actually, after numerous class discussions and some reading, I've started to wonder how much America (and thus the bulk of Americans, obviously not you or I, else we wouldn't be posting here!) value education. If American policies can't reflect education as a priority value, how can we say immigrants coming here don't? I have to think they do value a better life and more opportunity for their children and thus education would seem to follow.

I see the hard problem to fix being one of communication and culture. Beyond the mere language gap that, in theory, can be fixed by ESL (which is called by a different acronym now, but I'm blanking on it..) there is constant communication that needs to happen between teacher-family-community for true education to be completely successful. Different cultural communication styles, ignorence on both sides, make this incredibly difficult in the diverse school system of today.

and on a totally personal, and possibly biased note as I'm not an immigrant just a native of San Jose, I see many immigrant families living within their own little bubble of a commnuity, rather than taking part and sharing with the whole and that bothers me. If I went to another country I would want to communicate with my kids teachers and thus would be forced to learn how.

of course JT already made the counter point to that: who has time to learn how when you have to work two jobs just to get by/ feed your family?

Sorry, I don't even know you! I hope you don't think I'm too forward! I'm just super passionate about this subject right now. :)