The state’s age limitation policy forces many immigrant students to seek alternative education programs.
Ibrahim Hirsi / Wellstone International High School, Minneapolis
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Star Tribune
Abdirizak Mohamed, a Somali-born student who came to the United States two years ago, was told he can’t return to Wellstone High because he will turn 21 in November. Mohamed’s counselor, Daniel Hertz, explained that Mohamed was a dedicated and steadfast student. With a GPA of 3.6, he ranked fifth in a class of 75.
“We like the students a lot, and we’d like to keep them. It is difficult for us to tell them that they have to move on. The state only funds K-12 education until age 21,” Hertz said.
“When I was told to leave the school, I felt desperate and hopeless,” said Mohamed, who would enter the 10th grade next year. “I couldn’t believe my ears. You know how it feels when somebody tells you to leave a place where you love and learn? I wanted to … become a graduate of Minneapolis Public High Schools.”
Even though Mohamed is leaving Wellstone High, he is planning to attend adult education classes through another program. But he may have fewer course options.
Pam Coftain, a candidate for Minneapolis school board who works for Wellstone Action, a political action group, thinks the age limitation policy is wrong.
“I believe this is a bad public policy, because many immigrant students need more time to achieve their high school goals, and they should be at school with their peers,” she said.
An estimated 60 to 80 students in Minneapolis high schools are required to leave the schools each year because of age. Twenty-five this year are at Wellstone High, the most for any school. Wellstone’s rate is higher because it has a high number of immigrant students with no basic education from their home countries, and many times they don’t begin their formal education until they are 18 or older.
Barry Shaffer, state director of Adult Basic Education, thinks forcing the students to leave high school at 21 is a bad idea. “No, it is not a good thing for schools to tell the students to go when they reach 21 and they still want more education, but there are free opportunities for these students to continue to work on their diploma through an adult basic education program,” he said. For now, it’s unlikely the Legislature will extend the age limit because of limited educational resources available to support a longer school attendance period, he said.
“Despite the hardships I have undergone back home, the U. S. government is discouraging us to fulfill our dreams,” said Mohamed, who hopes to become a math teacher. But he says he won’t be denied. “No matter what they say, I will go to adult education program or will prepare [for a] GED [General Educational Development diploma],” Mohamed said.
Source: Star Tribune, July 4, 2006
