LatinUrban dot ca wrote:

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X4v13r wrote: Largely because of emotional and behavioural problems, many Latin American children and parents experience difficulty in their adjustment to Canadian schools. The parents' own difficulties in adjustment and the problem of communication with the school are the major barriers to happy, successful schooling. This is so true thnx for sharing Danny1800. X@vier Could that be the reason why many Latino parents began naming their kids: John, Henry, steve, Michael, Daisy and so on. Maybe they thought giving their kids anglo names would help them fit in more. Any body care to share their thoughts on tis one?

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 I listened on  Voces Latinas a latina lawyer who against all odds obtained her lawyer's degree.

She said that in high school they didn't take her seriously and advice her to become a flyer attendant or graphic designer; and a University professor told her that law was a very competitive field, and that was all he told her; she was there hopping to get advice.  That must have been discoraging but she continued studying hard and finally became a lawyer.

 I once met a biologist who came from Europe as a child, he said that we immigrants have to work and study harder than the rest; he said that as a kid he was mocked and harassed and that his parents work very hard and he used to help them peeling potatoes before going to school.  Nowadays, he and some of his university friends own a research lab and also makes pharmaceuticals, and synthetise drugs and other chemical for their clients.

 Yeap, our youth should work hard and study hard, that seems to be the only way to get ahead in the educational system. 

Thanks Danny for bringing up something i have been neglecting lately.

“In 1970, in the combined school systems of Toronto and Montréal, there were 342 students from Latin America.”

To those of us who remember being an elementary school in the late seventies and eighties. There were few of us Latinos. I remember being the only Latino in class until I reached high school where there was one other kid from Columbia.

But another part of that link is very interesting:

“Largely because of emotional and behavioural problems, many Latin American children and parents experience difficulty in their adjustment to Canadian schools. The parents' own difficulties in adjustment and the problem of communication with the school are the major barriers to happy, successful schooling.”

Immigrating to a foreign country is difficult especially on children. Many political refugees from Central and South America had a hard time being in exile. An unsteady home life left many children with emotional problems. We can see some of the consequences of that upbringing in our present community.

Thank you Danny,

I'm surprised at this quote

'In 1970, in the combined school systems of Toronto and Montréal, there were 342 students from Latin America. By the 1980s their number had climbed to 9738.'

I suppose they are referring to post secondary schools but even then 342 seems small for 1970.  We've come a long way.