Migrant Workers -- 22 August 2002

>> Michael Caputo: JUST AHEAD
ON "NEED TO KNOW," ABOUT
47,000 MIGRANT FARMWORKERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES COME TO NEW
YORK EACH YEAR.
THEY PROVIDE THE LABOR FOR
AGRICULTURE, OUR STATE'S
NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.
BUT MIGRANT FARMWORKERS ARE A
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION MANY
OF US ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF.
AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE FACING
SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL
OBSTACLES.
TONIGHT WE LOOK AT WHY HIGHLY
MOBILE STUDENTS CAN BE LOW
ACHIEVERS.
ALSO, WE'LL DISCUSS THE LAST
ACT OF THE CHANGING OF THE
GUARD AT THE CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
AND ELLEN ROSEN IS HERE FOR
THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "THE
BUSINESS SECTION."
IT'S ALL AHEAD ON "NEED TO
KNOW."

(Music)

>> IF THEY ARE OF LEGAL AGE TO
WORK IN THE FIELDS, THEY OFTEN
WORK IN THE FIELDS INSTEAD OF
COMING TO SCHOOL.

>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.

>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

(Music)

>> Michael Caputo: THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
I'M MICHAEL CAPUTO,
THE NEW HOST OF "NEED TO
KNOW," TRYING TO FILL THE VERY
LARGE SHOES OF GARY WALKER.
WE'LL GET TO THE CHILDREN OF MIGRANT FAMILIES IN A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST, THE CITY SCHOOL
BOARD DEBATED A SEVERANCE
PACKAGE FOR OUTGOING ROCHESTER
CITY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
CLIFFORD JANEY.
TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS AND
OTHER EDUCATION ISSUES OF THE
WEEK, WE'RE JOINED BY AM
1370's BOB SMITH.
BOB, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH
US.
LET'S TALK RIGHT OFF THE BAT
ABOUT THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE.

>> Bob Smith: IT'S AN
INTERESTING ARRANGEMENT.
IT'S A SLIGHT REDUCTION FROM
WHAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN
QUALIFIED -- WHAT Dr. JANEY
WOULD HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED FOR
HAD HE SIMPLY INSISTED ON
HAVING HIS CONTRACT FILLED OUT
TO THE LETTER.
IT WAS ESSENTIALLY A HANDSHAKE
AND A FAREWELL, A GENEROUS
ONE, BUT NOT QUITE SO GENEROUS AS THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
MIGHT HAVE HAD TO PAY UP HAD
Dr. JANEY CHOSEN A LESS
AMICABLE SEPARATION.

>> Michael Caputo: AND IT WAS
NOT UNANIMOUS?

>> Bob Smith: NO.
JOHN BOWERS, WHO IS THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR OF THE
BOARD AND ONE OF THE MOST
RECENT ARRIVALS ON THE BOARD,
SAID HE FELT IT WAS TOO
GENEROUS AND HE FELT IT OUGHT
TO BE SCALED DOWN FURTHER, FOR
FISCAL REASONS AND ALSO FOR
POLICY REASONS AS A STATEMENT
ESSENTIALLY OF HOW IT WAS FELT
Dr. JANEY HAD HANDLED THINGS,
ESPECIALLY DURING HIS LAST FEW
YEARS.

>> Michael Caputo: NOW, BOB,
THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE INCLUDES
IN IT A PROVISION THAT NOBODY
SPEAK ILL OF Dr. JANEY.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> Bob Smith: WELL, IT'S AN
INTERESTING PROVISION AND I
SUSPECT IT'S SOMETHING THAT
WAS GIVEN TO HIM MAYBE AS MUCH
FOR PRESERVATION OF HIS
DIGNITY AS ANYTHING ELSE.
CLIFFORD JANEY LEAVES
ROCHESTER WITH AN ADMITTEDLY
MIXED REPUTATION.
HE'S LEFT NOW EARLY, BEFORE
THE END OF HIS CONTRACT, AS A
RESULT OF PROBLEMS HE HAD IN
THE ADMINISTRATION AND FISCAL
MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT,
WHICH NOBODY DENIES, INCLUDING
HIM.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, HE GETS
HIGH MARKS AND HE HAS A VERY
GOOD REPUTATION NATIONALLY FOR
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ISSUES AND
FOR BEING INNOVATIVE IN
PUTTING NEW IDEAS INTO THE
CLASSROOM.
AND FOR THAT, HE'S STILL
REGARDED HIGHLY, ALTHOUGH
THOSE ISSUES, IN A TIME OF FISCAL CONSTRAINT, COULD NO
LONGER TAKE CENTER STAGE.

>> Michael Caputo: TELL ME A
LITTLE BIT -- ON YOUR OWN
SHOW, "1370 CONNECTION," YOU
TALKED ABOUT A STUDY THAT WAS
DONE BY THE CENTER FOR
GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH THAT
TALKED ABOUT -- WELL, IT
TALKED ABOUT ATTRACTING
TEACHERS AND THE DIFFICULTIES
ABOUT IT.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT
DURING THE RADIO PROGRAM.

