Malign neglect: School systems fail immigrant students

Malign neglect: School systems fail immigrant students

Author: Ethical Schools September 24, 2021 Duration: 27:30

We welcome back Stephanie Carnes, a school social worker who has worked extensively with Central American immigrant students and their families. School systems are designed for homogenous student populations, rather than the diverse reality.  Despite new immigrants’ high motivation levels, they often fail for lack of support. School social workers could help design asset-based programs but often aren’t given a seat at the table.

Overview

00:00-00:48 Intros
00:48-02:34 Pandemic magnified structural inequities of American school system
02:34-09:05 Education system fails Central American immigrant students
09:05-13:08 What school districts can do
13:08-16:30 Collaborative system redesign needed
16:30-17:46 Collaborative vs. siloed school environments
17:46-19:31 What individual teachers can do
19:31-21:35 In a survey, BIPOC school social workers reported lower burnout levels than white social workers
21:35-23:00 Monocultural and bicultural identities
23:00-25:40 Confusion and conflict in schools about role of social worker
25:40-27:30 Outro

Transcript

Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.

References

Click here to listen to our first interview with Stephanie Carnes “Post-traumatic growth and resilience: Creating safe environments for Central American immigrant children”.


Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 240

Ethical Schools
Podcast Episodes
Global Conversations: Nature, Place, and Education, Salon #3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
We share brief presentations from the third of the “Saturday Salons” that Ethical Schools is sponsoring with three international partners. Kerry Kirk Pflugh is the executive director of the New Jersey School of Conservat…
School Choice: Who Does the Choosing? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
We welcome back Dr. Ujju Aggarwal, assistant professor at The New School, to speak about her book, Unsettling Choice: Race, Rights, and the Partitioning of Public Education. In Unsettling Choice, Dr. Aggarwal focuses on…
Global Conversations: Nature, Place, and Education, Salon #2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:46
We share brief presentations from the second of the “Saturday Salons” that Ethical Schools is sponsoring with three international partners. Sherry Johnson, Tribal Education Director of the Sisseton-Wahpeton-Oyate (South…
Trump cutbacks and policies: stripping minority student protections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:18
We speak with Derek Black, Constitutional law professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, about the impact of Trump administration’s policies on students’ civil rights. Department of Education offices me…
Global Conversations: Nature, Place, and Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
We share brief presentations from the first of the “Saturday Salons” that Ethical Schools is sponsoring with three international partners. Juan Mora of the Center for Artistry and Scholarship and Ramji Raghavan of Agasty…
Pop culture literacies: Engaging students in critical analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
We speak with Dr. Mia Hood, author of Pop Culture Literacies: Teaching Interpretation, Response, and Composition in a Digital World, about analyzing popular music and films along with more traditional literature. Dr. Hoo…
Join our Global Saturday Salons! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46
Collaborate with teachers and learners worldwide! LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT GLOBALCONVERSATIONS.NET Along with our partner organizations – Agastya International Foundation, Center for Artistry and Scholarship, and Think…
The pioneers: Democracy front and center (Part Two) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
We speak with Deborah Meier and Jane Andrias, pioneers in the democratic small-school movement. Debbie founded the Central Park East Schools. Jane Andrias was an art teacher and principal at Central Park East I. Debbie a…
The pioneers: Democracy front and center (Part One) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:51
We speak with Deborah Meier and Jane Andrias, pioneers in the democratic small-school movement. Debbie founded the Central Park East Schools. Jane Andrias was an art teacher and principal at Central Park East I. Debbie a…