Illegitimate Hispanic Family Values?

“In the public debate over illegal immigrants, advocates on both sides of the issue have included Hispanic family values into their arguments. Interlocutors such as President George W. Bush have praised the family values of Hispanic immigrants and argued that, in an era of moral relativism, they would strengthen the national character. Not to be out-done, the opposing camp has published a plethora of articles suggesting that Hispanic family values are, in actuality, the very anti-thesis of American values.

Leading the charge are Heather MacDonald of City Journal, and Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies. Citing statistics on “illegitimate births,” Mr. Camarota’s recent article, “Illegitimate Nation,” paints not only a grim picture, but proposes that there is an endemic pathology in Hispanic culture with regards to illegitimate births. The arguments therein are, without a doubt, compelling, but flawed and untruthful in their conclusion because, as I remind my students, an argument may be “nothing but the truth” but not the “whole truth.” A partial truth, thus, while creating a technically “valid” syllogism may still be fallacious.”

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• About 350 Latino underclassmen from 11 northwest suburban high schools explored the campus of Harper College, getting a sample of what their lives could be like if they pursue higher education. 8th annual Latino Summit
• Hispanic Entrepreneur profile: Entrepreneurship began early for Gándara family – El Paso
• At-risk Hispanic students get a hand up in after-school program at Bonnabel – Louisiana
• Yeri Lopez: Student loan rules hamper best and brightest
• The University of Panama indefinitely suspended classes on Wednesday after confrontations between students and police during a protest against alleged U.S. involvement in plans to build new military installations.
• Over the last 3 years, high schools that received the lowest marks from the city have been the ones with the highest percentages of poor, black and Hispanic students, despite an evaluation system that was meant to equalize differences among student bodies, according to an analysis by The New York Times of school grades released this week.
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• Hispanics are 9% of the Virginia’s schoolchildren, but 5% of gifted students.
• Trend Toward Smaller Families in Latin America – The number of people per household in Latin America will fall by 18 percent by 2020, according to a study released in this capital Tuesday by consulting firm Euromonitor International.
• Deporting undocumented students affects the chances for legal return if Congress doesn’t address it in immigration reform bill
• Hispanic Graduate Students Benefit from Online Education Grant – University of St. Thomas in Houston strives to improve retention and graduation rates for Hispanic graduate students. UST received a $2.8 million education grant to offer two options
• Speaking Out: Students Support Latino Studies Program – Cornell University
• A Chicago City Council committee wants federal officials to halt deportation proceedings against immigrant students. – The Human Relations Committed on Friday approved a resolution urging the Department of Homeland Security to allow immigrant students to stay in the U.S. – Rigo Padilla
• Oregon universities try to recruit more Latino students – In 2007, Latinos made up nearly 12% of the 12th-grade class and less than 6% of freshmen in the university system. About 20% of first-graders that year were Latino.
• Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School officials have worked to make sure their school’s English as a Second Language (ESL) students’ needs are met. The school received 12 mini-laptops last month to help those students with their online ESL courses.- Kinston, North Carolina
• Officials at U.T. Permian Basin are hoping to making this weekend’s Hispanic Youth Summit a regular event. – More than 200 high school students from around the Basin and Big Bend have been in Odessa for the Summit.
• Ill. Board of Education Chair Ruiz, State Senator Lightford & State Representative
• More than 1,200 students are registered to attend the 10th Annual Latino Youth Conference hosted by the Latin American Association in Atlanta.
• Texan Students Debate Financial Aid for Illegal Immigrants