A Lesson in Civil Engagement

Tuesday afternoon, NEIU students were graced by the presence of Rene L. Alvarez, Professor of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies, and Professor Francisco X. Gaytan, of the Sociology Department; the audience sat enraptured in response to the speakers' presentation on the continuous struggle for equitable education in Chicago, as part of the 16th Annual Equity in Action series. Professors Alvarez and Gaytan presented their lecture, "A Lesson in Civil Engagement: Organizing for School Change and Social Justice in Chicago's Mexican Immigrant Community – Historical and Current Perspectives" to a packed Golden Eagles room audience.

Dr. Alvarez opened the lecture by giving those in attendance the historical perspective regarding the fruits of social activism in Chicago's Mexican communities as it relates to education equity. He told the story of Benito Juarez High School's birth into the Chicago Public School system, after the community fought for five years to see a school that focused on cultural identity and pride within their community.

Dr. Alvarez asked the question, "If the founding of Benito Juarez represents the end of an era of fighting what was the beginning?" With that, he went into elaborate detail about the various Mexican immigrant movements, the community's view on education and a frank examination of the community's history to look at the formation of identity.

Audience members were taken on a brief voyage into the history of Chicago's Mexican community's struggle to find a place, and brought them to the point in the late 60s and early 70s when Mexicans wanted more from educational opportunities. He showcased how the opening of Benito Juarez was, "less of a singular event, but represents decades of struggle." Resultant of those struggles, Alvarez also said, "By doing this, they became more than Mexicans and Mexican immigrants."

Dr. Gaytan gave those in attendance a reality check that he stated would make the situation seem bleak, when in actuality, it stoked the fires of change in most audience members "I think what they had to say was insightful and true, and hopefully it will make people want to do something," Professor Bernstein of the Justice Studies department said.

Gaytan shared the results of his research and showed the correlation between current events and Dr. Alvarez's presentation, stating, "Within the past month's we've seen similar efforts of what happened historically." He cited data from 2009 that showcase Benito Juarez as having a 40.2% 5 year graduation rate, and a 56.3 percent dropout rate. With these numbers, it's no wonder parents are incensed and carrying out demonstrations like that of Whittier Elementary school, where parents closed themselves in the field house in an attempt to keep the nearby school from being closed. The parents efforts weren't in vain, they will be able to keep their school.

Regarding his research, Gaytan posed the question, "What is hindering [students]? What is the glass ceiling?" He then presented a theory that he calls the ‘high value – low achievement paradox'. By interviewing 107 Mexican youths in New York City, Gaytan found that though parents held low levels of education, they highly value education for their children. His research also shed light on an isolation paradox. 50 percent of the Mexican youth stated that they only hang out with other Mexicans, while over 70 percent say they also hang with other Latinos.

In considering these factors as examples of social capital, we see that unlike the standing stereotype, Mexican communities do value education, even if it may not come in the same forms that others measure success – such as through the attainment of highly advanced degrees. This is not because Mexicans don't want these advanced degrees, but because of the barriers that keep them from going after them.

The discussion with the audience that followed delved into the many ways in which the community sees the problem, and how they could help to resolve it. Many of the audience members seemed to agree with Dr. Alvarez when he wrapped the lecture up nicely by stating, "This is a thing you have to fight on multiple fronts."