 1982? The simple answer is because it is still an issue for most of us. In fact, it is more an issue now than it has ever been.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, border patrol has become a topic to which most of us pay attention. We are concerned that our borders are not secured, that terrorists may bring “dirty bombs” into our communities and destroy our way of life. We see other countries with open borders that experience violence and troubles. It is reiterated by our governmental leaders that one way to increase safety and security is to do a better job of controlling the border.

Many people are also concerned that some of those who come across the border are taking jobs from able-bodied, legal citizens. As our economy vacillates between a recession and limited economic growth, we know that employment is mandatory for anyone who wants to maintain a middle-class way of life. If illegal immigrants are in this country taking jobs from legal citizens, we are adamant that we will not tolerate it.

Athens was recently in the national spotlight in part because of illegal immigration. The national media and many people throughout the country had their opinions about our community set before they knew all of the facts. According to many of the e-mails I received from people all over the United States, the administration of this school district was soft on illegal immigration and did not hold true to the foundational beliefs of the founding fathers.

One of the e-mails that I was most amused with came from a person from somewhere outside of the East Texas area. The person stated, “… you do nothing about the hoards of illegal aliens streaming across the border and putting children in our schools, they are breaking our laws. If you are in the United States illegally, the punishment is DEPORTATION.”

This was amusing to me because deportation and border patrol do not fall under the realm of my responsibilities. My job is the education of children and according to the United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment: “No state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws.”

I must enroll and educate every student who enters the doors of our schools. I received numerous e-mails and phone calls that assumed that I have much more authority than I do, so it seems appropriate to discuss the role of public education, as it relates to illegal immigration.

The public school systems in Texas fall under the law as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court in Plyler v. Doe. It is our responsibility to educate the children who come into our schools. Illegal immigration and the patrol of our borders fall under the authority of the United States Government.

If there are individuals who believe more should be done to patrol our borders, and to limit the influx of illegal immigrants, they should contact their governmental representatives and vote for those candidates who will work to solve this problem.

It is my opinion that illegal immigration should be stopped by the federal government at the border and other points of entry. However, once here, what does the country gain by denying school-aged illegal immigrants a public education? Denying illegal immigrant children a public education will cause more burdens for our community. Rather than encouraging them to learn, develop job-skills and eventually become productive, working taxpayers, these individuals more likely will grow dependent on governmental social services.

I have never known this great country to punish innocent children. It seems inappropriate that children should suffer for the illegal actions of their parents.

Dr. Fred Hayes is superintendent of the Athens Independent School District.

http://www.athensreview.com/archivesearch/local_story_136091301.html