• SAATNYA PEMUDA MADIUN BERKARYA !

    50 Million and Counting


    The U.S. Hispanic population has grown an astonishing 43 percent in the last decade and has hit a milestone of 50 million people, according to the Census Bureau.
    Recently, the Census Bureau released a compilation of data comparing 2010 to their last census in 2000. The new findings mean one out of every six Americans is Hispanic. With such high statistics, it is hard to ignore the question of how Hispanics will affect the American system, and one issue especially comes to mind: education.
    Hispanics have the highest dropout rates in the country, which runs the risk of the U.S. falling behind. According to the Spanish-speaking television network, Univision, currently, about one out of five children in our educational system is Hispanic. And one out of three Hispanic students does not graduate high school.
    We cannot allow this to continue. Students who drop out experience a variety of problems such as crime involvement, including gang violence, robberies and homicides. As crimes increase, the government must increase the money for public safety. Not only can we not afford to spend unnecessary capital during economic hardship, but the money could go elsewhere, such as investment for early childhood education, after-school programs and language development programs.
    We must also remember that if this generation of Hispanics continues to drop out at the current or increasing rate, it is more likely their kids would drop out as well. Thus there would be a vicious cycle driving the country to higher unemployment rates, higher deficits and a downward economic spiral.
    High dropout rates among Hispanics have been highly debated by many citizens, Latino leaders and public officials. Last week, at Harvard University, Latino leaders such as White House Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Cecilia Munoz, and Ambassador Jose H. Villarreal spoke about the importance of educating the Latino population and danger of falling behind if we fail to use the brain power of these 50 million Americans.
    It appears that President Obama is also well aware of the growing Hispanic phenomenon since his appearance on Univision, a Spanish-speaking television network, on March 28.The event, which took form in a town hall format, was conducted in Spanish and translated into English to reach a diverse group of Americans. Overall, the town hall forum highly focused on education and the role of Hispanics in our education system.
    The success of the Hispanic population in our country depends on a combination of sources. Parents, government, communities and students must all be willing to put in their part. Parents are the most influential factor in a child's education; therefore, it is critical that they are involved in it. The government must also create incentives to motivate teachers to reach their best potential. There should be programs established that facilitate learning English for those who are having difficulty. Communities must also play a big role. They must provide support and create after-school programs for children to eliminate involvement in criminal acts. Ultimately, Hispanic children must be motivated to learn and understand that it is their future that it's at risk.
    The Hispanic community is highly present within the U.S. and the outcome of Hispanic students will affect the rest of the nation. We need to better integrate this group of people so that our economy can grow and take advantage of the 50 million Hispanics currently present in the country. In a time of economic turmoil, we must unite as a country so that we are better able to move our country forward.

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