Hoping these kids are OK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

How do you know that? Many kids come here as teenagers with their formative years in their home countries.

How do I know they aren’t living in South America? Because they are enrolled in school here.
How is that even a question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

How do you know that? Many kids come here as teenagers with their formative years in their home countries.

How do I know they aren’t living in South America? Because they are enrolled in school here.
How is that even a question?

I was talking about your “privileged American childhood experience” reference. For all we know, they just arrived here 2 years ago. Maybe they only went to school in their home country for 5 years. Even though they are now here, that doesn’t mean they’re fully integrated into American culture. Although I would agree with you that their lives are certainly better than what they came from. My point is not that they are justified in doing what they did, but that cultural differences may have led to an idea that seatbelts are not needed or driving without a license is not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

Do we even know who the driver was? This seems like a lot of speculation and racism towards uneducated South Americans. I’m not saying this population does not exist. I’m just wondering if this was the case in this accident.

At my high school, a bunch of rich white guys died in a car accident similar to this one. They were in college though, new freshmen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

Do we even know who the driver was? This seems like a lot of speculation and racism towards uneducated South Americans. I’m not saying this population does not exist. I’m just wondering if this was the case in this accident.

At my high school, a bunch of rich white guys died in a car accident similar to this one. They were in college though, new freshmen.

If it’s who is being said it was, the driver and his brother are immigrants from Central America and former ESOL students. They are not from South America. I’m not sure what is racist about what has been said though.

[Anonymous]

They’re probably not even South American - more likely Central American. Jeez this thread is bozo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

Do we even know who the driver was? This seems like a lot of speculation and racism towards uneducated South Americans. I’m not saying this population does not exist. I’m just wondering if this was the case in this accident.

At my high school, a bunch of rich white guys died in a car accident similar to this one. They were in college though, new freshmen.

If it’s who is being said it was, the driver and his brother are immigrants from Central America and former ESOL students. They are not from South America. I’m not sure what is racist about what has been said though.

So was the driver the older son of the woman who gave an interview? The one whose husband died a few years ago and has five sons?

I believe the boy who died was not the brother of the driver.

This situation is so sad and maddening at the same time. Why are these young kids driving without a license???? And why would these other kids get in the car and not put on a seat belt???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re probably not even South American - more likely Central American. Jeez this thread is bozo.

My middle school son said the boy who died was from El Salvador.

[Anonymous]

My heart goes out to these kids, their families and friends. Obviously they made huge mistakes with horrible consequences.

A child is dead. Others are severely injured.

The folks posting about them being bad kids or bad parents should keep in mind that even if you or your kids would never make these mistakes, that we should all be hopeful that we and our kids never face the worst possible consequences of our dumbest decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re probably not even South American - more likely Central American. Jeez this thread is bozo.

I’m the one who wrote South Americans above. I don’t know any of the ethnic backgrounds of the kids. I was just referring to the teacher and others who were posting about this population. I went back and read and they were writing about Central America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

Do we even know who the driver was? This seems like a lot of speculation and racism towards uneducated South Americans. I’m not saying this population does not exist. I’m just wondering if this was the case in this accident.

At my high school, a bunch of rich white guys died in a car accident similar to this one. They were in college though, new freshmen.

If it’s who is being said it was, the driver and his brother are immigrants from Central America and former ESOL students. They are not from South America. I’m not sure what is racist about what has been said though.

So was the driver the older son of the woman who gave an interview? The one whose husband died a few years ago and has five sons?

I believe the boy who died was not the brother of the driver.

This situation is so sad and maddening at the same time. Why are these young kids driving without a license???? And why would these other kids get in the car and not put on a seat belt???

No official confirmation, but yes, this is what has been said at Marshall. Enough people know him that I would assume it’s true. His younger brother was also in the car, but is the not boy who died. I know the name of one girl also at Marshall. I don’t know the other 2 Marshall students’ names yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re probably not even South American - more likely Central American. Jeez this thread is bozo.

I’m the one who wrote South Americans above. I don’t know any of the ethnic backgrounds of the kids. I was just referring to the teacher and others who were posting about this population. I went back and read and they were writing about Central America.

Pp here. Actually teacher just wrote Hispanic population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

Do we even know who the driver was? This seems like a lot of speculation and racism towards uneducated South Americans. I’m not saying this population does not exist. I’m just wondering if this was the case in this accident.

At my high school, a bunch of rich white guys died in a car accident similar to this one. They were in college though, new freshmen.

If it’s who is being said it was, the driver and his brother are immigrants from Central America and former ESOL students. They are not from South America. I’m not sure what is racist about what has been said though.

So was the driver the older son of the woman who gave an interview? The one whose husband died a few years ago and has five sons?

I believe the boy who died was not the brother of the driver.

This situation is so sad and maddening at the same time. Why are these young kids driving without a license???? And why would these other kids get in the car and not put on a seat belt???

Well, according to some people here, it’s because they live in South America! That’s a long daily commute to their northern VA schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

Um in a first world country like the US it's not a privilege it's the standard get over yourself

[Anonymous]

So who's car was it? Are any of the parent going to be charged with negligence and what about documentation status is this another case of loose immigration policies contributing to deaths and crime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

Um in a first world country like the US it's not a privilege it's the standard get over yourself

These kids go to Marshall and McLean high. The boy who died went to Longfellow Middle School in McLean. These are some of the best school districts in NOVA. I’m not sure it is relevant that in some Central American countries, education ends in sixth grade.