>> Bob Smith: WHAT HAPPENED AS
A RESULT OF THE DISCUSSIONS
THAT WE HAD WITH PEOPLE FROM
CENTER FOR GOVERNMENTAL
RESEARCH, EARLIER THIS WEEK AS
THIS BROADCAST AIRS ACTUALLY,
WAS THAT THE NEW YORK STATE
SYSTEM FOR CERTIFYING
TEACHERS, FOR QUALIFYING THEM
TO GO INTO THE CLASSROOM,
ALTHOUGH IT'S WELL-MEANING AND IT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH THE
HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS OF
COMPETENCE AND PREPARATION, IT
MAY BE TOO INFLEXIBLE,
INFLEXIBLE IN THIS WAY:
PEOPLE WITH RECOGNIZED
EXPERTISE IN THEIR SUBJECT
AREAS AND A REAL PASSION FOR
TEACHING AND ABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE CAN'T NECESSARILY
QUALIFY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH Ph.D.s
IN HISTORY THAT CAN'T BE
OFFERED JOBS TEACHING HIGH
SCHOOL HISTORY AFTER THEY
RETIRE FROM WHATEVER, OR
Ph.D.s IN CHEMISTRY CAN'T GIVE
CHEMISTRY CLASSES.
I'M AWARE OF A FEW PEOPLE,
PROFESSIONALS IN OUR LOCAL
INDUSTRIES, WHO WOULD LIKE TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT CAN'T
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO BACK
AND GET RECERTIFIED WITH A LOT
OF CLASSES IN PEDAGOGY.

>> Michael Caputo: BOB, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
BE SURE TO LISTEN TO WXXI-AM
1370 OR LOG ON TO wxxi.org FOR
THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.
NOW A LOOK AT THE CHILDREN OF
MIGRANT WORKERS.
THESE TRANSIENT FAMILIES MOVE
FROM STATE TO STATE AND
SOMETIMES INTO A DIFFERENT
COUNTRY LOOKING FOR TEMPORARY
OR SEASONAL WORK.
BECAUSE OF THIS LIFE, THE
CHILDREN OF MIGRATORY WORKERS
SUFFER ACADEMICALLY.
A NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WORKER
SURVEY REVEALED THAT 94% OF
MIGRANT FARMWORKERS WERE
HISPANIC.
THAT ADDS A LANGUAGE BARRIER
TO THE LIST OF HURDLES THAT
THESE CHILDREN MUST OVERCOME.
THEY ALSO FACE DIFFERENCES IN
CURRICULA FROM STATE TO STATE;
DIFFERENCES IN THE
AVAILABILITY OF BILINGUAL
EDUCATION, TUTORING AND COUNSELLING; AN INCONSISTENCY
OF GRADE PLACEMENTS ACROSS
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND A
SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS TRAINED
TO DEAL WITH MIGRANT CHILDREN.
NOW, WHILE MIGRANT PARENTS
VALUE EDUCATION, THE DEMANDS
OF ECONOMIC SURVIVAL CAN HURT
THEIR CHILDREN'S CHANCES OF
ACQUIRING AN EDUCATION.
WXXI'S ALICIA CLAUSSELL TALKS
TO ONE LOCAL FAMILY ABOUT
ENDURING THE HARSH REALITIES
OF WORKING IN THE FIELDS
(Speaking in Spanish)

>> I GO TO FLORIDA.
SOME GO TO KENTUCKY,
TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, WHERE
THERE'S WORK.
THAT'S WHERE THEY GO MOSTLY TO
FIND WORK SO THEY CAN MAKE
THEIR LIVING.

>> Alicia Claussell: IT'S A
WAY OF LIFE FOR THE THOUSANDS
OF MIGRANT FARMWORKERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES THAT PLANT,CULTIVATE AND HARVEST FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES EVERY YEAR IN
NEW YORK STATE.

>> Alicia Claussell: VICTORIA
PAZ MIGRATES WITH HER THREE
CHILDREN BETWEEN UPSTATE NEW
YORK AND FLORIDA.
ALTHOUGH SHE HAS WORKED HARD
TO BECOME A CREW LEADER ON
SODOMA'S FARM IN BROCKPORT,
WHEN IN FLORIDA, SHE CARRIES
OUT THE SAME BACKBREAKING WORK
SHE OVERSEES AT SODOMA'S.
PERHAPS THE HARDEST PART OF
MIGRANT LIFE FOR VICTORIA IS
NOT THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF
HER JOB BUT COMING TO TERMS
WITH THE EFFECTS HER TRANSIENT
LIFE IS HAVING ON HER
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION,
ESPECIALLY HER OLDEST
DAUGHTER, 11-YEAR-OLD ANA.

>> ARE YOU READY?

>> YES, I'M READY.

>> Alicia Claussell: STUDIES
SHOW THAT CHILDREN WHO HAVE CHANGED SCHOOLS FREQUENTLY ARE
MORE LIKELY TO REPEAT A GRADE
THAN CHILDREN WHO HAVE NEVER
CHANGED SCHOOLS.
WE ASKED VICTORIA HOW MANY
SCHOOLS ANA HAS BEEN TO IN THE
LAST THREE YEARS.

