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Program allows immigrants to earn Mexican diplomas
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More from Local NewsJose Ortiz said he never went to school. He couldn't read or write his own name.
Then, at about age 30, he took a class at the La Hermandad Hank Lacayo Youth and Family Center in Oxnard, a nonprofit organization that provides services to immigrants in Ventura County. Now, he's an assistant to the supervisor of the farm where he used to pick strawberries.
On Monday, the center launched a new program to offer classes allowing immigrants to earn a Mexican high school diploma.
Ortiz spoke in Spanish during a news conference Monday at the center, with supervisor Patricia Flores translating in English. "I'm happy because before I didn't know anything," Ortiz told about 70 people. "I am tired when I come out of work, but I do the impossible and come here."
The center's executive director, Alicia Flores, said the program is the first of its kind in Ventura County. She said it's important for many immigrants to earn a high school diploma that's valid in Mexico.
"A lot of people come here to work, and they have plans to go back to Mexico or their country," Flores said. "So it's good for them to have it."
The center collaborated with the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard and the Instituto de Los Mexicanos en el Exterior to create the courses based on curriculum in Mexico.
The consulate donated textbooks and coordinated with the Mexican government to ensure the certificates and diplomas would be valid in Mexico, said General Consul Rogelio Flores.
He said the consulate wants to expand the program to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. "Our interest is that you take advantage of what we can give," he said.
The classes will be available to all immigrants, whether or not they are documented, said Alicia Flores. "Everyone's entitled to the education," she said.
She said the classes are taught by volunteers, and the center is funded primarily through donations. For example, the center received a $30,000 grant in November from the Santa Barbara-based McCune Foundation.
For more information, call 483-4620.
Posted by HateMachine on July 24, 2008 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know that education is important, but why not educate these immigrants to learn english too??
Knowing a second language is a benefit to anyone, but instead this country has been so "welcoming" to the point that it has made natural born citizens feel like we moved to a foreign country.
If we moved to France we would have to adapt and learn French, instead immigrants come to America where English (used to be the primary language) is spoken; and we will adapt to you.
A few examples of what I am speaking of are I get sales flyers in my mailbox from Walmart, and they are printed in Spanish. I called a resaurant to place a to-go order and the person that answered said bueno, I said anyone speak english and they said yes, I then asked my question and I was hung up on.
Truthfully I am hispanic, but more and more I am begining to feel that we have become so accomodating that the imigrant hispanic community is almost indignant when it comes to the way the language barrier is being handled. Why would they need to learn english if we are bending over backwards to cater to their needs??
If an emergency occured, what if they were unable to communicate with someone to get assistance??
I have many neighbors that are immigrants and they have shown much disregard for the American way of life by flying their mexican flag higher than the American flag. This not onloy is illegal, but is very disrespectful. Again if we moved to another country and flew the American flag higher than say France's flag we could be jailed. But not in the USA. Our flag is a proud symbol of what America stands for. We have many American soldiers that are fighting for our freedom everyday and when they return from the war they have to see another countries flag flown above the Amrican flag. What a disgrace! What happened to the time when we took pride in our flag? Why havent we taught these immigrants that have CHOSEN to leave their country to come here that they will have to adopt our culture? Instead we baby them, and ignore that more and more the American way of life is not as important than accomodating someone else's culture.
Yes educate the immigrants everyone deserves that, but lets also educate them on how to be an American. Like do not run across the street with your children in a busy intersection, follow the traffic laws, learn english, and stop disrespecting the red, white and blue.
Posted by cjjp on July 24, 2008 at 8:59 a.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by tweetybyrdrt on July 24, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen.
Now where is the center and at what time do we tell ICE to be there.
Posted by UCSBguy on July 24, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's what I've been saying Machine. If you go to the DMV, what do you see? Spanish everywhere. You can even take the test in spanish. I guess most people don't want to speak out because they'll be branded as "racist"
I wonder how America became like this.
Posted by opns on July 25, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good start Mr. Ortiz, now you ought to give thanks to alot of tax paying americans by learning your english.
Good Job.
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