Students Speak Out: Minnesota
Kindness = BFF
An article recently published in the local Rake Magizine introduced an influx of people to this area that is going to be bigger than the Mung imigration. These families are called the Karen, and they are refugees in Thialand, close to their homeland of Berma.
Through a small group in my church I have the opportunity to meet these wonderful people who we are mentoring, and basically just being friends with. They are a people proud of their heritage, which has survived years in refugee camps and war.
Many of the children arriving will go to school in the Roseville and Saint Paul school districts. It is not easy for anyone to come to a new place, especially an entire new country, climate, and to be surrounded by a new language.
As a kindergartener my teacher asked me to befriend a very shy mung girl who was rather frightened of all the new students. In the beginning, being so young, I felt like I had been put in charge of a very important mission. This soon changed, though, when I realized that my new friend was teaching me things about myself that I didn't know.
Here is my question: how can we make new people feel comfortable in a new place while learning from them about their customs and ways of life?
Although our time together has been fairly short so far, I am already learning from the children and adults in our group's Karen family that just being there for someone, being a friend, can make a world of difference.
Through a small group in my church I have the opportunity to meet these wonderful people who we are mentoring, and basically just being friends with. They are a people proud of their heritage, which has survived years in refugee camps and war.
Many of the children arriving will go to school in the Roseville and Saint Paul school districts. It is not easy for anyone to come to a new place, especially an entire new country, climate, and to be surrounded by a new language.
As a kindergartener my teacher asked me to befriend a very shy mung girl who was rather frightened of all the new students. In the beginning, being so young, I felt like I had been put in charge of a very important mission. This soon changed, though, when I realized that my new friend was teaching me things about myself that I didn't know.
Here is my question: how can we make new people feel comfortable in a new place while learning from them about their customs and ways of life?
Although our time together has been fairly short so far, I am already learning from the children and adults in our group's Karen family that just being there for someone, being a friend, can make a world of difference.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kim FB on -
Holly -- Great post. I think that a lot of chartered schools that focus on a single-culture (like Hmong Academy and other schools with large Somali or Muslim populations) pop up because people who attend them feel that their customs and traditions are not understood and taken into consideration in more traditional schools. I think a lot of times we're/schools are defensive about this -- stating why it is hard to accommodate or what they DO do to accommodate. You make a good point that even just feeling acknowledged, or befriended, can help. Do you sense that immigrant students feel underackowledged? I would love to hear your friends' answers to the question you post -- A WONDERFUL QUESTION!
Check out MyPage to see a blog and some comments about immigration in Mpls Public Schools.
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Permalink Reply by PangNhia Moua on
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I attended Hmong Academy then transferred to Patrick Henry High.
I believed in creating these charter schools, it help unite students in culture.
Though I'm a US citizen and many students critic me for attending Hmong Academy;
I enjoyed my time there. The work load was as challenging as it is here at Patrick Henry.
I don't want to be bias but I believe the charter school does a much, MUCH MUCH better job at uniting students and strive them into success.
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Permalink Reply by Victoria Ford on
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PangNhia, it's great to see you back here!
Why did you decide to transfer to Patrick Henry? Are you glad you did?
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Permalink Reply by Brett on -
Why do you think it provides that? Does it have something to do with size, money, or values/mission?
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I believe I mentioned this before, the reason why I transfered was not because of my wishes, but my mother believes that being in Hmong Academy will not help me for she does not like the staff of the school.
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If you were to think of it, in my view... in the Asia countries you go to school with your own kind.. I wanted to experience going to a non-diverse school for once and with my own kind; that's why I wanted to attend, also I wanted to learn more about my Hmong culture rather *other* culture.
What I favored about Hmong Academy is the size of the school, you get to know the staff/teachers on a one and one bases also best of all the dean is very supportive, a family...
Tuition is free (as far as I know now, it is still free), The mission is to promote more Hmong students to go to college. I liked their ideas and ambition; I wouldn't have leave.
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Permalink Reply by Kim FB on
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Along the lines of schools that target students of a specific culture, I thought you might be interested in this article that appeared in the Star Tribune last weekend:
http://www.startribune.com/16404541.html
I'm interested in what you all think about this author's opinions (there are several)?
I am engaged in a discussion about this and want to pass on your comments to that group.
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