As life-time members and former members of NAEYC's Governing Board , and as authors of Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves , we applaud our organization's excellent statement (see above), and the letter to Homeland Security with over 500 early childhood organizations signing on. Now, we need to be taking action in our Affiliates, at our work places, and as citizens.
Taking children away from their parents violates our most basic ethics as a profession and profoundly harms everything we know about children's healthy development . Take, for example, the most recent news from the Associated Press, that several hundred infants and are being held at "tender age shelters", which, says the AP, are filled with distraught children who are "hysterical, crying and acting out"
The horrified response across our country from most of the major religious groups, from Doctors, from Teachers, from politicians across the spectrum, and from all the living "First Ladies", all speak to the profound understanding that separating families is wrong. Adding to the rage and fear is knowing that there is no system in place to reunite these children even if the policy were to change tomorrow. This is beyond specific party politics and beyond regional issues.
As early childhood educators, we can, and must, speaks out. If you have never done this kind of activism before, now is the time to start! Call, email, write the President and our Federal Congressional representatives to demand the immediate stop to the brutal actions of ripping children from their families. You can go on-line for the names, phone numbers, addresses of all the people who represent you and are taking action in our names. Send funds to national and local groups that are providing legal representation for the families.
As an ECE professional write a litter to your local newspaper about the damage being done to children in our name. Speak out in the community and religious organization you attend. Call the State Health and Social Services offices in Texas and Arizona to find out who is providing services for these little ones. Ask how early childhood professionals around the country can provide aid to the children. Inform everyone you know about NAEYC's opposition to the separating of families. This is beyond any discussion of what our immigration policies should be. This is about the most fundamental needs and rights of children.
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Julie Edwards & Louise Derman Sparks
Soquel CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-20-2018 09:25 AM
From: Tiffany Flowers
Subject: Separating young children from families seeking asylum
Point of Clarification: There is no 'appropriate' way to apply for asylum. Under current U.S. law, you are unable to apply for asylum prior to entering the U.S. You must travel to the border. The law states that it does not matter whether you get here legally or illegally. You must go before a judge and discuss your case. The judge makes the decision and there are no guarantees regarding asylum (even when you meet all the criteria). Additionally, the vast majority of immigrants who are traveling to the U.S. are in fact children ages 5-13 without a parent or guardian. The majority of those children are traveling to the U.S. to find their mothers who are working as domestic care workers in the U.S. The domestic care workers are employed in states which allow this practice under 'states rights'. This has been documented for several years.
This is why it is important for NAEYC to not only issue statements about what is happening with young children at the border, but to provide accurate information for the membership to stay fully informed. This is not the first time we have dealt with issues regarding the well-being of children and it will not be the last. Recently, we have seen threats to the well-being of children such as cutting funding for afterschool programs, school lunch programs, Head Start, Even Start, and CHIP. It is our responsibility to write, make statements, and advocate what is best for children as a body.
As professionals, we need to be careful about quoting politicians who often make statements which are untrue in front of large platforms. I find that most politicians cite half-truths and they also tell lies of omission. One month ago, the Secretary of Education made a statement in the press about teachers 'reporting' undocumented students in their classrooms to ICE. I had to explain to several teachers and my preservice teachers about what it means to target students and weaponize private information about children and families in the U.S. This is unethical and illegal. It is also a violation of both the 1973 Privacy Act and FERPA. Please see additional statements released pertaining to protecting both children and families at the border you can use:
ACLU Statement
https://www.aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention/fact-checking-family-separation
LDS Statement
http://www.ldsliving.com/LDS-Church-Issues-Statement-About-Children-Separated-from-Their-Families-on-U-S-Mexican-Border/s/77875
AAPS
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/StatementOpposingSeparationofChildrenandParents.aspx
As a new member, I am glad to see the passion for working in the best interests of children.
Take care.
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Tiffany Flowers
Assistant Professor of Education
Georgia State University Perimeter College
Clarkston GA
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2018 02:43 AM
From: Patricia Jack
Subject: Separating young children from families seeking asylum
There is a position statement from NAEYC as you can see, it was also posted here today.
I still stand by what I said on Twitter this morning. Anyone entering the US needs to respect our laws. I watched an interview with Jeff Sessions done today. I was reminded that Obama's Executive Order changed immigration policies. 15,000 people were expected and 75,000 came in during one instance. When you say asylum, it is exactly what Sessions said about families seeking asylum. When they come in through appropriate avenues, ICE has no problem and there is no separation. When they come over the wall or river, that is illegal and they have to be accountable. Sessions said that journey puts the children at risk. Trump inherited the issue and is working on it. JMVHO
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Patricia Jack
Boulder City NV
Original Message:
Sent: 06-18-2018 05:08 PM
From: Ellen Cogan
Subject: Separating young children from families seeking asylum
As a lifelong member of NAEYC, I am calling on all members to ask that our national organization join with others to demand a swift end to traumatizing young children at our borders. There is no law that says that families seeking asylum must be separated. If we don't defend and protect children, we don't deserve to exist as an organization.
Ellen Cogan
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Ellen Cogan
Hilltop Early Childhood Services
Hartsdale NY
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