>> SHE'S BEEN TO LAURA
SANDERS, FLORIDA ELEMENTARY...
IN FLORIDA, SHE'S BEEN TO TWO
TO THREE DIFFERENT ONES.
AND HERE SHE'S BEEN TO THE
SAME SCHOOL AREA; BUT THEY
JUST CHANGE THE SCHOOL LEVEL.

>> WHEN I LEAVE, I FEEL SAD
'CAUSE I LEAVE MY FRIENDS
BEHIND AND THEN WHEN, LIKE, I
GO BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR, IT'S COMPLICATED
'CAUSE LIKE AT THE END OF THE
YEAR, THE TEACHERS DON'T KNOW
-- WHEN YOU TRAVEL A LOT, THEY
DON'T KNOW IF THEY SHOULD PASS
YOU OR STAY BACK SO YOU CAN
CATCH UP.

>> Alicia Claussell: ANA ATTENDS SCHOOL DURING THE
SUMMER THROUGH THE BROCKPORT
MIGRANT EDUCATION OUTREACH
PROJECT WHICH HELPS HER CATCH
UP WITH HER SCHOOLWORK.
SHE LAGS BEHIND PARTLY DUE TO
HER FAMILY'S NEED TO FOLLOW
THE HARVEST.

>> WELL, I GO TO SCHOOL WHEN
SCHOOL STARTS AND I LEAVE IN
NOVEMBER.
AND THEN WHEN I GET -- WHEN I
GO TO FLORIDA, I START LIKE IN
NOVEMBER AND FINISH IN APRIL.
THAT'S LIKE HOW FAR I GO.
THEN I COME BACK HERE IN APRIL
AND THEN FINISH THE SCHOOL
YEAR.

>> Alicia Claussell: EVEN IF
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST ANA, LIKE
ANY CHILD, SHE STILL HAS
DREAMS ABOUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO
BE WHEN SHE GROWS UP.

>> WHAT'S FIVE TIMES THREE?

>> FIFTEEN.

>> GOOD.

>> WELL, SINCE I WAS LIKE
AROUND IN THIRD GRADE, I
ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A LAWYER.
MY TEACHERS HAVE BEEN TELLING
ME I SHOULD BE A LAWYER 'CAUSE
I CAN BE A BILINGUAL, LIKE A
TRANSLATOR OR SOMETHING.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.

>> Alicia Claussell: BUT BETTY
SVITAVSKY, PRINCIPAL OF ANA'S
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM, KNOWS
ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL
CHALLENGES CHILDREN LIKE ANA
FACE.

>> WELL, THE CHILDREN OF
MIGRANT FARMWORKERS MOVE WITH
THE FAMILY.
THEY COME INTO AN AREA WHERE
ENGLISH IS NOT -- THEY DO NOT
KNOW THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
SO THEY LEARN ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE.
AND THEY LIVE IN RURAL AREAS;
SOMETIMES TRANSPORTATION IS A
PROBLEM.

>> Alicia Claussell: ACCORDING TO THE U.S. GENERAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICE, HIGHLY MOBILE STUDENTS
OFTEN ARE LOW ACHIEVERS.
THIS TRANSLATES INTO THE
ALARMING STATISTIC THAT 54% OF
MIGRANT TEENAGERS DROP OUT OF
SCHOOL, MANY TIMES TO HELP
THEIR FAMILIES IN THE FIELDS.

>> THE ONE OBSTACLE THERE IS
SOMETIMES THE ADOLESCENTS ARE
ECONOMICALLY NECESSARY TO PUT
MONEY INTO THE FAMILY SAVINGS,
AND SO THEY WORK IN THE
FIELDS.
AND IF THEY ARE OF LEGAL AGE
TO WORK IN THE FIELDS, THEY
OFTEN WORK IN THE FIELDS
INSTEAD OF COMING TO SCHOOL.

>> Alicia Claussell: THE HIGH
DROPOUT RATE AMONG MIGRANT
CHILDREN IS A STATISTIC THAT'S
ALL TOO FAMILIAR TO VICTORIA,
WHOSE MOTHER WAS A MIGRANT
WORKER AS WELL.

>> AND WHEN I WOULDN'T GO TO
SCHOOL AND THERE WAS NO SCHOOL ON THE WEEKENDS OR SOMETHING,
I WOULD COME OUT AND HELP MY
MOM.
AND THEN I WOULD MOVE FROM
FLORIDA TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND
THEN COME BACK TO FLORIDA AND
HELP MY MOM OUT WHEN I COULD
AND THEN GO TO SCHOOL WHEN
THERE WAS SCHOOL.
I DIDN'T FINISH SCHOOL.
I DROPPED OUT IN SEVENTH GRADE
AND GOT MARRIED YOUNG AND HAD
MY KIDS YOUNG, AND EVER SINCE
THEN I'VE BEEN HERE, OUT HERE
WORKING.

>> Alicia Claussell: ANA
WONDERS ABOUT HER FUTURE.

