Fear in the Classroom: How Immigration Politics Affects Young Learners

In Philadelphia, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher has noticed a significant shift in their students' attitudes. Many of these students, ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade, are immigrants who have arrived in the U. S. within the past four years. The teacher shares that the older students and even alumni in high school have been dealing with a lot of stress, especially since the election.Before, these students were driven by the goal of getting good grades and learning English to support their families in the future. However, things have changed. Now, they carry a new fear with them every day, regardless of their immigration status. This fear has brought numerous questions and worries. Despite all this, they continue to attend school and work hard, meeting the expectations placed on them. The teacher admires their resilience but acknowledges the heavy burden these young minds are forced to bear.