Thread: "F" is for fantastic..says anchor baby to mom, sch

Empowering parents helps students

School's programs aim to reduce dropout rates among Hispanics

By Aaron Falk

Deseret News
Published: Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 12:06 a.m. MST
2 comments
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At Northwest Middle School, Viviana Solari once explained to a Spanish-speaking mother that an F did not mean "fantastic" — no matter what her child had told her.

"Those parents lose their power when they come (to the United States)," said Solari, who works as a student advocate in the west-side school, where more than half the students are Hispanic.

It's one of the reasons why one in four Hispanics in Utah will drop out of school, according to data from the State Office of Education. The state's second-largest racial group's 72 percent graduation rate is the lowest of any group.

Through adult English and technology education programs, however, Solari and others at Northwest have seen those parents become empowered and involved in their children's education.

"This is key for the development of our community," said Guido Arochi, community affairs coordinator for the Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake City. "It encourages adults to get an education and set an example to their children."

The Mexican government chipped in $53,000 last week to help Utah schools teach English and computer skills to Hispanic adults. The money is part of more than $1 million the government will spread around the United States, the Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake announced.

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Northwest will receive $15,000 of that money to pay for computer classes. About 25 parents take the free, five-month course at Northwest. Solari hopes to expand the program to include elementary through high school education for some parents.

Already, teachers at the school have seen parents who had never touched a mouse before learn to use the Internet to keep tabs on their children's grades.

"Parental involvement sends just a powerful message," said Jay Smink, executive director of the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University. "If parents are involved, it sends the message ... that education is valued and I expect you to do well. It sends a very positive message. That's true for all kids, but it's sometimes much more important for Hispanics because of language issues."

Spanish-speaking parents are at times reluctant to involve themselves with their students' performance because they feel frustrated by language barriers and overwhelmed by unfamiliar teachers and administrators, Solari said.

The community education center inside Northwest has allowed parents to familiarize themselves with the school.

Educators hope parental involvement at an early age will carry over into better graduation rates.

"If you can get them while they're young, they're more successful in high school," said Shannon Clough, a truancy specialist at Northwest. "These are big years."

There was a time when Clough had 20 students, most of them Hispanic, with more than two dozen absences each year. But the school's truancy specialist says things are improving. As parents have become more comfortable dealing with teachers and administrators, the number of chronically truant students has been slashed to about three a year, Clough said.

"The school is more like a community home now," she

The Mexican government chipped in $53,000 last week to help Utah schools teach English and computer skills to Hispanic adults. The money is part of more than $1 million the government will spread around the United States, the Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake announced.

What the heck? Admitting invasion into our country with Mexicans. Our government is aiding and abetting undocumented throughout our communities and schools by taking this money for English and computers. Use this money to deport them all!

Originally Posted by vmonkey56

The Mexican government chipped in $53,000 last week to help Utah schools teach English and computer skills to Hispanic adults. The money is part of more than $1 million the government will spread around the United States, the Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake announced.

What the heck?

It's costing more than 1 million!
Cough up some more of your illegal drug money Mexico!

This is a joke right......

The Mexican government chipped in $53,000 last week to help Utah schools teach English and computer skills to Hispanic adults. The money is part of more than $1 million the government will spread around the United States, the Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake announced.

We give Mexico 1.4 million to fight drugs because they have no money, they invest 1 million of our own money to more than likely educate their illegal citizens that our in our country....amazing how this crap keeps working out.

Between Mexico and the Bail Outs America we are really getting screwed! and we must look like real idiots to them

At Northwest Middle School, Viviana Solari once explained to a Spanish-speaking mother that an F did not mean "fantastic" — no matter what her child had told her.

I could only imagine this conversation! An illegal invader mother( only God knows how many laws she has broken), being conned by her anchor baby into believing an F means fantastic!

God help us...we are in trouble!

And tax the rich elitist in Mexico to 99%. It is my understanding that the citizens do not own land they rent it as a leasing from the government. Who owns the government in Mexico? Rich elitist?

Originally Posted by NoBueno

At Northwest Middle School, Viviana Solari once explained to a Spanish-speaking mother that an F did not mean "fantastic" — no matter what her child had told her.

I could only imagine this conversation! An illegal invader mother( only God knows how many laws she has broken), being conned by her anchor baby into believing an F means fantastic!

God help us...we are in trouble!

She's already conned her kid into believing she's not breaking any laws and won't be deported.

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

Originally Posted by NoBueno

At Northwest Middle School, Viviana Solari once explained to a Spanish-speaking mother that an F did not mean "fantastic" — no matter what her child had told her.

I could only imagine this conversation! An illegal invader mother( only God knows how many laws she has broken), being conned by her anchor baby into believing an F means fantastic!

God help us...we are in trouble!

She's already conned her kid into believing she's not breaking any laws and won't be deported.

Yea....That was my underlying point RM. Lying, cheating and stealing is a family affair with these people! This is what they are teaching their children through their law breaking actions. The parents have zero respect for this country or authority, why would we expect their spawn to have any!

At Northwest Middle School, Viviana Solari once explained to a Spanish-speaking mother that an F did not mean "fantastic" — no matter what her child had told her.

Thats just plain STUPID. It isnt because its an English word. Almost everyone in the world knows what fantastic, great, wonderful and many other "UNIVERSAL" words mean.