By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – A Normal Community High School teacher said immigrant students often keep to themselves at school and don’t join extra-curricular activities to avoid drawing attention to their families.
Some of their relatives might be undocumented immigrants, and NCHS social studies teacher Pat Lawler said if the Unit 5 school board proclaims the district safe and welcoming for all, kids might feel they don’t have to keep such a low profile to protect loved ones.
“The easiest way for them to avoid that is to just never put themselves out there, never join extracurriculars that might get their name in the newspaper,” said Lawler.
“So passing this resolution, I think, does send a very positive message to those students and kind of encourages them to get involved,” Lawler added.
The resolution, set for a final school board vote Nov. 8, said agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are not welcome to conduct investigations on school grounds.
The resolution states that ICE’s presence at Unit 5 schools would disrupt educational activities.
Board President Jim Hayek said Unit 5 already creates safe and welcoming schools, but Hayek says he’s happy to support the measure if it makes people feel more safe and secure.
No board members have voiced opposition to the measure.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].
