Immigration: Looking at It From Both Sides

Fourth Graders at Cathedral School are not that used to witnessing anger. This semester, they have witnessed plenty of it. They began their study of American History by taking on the challenge of learning about issues surrounding contemporary immigration. There was demonstrable anger in the movie they saw, in books they read, and in newspaper articles.

Even in the Fourth Graders’ own classes, anger was evident. “But IT’S ILLEGAL!” shouted one student.

“These people need to stop being so cruel!” said another.

The Fourth Grade came to understand the complexity of the issue, perhaps showing more understanding than many adults. It is difficult to even contemplate making decisions about the lives of 12 million people who are considered to be here illegally, particularly when these people are part of our daily lives.

Our video shows children contemplating both sides of the immigration debate. It also attempts to make a point about how the media’s work affects our own perception of truth. Both videos depict workers trying to get a job from a motorist.  However, there are differences in the videos. One shows a negative crowd, the other a more supportive one. In addition, we added special effects, which will certainly influence the viewer’s perception of what really happened that day.

It is unlikely that any of the children has reached a final understanding of how the current immigration debate should be settled. That they have passionately delved into understanding people’s lives other than their own seems like time well spent. 

Howard Nusbaum:  Fourth Grade Social Studies Teacher

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