EDUCATION
Parent & Youth Voices

Parent Voices

Latino parents bring high expectations for education and high hopes for a better life for their children. Although they are often blamed for not caring enough about education, the reality is they face countless challenges within the United States educational system, which varies from state to state and school district to school district. Additionally, limited English proficiency is an undeniable barrier for many, impeding full participation and involvement in their children's academic careers.

Nevertheless, Latino parents have worked tirelessly to ensure that all children have opportunities in education and a better future. Julie Vargas is a clear example in the city of Worcester. She, along with other parents in the community, fought for a consent decree which attempted to ensure high quality bilingual education. They had to travel, ‘‘fuimos a [--] Nueva York […]. Fuimos los americanos, los hispanos... Fuimos en una guagua bien llena a luchar también. Y nosotros ahí y ahí. Gracias a Dios fíjate, se logró.’’ Julie’s passion for the education of Latino youth personifies all parents’ love for education and willingness to do what it takes to provide for a better future for their families and for the country as a whole (Narrative by Valentina Maza Izarra, Holy Cross ´23)

Translation: ‘‘We went [all the way] to New York […]. There were Americans, Hispanics ... We went in a packed bus determined to fight. We [were all over], here and there. Thank God, just imagine, we did it.''

Youth Voices