>> I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF I'LL
FINISH SCHOOL.
MY MOM IS TRYING.
SHE'S TRYING TO GIVE ME A
COLLEGE EDUCATION.
SHE SAID IF SHE HAS ENOUGH
MONEY TO SEND ME TO COLLEGE,
SHE MIGHT, OR I MIGHT LIKE
STAY AND HELP HER.

>> Alicia Claussell: BUT IT'S
A LIFE VICTORIA DOES NOT WANT
FOR ANA.

>> I WOULDN'T LIKE HER TO DO
IT, SO I'M TRYING TO GIVE HER
THE COURAGE TO STUDY AS MUCH
AS SHE CAN.
I MEAN I'M NOT ASKING HER TO
DO SOMETHING BIG BUT TO TRY
AND FINISH AT LEAST SCHOOL SO
SHE CAN DO SOMETHING BETTER
THAN WHAT I'M DOING.

>> Alicia Claussell: ANA IS NO
STRANGER TO WORKING IN THE
FIELDS.
>> YEAH, ME AND MY SISTER
WORKED, LIKE, FOR TWO FIELDS
AND THEN WE COULDN'T ANYMORE
BECAUSE IT WAS, LIKE, TIRING.
BUT IT WAS LIKE ONE AND A HALF
-- THE FIRST FIELD WE
FINISHED, BUT THE SECOND WE
ONLY DID HALF 'CAUSE WE WERE
LEFT BEHIND AND THEN MY MOM
WAS, LIKE, "NOW YOU KNOW HOW
TIRING IT IS FOR ALL OF US"AND I'M LIKE "YES."

>> Alicia Claussell: IT'S A
LESSON VICTORIA HOPES ANA HAS
LEARNED.

>> SHE'S, LIKE, "YOU'RE
GONNA" -- LIKE, SHE SAID,
"YOU'RE GONNA BE THE FIRST
PERSON I THINK IN THE FAMILY
TO GO TO COLLEGE" 'CAUSE
MOSTLY EVERYBODY HAD DROPPED
OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND UM,
SHE'S LIKE, "I'M TRYING TO GET
A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOU AND
YOUR BROTHERS 'CAUSE I DON'T
WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH WHAT
WE'RE GOING THROUGH."

(Music)

>> Michael Caputo: THANK YOU,
ALICIA.
I'M JOINED NOW WITH THREE
EXPERTS IN THE FIELD:
JOSEFINO PAZ COORDINATES
ADOLESCENT OUTREACH FOR
BROCKPORT MIGRANT EDUCATION;
BETTY GARCIA MATTHEWSON
COORDINATES THE STATE DIVERSITY PROJECT FOR CORNELL
MIGRANT PROGRAMS,
AND JEFFREY LEWIS, SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT FOR PLANNING AND
RESEARCH AT RURAL
OPPORTUNITIES, INC.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN.
JOSEFINO, LET'S START WITH
YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THE FACTORS
THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR
MIGRANT KIDS TO ADJUST TO NEW
SCHOOLS.

>> YES.
I THINK THERE ARE MANY
CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING
BECAUSE ONCE THEY GET TO
SCHOOL, MANY OF THE CREDITS
WHEN THEY ARE MIDDLE
SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOLERS AND THEY
MOVE FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL,
EACH SCHOOL HAS DIFFERENT
REQUIREMENTS FROM STATES AND
SOME OF THE GRADES DO NOT
TRANSFER, OR THEY HAVE TO GO BACK AND TAKE THE COURSE THEY
WERE TAKING WHEN THEY CAME TO
NEW YORK.
THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
OF ADAPTING TO THE NEW SCHOOL,
THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT
PREPARED TO RECEIVE THEM.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE
SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT JUST ONE
SCHOOL BUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM
TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE SOCIETY
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO
EXCHANGE STUDENTS AND BE READY
TO DEAL WITH THEM, THE NEEDS
THAT THEY HAVE.

>> Michael Caputo: THIS IS FOR
EVERYBODY.
AREN'T THERE PROGRAMS THAT
LINK A STATE TO A STATE, A
SCHOOL DISTRICT TO A SCHOOL
DISTRICT WHERE THERE ARE, YOU
KNOW, A LOT OF MOVEMENT
BETWEEN MIGRANT WORKERS?
ARE THERE PROGRAMS OUT THERE
LIKE THAT?

