Thread: It's never too late:Farmworkers graduate from elementary sch

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archiv ... 5local.htm

September 9, 2006


watsonville
It's never too late: Farmworkers graduate from elementary school
By TOM RAGAN
SENTINEL STAFF WRITER
Slight women wearing black shawls and men who've toiled in the fields for years rubbed shoulders on Friday and received elementary school diplomas through an adult education program designed to teach literacy — in Spanish.

All of the graduates are originally from Mexico but have been living in Watsonville for years. The only problem is they've had families to provide for and jobs to hold and never had the time to go back to finish school — until now.

The classes are offered by La Manzana Community Resources on Main Street and are sponsored by the Mexican Consulate.

"I now know how to read a little bit," said a proud Roberto Chavez Ramirez, who, at 62, decided to give the adult education classes a whirl and now has a diploma to show for it.

"I can write, too," he added, "but I'm still having a hard time learning where to put the capital letters."

The classes have existed since 2002, and are taught by Alicia Zenteno, a family literacy specialist who had nothing but praise for this year's elementary class of 38 students.

"They always came to class wanting to learn," she said. "They're at that age where they know it's important but they never had a chance to complete school in Mexico."

Many of the textbooks, which deal with elementary concepts of Spanish grammar and Spanish composition, were supplied by the Mexican Consulate in San Jose.

Enrique Morales, a consul from the San Jose office, was on hand at Friday's ceremony to offer the graduates some words of wisdom and to show his support for them.

"It's never too late to get an education," he said. "This isn't just for you. This is to show your children and to set an example. You want them to rise above you and become doctors and lawyers and avoid the suffering that you have gone through."

Saul Ramos, assistant director of La Manzana, said it's the philosophy of La Manzana to recognize that before any of the graduates can begin to learn English, they must master their native language.

Some of the students didn't know how to sign their names and simply wrote an "x" where their signatures were needed, according to Albert Maldonado, the program director.

Since the cannery strikes in Watsonville in 1985, La Manzana has been around in one form or another, providing education and translation services for those who do not understand English or who need to navigate through the bureaucracy of the United States.

First it was called "Adelante," but its name changed in 2002, when it became La Manzana, according to Maldonado.

And Maria Elena Sandoval is happy La Manzana was there for her.

"I've finally got my diploma from elementary school," said the 35-year-old woman, clutching the certificate proudly. "I left Mexico at too young an age to ever finish. So this has been quite an experience, and I'm happy about it."

Contact Tom Ragan at tragan@santacruzsentinel.com

I wish someone would report this school to the nearest ICE office in California. I'll bet each and every one of those 38 students are illegal immigrants. Wouldn't be great to see ICE bust into the school one night and arrest the illegals. Also, since when is the Mexican Consulate authorized to participate in the education of individuals on American soil? Furthermore, is it legal to award diplomas based on a Spanish education here in America? I'm sorry, but I see something seriously wrong with education people in our country exclusively in Spanish.

Also, since when is the Mexican Consulate authorized to participate in the education of individuals on American soil? Furthermore, is it legal to award diplomas based on a Spanish education here in America? I'm sorry, but I see something seriously wrong with education people in our country exclusively in Spanish.

It seem that Mexico pretty much does as it pleases in the US. Interferring in political issues; opening Mexican Consulates wherever in US; traveling around with mobile consulates giving illegal immigrants the Metricular sham identification card without any questions asked by our do nothing government.

I agree MW. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

I believe the Mexicans have and maybe still do donate books to elementary schools in spanish.

I always try to ask about cost. In this absurd rape of the American taxpayer, I'd ask who paid for the school building, utilities, roads, bridges, curbs, gutters, desks, inter-coms, air conditioning, maintenance, etc. Oh sure, they'll tell you they pay their taxes but I'd follow by asking whose social security numbers were used. Typically they say they pay taxes but they mean sales tax only, not property, school or income tax. It's no less an outrage than Alex Vega or Elvira Arellano. If a massive program, in the style of WWII's manhattan-project, doesn't materialize in the next few weeks, our federal government will have lost credibility entirely.