History of Migrant Education
America’s migrant farmworkers have faced many challenges throughout history, and continue to face challenges today in wages, health, housing and education. In many cases, the children of migrant farmworkers also work alongside their parents, many times dropping out of school or sacrificing their academics in order to do so.
The Farmworker Movement
Because of his experience as a migrant farmworker, Cesar Chavez started the migrant farmworker movement in the 1960’s. He too experienced the hardships of being migrant; moving frequently and having to drop out of school in the 8th grade to work in the fields to help his family. He also knew these workers were resilient, dedicated and had a desire for a better future. As a community organizer, Chavez led boycotts, strikes and fasted to raise awareness for migrant rights and better working conditions. Along with the migrant farmworkers, Chavez began the migrant farmworker movement.
Educational Programs
As a result of the movement, the people’s voice, and their fight for justice, State Migrant Education Programs (MEP) and High School Equivalency Programs (HEP) were created in 1967. These programs were established to “ensure that migrant children fully benefit from the same free public education provided to other children”, provide services to K-12 students such as tutoring and free/reduced lunches, and assist migrant students who have dropped out of school get their GED. In 1972, four College Assistance Migrant Programs (CAMP) were funded to provide academic, personal, and financial support to migrant students during their first year of college. Today, MEP, HEP, CAMP have programs across the U.S. to offer the children of migrant families the opportunity to succeed academically, to complete high school, and to pursue higher education, making their futures brighter and more successful.
To Be Migrant Is To Be Proud
While migrant farmworkers are literally putting food on the tables of all Americans, they also contribute to the economic health and cultural wealth of our country. Desiring a better future for themselves and their children, the migrant community and their advocates continue to fight for and win basic rights in healthcare, the work place, and education. Please see the links below for more information on the history of the migrant farmworker movement, accomplishments by the migrant community and its students, and updates on relevant issues concerning migrant farmworkers today.
References:
http://www.migrantstudents.org/campcolleges.html
http://camp.wsu.edu/default.asp?PageID=685
http://www.incwell.com/Biographies/Chavez.html
Migrant Education Links:
Kansas Migrant Education Program
College Assistance Migrant Program
National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education