>> ACTUALLY, THE MIGRANT EDUCATION SYSTEM IS DESIGNED
TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT, BUT
HOW THEY'RE FUNDED CAN CHANGE
FROM STATE TO STATE.
IN FACT, WE WERE JUST HAVING A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLORIDA AND
NEW YORK.
OUR PROGRAM SUPPORTS SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND THE MIGRANT
EDUCATION PROGRAM IN IMPROVING
THEIR SERVICE.
OUR SYSTEMS REALLY DEAL WELL
WITH MOST CHILDREN.
AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE
DIFFERING NEEDS, WHICH MIGRANT
STUDENTS BRING A LOT OF UNIQUE
NEEDS TO THE TABLE, OUR
SYSTEMS ARE NOT FLEXIBLE
ENOUGH TO RESPOND TO THOSE.
ASSISTING TEACHERS, ASSISTING
THE DISTRICTS THEMSELVES IN
THINKING OUT OF THE BOX, IN
LEARNING HOW TO PROVIDE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICE TO
DIFFERENT STUDENTS, HOW TO INTEGRATE E.S.L. IN A RURAL
COMMUNITY, THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS, IS A PART OF WHAT WE
CONTRIBUTE.
A LOT OF THE MIGRANT EDUCATION
PROGRAMS PROVIDE TUTORING AND
THE KIND OF AFTER-SCHOOL
SUPPORT THAT SOMETIMES PARENTS
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO, AS WELL
AS SOME OF THE SYSTEM ADVOCACY
THAT CAN TEACH SOME OF OUR
LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES WHO
HAVEN'T HAD TO DO E.S.L. AND
MAY HAVE TEACHERS IN POSITIONS
THAT REALLY DON'T HAVE THE
SKILLS FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS
A SECOND LANGUAGE HOW TO HELP
IMPROVE THAT.

>> Michael Caputo: HOW ARE
TEACHERS TRAINED, BY AND
LARGE?
DO TEACHERS HAVE ENOUGH
TRAINING TO DEAL WITH THIS
POPULATION?

>> WELL, SOME OF THE TEACHERS,
YOU KNOW, RECEIVE SOMETRAINING BUT NOT ENOUGH TO
DEAL WITH THE ENTIRE
POPULATION.

>> Michael Caputo: IS IT A
PROBLEM OF FUNDING?

>> SOMETIMES IT IS, BUT IT HAS
TO BE WITH THE FLEXIBILITY OF
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SOMETIMES THEY ASSUME THAT
THEY'RE PREPARED TO TREAT
EVERYBODY, BUT WHEN IT COMES
TO THE CLASSROOM, WE DON'T SEE
THE TREATMENT TO BE AVAILABLE
TO ALL STUDENTS.

>> AND TEACHER PREPARATION
PROGRAMS REALLY DON'T PREPARE
ALL TEACHERS TO RESPOND AND BE
ABLE TO TEACH WITH
SECOND-LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN
THEIR CLASSROOM.

>> Michael Caputo: Mr. LEWIS,
LET ME ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND THE ROLE THAT IT'S BEEN
PLAYING.
HAS THAT CHANGED? HAS EITHER THE POLICIES OR THE
FUNDING FOR THIS POPULATION,
ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN,
CHANGED?

>> IT HAS.
IT HAS OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.
WHEN WE STARTED THE '70s, WE
HAD PER CAPITA MUCH MORE
RESOURCES INVOLVED IN
SUPPORTING MIGRANT CHILDREN AS
THEY MOVED UP AND DOWN THE
STREAM.
MANY OF THE PROJECTS -- THERE
WAS AT ONE TIME A PROGRAM
CALLED MERTS THAT WAS A
MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT
ACTUALLY TRIED TO TRACK AND
LINK A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR
CHILDREN UP AND DOWN THE
STREAM, FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT
TO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.

>> WHY?

>> I THINK FOR THE MOST PART
THAT'S FUNDING, BUT I THINK THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT'S
ARISEN IS THAT AS WE GO
THROUGHOUT THE 50 STATES IN
THE UNITED STATES, YOU HAVE AT
LEAST PROBABLY 40 DIFFERENT
STANDARDS, EDUCATIONAL
STANDARDS IN EACH DISTRICT.
SO ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT
WE'RE SEEING IS THAT A CHILD
WHO MAY MOVE FROM FLORIDA INTO
GEORGIA AND THEN INTO UPSTATE
NEW YORK IS GOING TO ENCOUNTER
THREE DIFFERENT STANDARDS ON
THEIR WAY UP.
A LOT OF THE OTHER FEDERAL
PROGRAMS LIKE THE PROGRAMS
THAT RURAL OPPORTUNITIES
OFFERS, WHICH ARE CAREER
EXPLORATION PROGRAMS, YOUTH
PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SOME OF
THE SAME SUPPORT SERVICE --
AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING,
OPPORTUNITIES TO USE COMPUTER
LABS AND SO FORTH -- THOSE
PROGRAMS ARE BEING CUT BACK
AND THREATENED AS WELL. SO I THINK THAT AT THE SAME
TIME THAT THE CHALLENGES
BECOME GREATER AS SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND STATE SCHOOL
SYSTEMS BECOME MORE INVOLVED
IN TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE WORK FORCE THROUGH HIGHER
STANDARDS, IT'S CREATING MORE
OF A DILEMMA FOR MIGRANT KIDS
AS THEY MOVE FROM SCHOOL
DISTRICT TO SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> JOSEFINO, YOU WERE A
MIGRANT WORKER EARLIER IN YOUR
LIFE AND YOU WOULD KNOW MAYBE
BETTER THAN ANYBODY WHAT IT IS
LIKE TO WORK IN THE FIELDS AND
THEN ALSO TO TRY AND DEAL WITH
THE STUDYING.
HOW CAN KIDS DO BOTH?

>> WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT
MOST KIDS GO TO SCHOOL AND
THEN COME BACK AND WORK,
HELPING THEIR PARENTS IN THE
AFTERNOON, SO THERE'S NO TIME
TO DO HOMEWORK.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS WORKING HERE IN NEW YORK AND TRYING TO
GO TO COLLEGE AT THAT TIME,
WORKING WITH THE EIGHT TO TEN,
TWELVE HOURS A DAY, CUTTING
CABBAGE AT THAT TIME.
I REMEMBER GETTING HOME AND
THERE WERE TIMES THAT I DIDN'T
WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.
AT LEAST THREE NIGHTS A WEEK I
WENT, AND MY FRIENDS, MY
CO-WORKERS, CAME HOME, TOOK A
SHOWER, TRIED TO REST AND
RELAX FOR THE NEXT DAY, MAKE
DINNER AND PREPARE LUNCH.
BUT FOR ME IT WAS, YOU KNOW,
COME IN, TAKE A SHOWER AS
QUICK AS I COULD, COME TO
ROCHESTER TO ATTEND THE
COMMUNITY CLASSES AND THEN I
REMEMBER FALLING ASLEEP IN
SOME OF MY CLASSES.
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, I HAVE
TO COME BACK EARLY, 6 IN THE
MORNING, TO DO THE SAME THING
OVER AND OVER.
IT WAS JUST HARD.WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HARD
WORK.
THE TEENS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT IS TO THEM.
FOR ME, WHEN I WAS
CALCULATING, I WAS GETTING
PAID $6 FOR A TON OF CABBAGE
AT A TIME.
SO FOR ME TO DO $80 OR $100 A
DAY, I HAVE TO CUT THAT MANY
TONS TO GET THIS AMOUNT.
AND JUST EXHAUSTED AT THE END
OF THE DAY AND THEN AFTER THAT
GOING TO CLASS.

>> Michael Caputo: BETTY, I
KNOW THAT YOU WORK TO HELP
BRIDGE THE CULTURAL DIVIDE FOR
MIGRANT FAMILIES, BUT I WANT
TO TALK -- DO THESE KIDS SEE
BIGOTRY AT THE SCHOOLS?

>> DEFINITELY.
OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE
EXPERIENCING A TRANSFORMATION
THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN THE
PAST AND THAT IS THAT NEW
IMMIGRANTS HAVE HISTORICALLY GONE TO URBAN AREAS, AND NOW
WE HAVE NEW IMMIGRANTS COMING
INTO WHAT HAVE BEEN
PREDOMINANTLY WHITE
COMMUNITIES.
THEY HAVE SOME
AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT WERE
FARMWORKERS.
MANY YEARS BEFORE, MUCH OF THE
AFRICAN POPULATION IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES WERE FARMWORKERS
AND RESETTLED OFF.
AND NOW WE HAVE THIS
ADDITIONAL GROUP OF COLOR
COMING INTO A CONTEXT OF
RACISM THAT ALREADY EXISTS,
AND PEOPLE ARE NOT HOSTILE
BECAUSE THEY CONSCIOUSLY WANT
TO BE.
I THINK WE HAVE MOVED PAST
THAT IN AMERICA.
THERE ARE SO MANY SUBTLE WAYS
IN WHICH RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE
SO UNWELCOMING.
EVEN FOR ME, I CONSIDER THE
RURAL COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE INTO BE THE MOST HOSTILE PLACE I
HAVE EVER LIVED.

>> Michael Caputo: HAS IT
RATCHETED UP AT ALL OR
CHANGED?
THERE'S DYNAMIC CHANGE, I
GUESS, SINCE 9/11.

>> YES, IT HAS.
IT HAS IN MANY WAYS IN TERMS
OF FEAR FOR PEOPLE.
BUT THE ONE THING I WANT TO
SAY IN TERMS OF HOPE IS THAT
WE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS AROUND
UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES AND
AROUND UNDERSTANDING THE
COMPLEX NATURE OF U.S.
DIVERSITY, THAT WE HAVE
INHERITED THESE DIVISIONS, AND
WE ARE AT A WONDERFUL PLACE
THAT IN OUR BEST INTENTIONS,
WHEN WE BRING THAT TO OUR
CONSCIOUSNESS, WE IMPROVE AND
WE SEE TEACHERS CHANGING
PRACTICE.
WE JUST NEED MORE OF THAT. SCHOOLS NEED MORE RESOURCES.
COMMUNITIES NEED MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO
DIALOGUE AND BECOME MORE
CONSCIOUS.
RACISM EXISTS; IT'S HERE.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Michael Caputo: JEFFREY, WE
HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT OR
SO.
CAN YOU TELL ME SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO
THE ROCHESTER AND WESTERN NEW
YORK AREA THAT ARE DEALING
WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> SURE.
I THINK WHAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE
IS THAT WE HAVE MIGRANT HEAD
START PROGRAMS WHICH DEAL WITH
CHILDREN WHO ARE VERY YOUNG.
WE HAVE MIGRANT HEALTH
PROGRAMS TO DEAL WITH THE
HEALTH PROBLEMS OF MIGRANT
WORKERS IN THE AREA.
WE HAVE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN OUR BROCKPORT AREA
AND ALBION.
THOSE PROGRAMS MEET THE
EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF MIDDLE
SCHOOLERS AND FOLKS GOING INTO
HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
OFFERED THAT ARE PROGRAMS THAT
PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND JOB
TRAINING TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO STAY IN AGRICULTURE TO
IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS, TO
BECOME YEAR-ROUND EMPLOYEES,
BUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT
TO LEAVE AGRICULTURE, TO HELP
MAKE THAT TRANSITION INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
I THINK WHAT BETTY SHARED WITH
US EARLIER ABOUT RURAL
COMMUNITIES IS IN PART TRUE,
THAT THERE IS SOME RACISM AND
HOSTILITY TO INDIVIDUALS, BUT
I ALSO THINK THOSE COMMUNITIES
HAVE STARTED TO RECOGNIZE HOW
MUCH THEY RELY, AS WE ALL DO,
ON MIGRANT AND SEASONAL FARMWORKERS FOR THE FOOD WE
EAT AND WHAT A PART THEY PLAY
FOR THE INCOME OF THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
>> Michael Caputo: THAT'S
GOING TO BE THE LAST WORD.
WE THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
TUNE IN FOR MORE ON THIS
TOPIC.
YOU CAN TUNE INTO "ESCUELA," A
ONE-HOUR TELEVISION
DOCUMENTARY THAT FOLLOWS A
MIGRANT FAMILY AS THEY FACE
THE DEMANDS OF WORKING IN THE
FIELDS, TRAVELING CONSTANTLY,
AND ADJUSTING TO NEW SCHOOLS
AND TOWNS.
"ESCUELA" AIRS TUESDAY, AUGUST
27th AT 10 p.m. RIGHT HERE ON
WXXI TV CHANNEL 21.
"ESCUELA" IS BROUGHT TO BY
P.O.V., THE ACCLAIMED
INDEPENDENT NONFICTION FILM
SERIES ON PBS.
AND ALSO FOR MORE INFORMATION,
YOU CAN LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE, wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE YOU ARE THERE, YOU CAN
TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY
INTERNET POLL.
AND FOR THE LATEST ON POLITICS
AND GOVERNMENT, IT'S
Www.NYcitizens.org.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."

(Music)

ELLEN, THANKS FOR COMING IN
AGAIN.
>> Ellen Rosen: THANKS, MIKE.
>> Michael Caputo: LET'S TALK
ABOUT THE THREE NUMBERS: 716
TO 585... WE TOOK ANOTHER STEP
AND HOW DID IT GO?
>> Ellen Rosen: IT WENT PRETTY
WELL.
THERE WERE SOME MINORGLITCHES.
THERE ARE STILL SOME LITTLE
POCKETS WHERE THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT GO, JUST
LITTLE TECHNICALITIES.
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT JUST
DIDN'T GET SWITCHED OVER YET.
SOME OF FRONTIER'S OWN
IN-HOUSE BUSINESS CUSTOMERS,
WHERE THEY SERVICE YOUR PHONE
SYSTEMS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME
TO SWITCH THOSE PEOPLE OVER,
AND THERE ARE SOME OUTLYING
AREAS THAT ARE COMPLAINING
ABOUT SOME PROBLEMS.
THE BIG ISSUE WAS WITH CELL
PHONES.
SOME OF THE FOLKS WITH SPRINT
THAT DIDN'T SWITCH OVER BEFORE
SEPTEMBER, DESPITE ALL THE
WARNINGS -- THAT DIDN'T SWITCH
OVER BEFORE THE DATE, ENDED UP
NOT BEING ABLE TO BE SWITCHED
OVER BECAUSE SPRINT ENDED UP
HAVING SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
OF ITS OWN BUT THEY SAY THAT'SALL BEEN RESOLVED.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO
TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO WORK IT
ALL OUT.
>> Michael Caputo: THERE WAS
ALWAYS THAT CONCERN WHEN THERE
WAS THE DEBATE ABOUT 716, WE
NEEDED TO KEEP IT.
THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT CONCERN
IT'S GOING TO COST BUSINESSES
MORE MONEY.
HAS THAT PLAYED OUT?
>> Ellen Rosen: IT REALLY
HASN'T.
MOST PEOPLE SAW IT COMING, HAD
PLENTY OF TIME TO PREPARE.
THEY USED DOWN THEIR
STATIONERY; THEY, YOU KNOW,
HAD TIME TO CONTACT CLIENTS.
SO IT WASN'T LIKE IT HAPPENED
QUICKLY, AND REALLY YOU'VE GOT
ANOTHER -- I THINK IT'S NINE
MONTHS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY
STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER.
RIGHT NOW YOU GET THAT VOICE
TAPE THAT TELLS YOU YOU NEEDTO DIAL 1 AND 716 -- 1 AND 585
OR 1 AND 716, WHATEVER YOU'RE
CALLING, TO REACH THIS NUMBER.
>> Michael Caputo: LET'S TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
BUSINESS OF FARMING.
WE HAD THE EARLY WET WEATHER
AND THEN WE HAD THE DRY HEAT
OF SUMMER.
IT'S AFFECTING SOME GROWERS
LOCALLY.
WHO HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED?
>> Ellen Rosen: PRETTY MUCH
EVERYBODY HAS BEEN AFFECTED.
THE ONLY CROP THEY SAY REALLY
HASN'T BEEN AFFECTED HAS BEEN
THE PUMPKIN CROP BECAUSE THOSE
ARE PLANTED LIKE IN JUNE, AND
SO THAT WAS WHEN THE REALLY
BAD SPELL WAS OVER, AND
THEY'RE PRETTY WEATHER
RESISTANT.
BUT A LOT OF THE EARLY CROPS
GOT HIT BY THAT COLD, WET
WEATHER.
THEY COULDN'T GROW THEIR ROOTSYSTEMS PROPERLY, OR THE LAND
IN SOME PLACES WAS JUST TOO
WET TO PLANT.
SO CORN, CHERRIES,
STRAWBERRIES, A LOT OF THOSE
THINGS WERE REALLY AFFECTED.
IF YOU REMEMBER, THE
STRAWBERRY SEASON WAS LATE,
AND THE CHERRY SEASON WAS
SHORT AND LATE.
SO WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US
BASICALLY IS THAT ALL THE
CROPS ARE GOING TO BE DOWN AND
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO COST
MORE.
THEY'RE SAYING THAT FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES ARE GOING TO BE
DOWN, THE YIELDS, BY AS MUCH
AS 30% LOCALLY AND FIELD CORN
BY 40% OR MORE,
SOME OF THE FIELD CROPS LIKE
CORN.
>> Michael Caputo: ARE
CONSUMERS ALREADY SEEING THIS?
ARE THEY GOING TO SEE IT DOWN
THE LINE?>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, THEY'RE
SEEING IT RIGHT NOW AT THE
FARM STANDS, WHERE THE FARMERS
GROW AND BRING THEIR OWN
THINGS.
THEY'RE SEEING IT THERE, A 10
TO 30% INCREASE, AND SOME
SHORTAGES.
YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO GO IN
THIS TIME OF YEAR TO YOUR
FAVORITE MARKET, AND THERE WAS
ALWAYS PILES OF CORN TO GRAB.
WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THE FARMERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE
KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND
FOR SWEET CORN AND SOME OTHER
THINGS.
THEY SAY IT'S A LITTLE EARLY
TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE APPLE
CROP -- IT ISN'T IN YET --
ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SAID THAT'S
GOING TO BE AFFECTED;
SOME BUDS WERE DAMAGED EARLY
ON.
AND THE PEACH CROP STILL HAS
ABOUT THREE MORE WEEKS TO GO.>> Michael Caputo: THE C.E.O.
OF GLOBAL CROSSING WAS IN
TOWN.
THE NEWSPAPER SAT DOWN WITH
HIM, AND HE WAS MAKING
COMMITMENTS, WASN'T HE?
>> Ellen Rosen: YES, OUR
REPORTER RICH MULLINS, WHO
COVERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS, SAT
DOWN WITH JOHN LEGERE, THE
C.E.O. OF GLOBAL CROSSING,
YESTERDAY AND HE BASICALLY WAS
SAYING THAT ROCHESTER IS ONE
OF ITS LARGEST SITES AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF ITS
LARGEST SITES.
HE PREDICTED THAT AS THE
COMPANY GROWS, AFTER IT
EMERGES FROM ITS CHAPTER 11
BANKRUPTCY, THAT THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO GROW AND ROCHESTER
WILL HAVE TO GROW BECAUSE IT'S
SUCH A LARGE SITE.
>> Michael Caputo: AND THE
LAWSUIT -- WE HAVE ABOUT 30 OR
SO SECONDS LEFT.BUT THE LAWSUIT WE HAD, NOW
IT'S GONE.
>> Ellen Rosen: RIGHT.
BASICALLY THE JUDGES HERE DID
SOME RESEARCH; THEY CALLED
OTHER PLACES THAT HAD BEEN
HANDLING SOME OF THESE BIG
CASES LIKE ENRON AND FOUND OUT
THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND
TIME AND REALLY FELT, JUDGE
LARIMER AND JUDGE DOLESKA AND
THE COURT HERE, THAT THEY JUST
DID NOT HAVE THE TIME AND
RESOURCES TO DEVOTE TO SUCH A
COMPLICATED CASE AND STILL DO
JUSTICE TO THE OTHER THINGS
PENDING BEFORE THEM.
SO THEY PASSED ON IT.
>> Michael Caputo: SO THEY
PASSED ON IT.
WHAT WAS THE REACTION, REAL
QUICK?
WHAT WAS THE REACTION OF
LEADERS, EMPLOYEES --
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, I THINK
PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE WEREREALLY HOPING IT WOULD BE HERE
SO THEY COULD SEE IT, SO THEY
COULD BE PART OF IT.
WHERE IT WILL GO, WE DON'T
KNOW YET.