Poverty and constant mobility make it different for Farmworker children to create a different future for themselves. Constant mobility makes it hard for Farmworker children to complete a quality educational program.
Curriculum content varies greatly between schools and school districts. High numbers of mobile children arriving at different times of the year interfere with teachersŐ ability to organize and deliver instruction.
Research shows that children who move often are two and one half times more likely to repeat a grade than children who do not. Educators who work with migrant children say that 55 percent of migrant children graduate nationwide, compared with only 45 percent a few years ago. "Specifically if they are bilingual and are in grades Kindergarten, First grade and early age grades, the tendency to repeat grades is very high" says Tonda Boothby - teacher of Van Buren Intermediate School District, Michigan. " Students will also drop out before eigth grade. There is a big fall through". "These students will not be counted as drop out because school count for drop outs starts in night grade"
The US Department of Labor has found that most migrant farmworkers are married and have children. The familyŐs poverty dictates that all able family members work. In fact, agriculture is the only industry that allows workers under age 16.
Studies have shown that many children under age 12 continue to do farm work , regardless of the Farm Labor Standards Act which makes it illegal to work below age 12. "The law does allow children to work at age 12" says Manuel (Manny) Gonzales - Director of Migrant Programs - Michigan Department of Social Services. "...There should not be any excuse for keeping migrant children below the age of 12 in the fields." " they qualify for day care under DSS policy and definition." " I'm not against letting the children work a few hours in the field, that teaches them work ethic". "But we have to be careful is that they are not there all the time"
"The problem we have in Michigan is that we don't have enough centers available to serve the migrants". says Gonzales.
A 1990 study of migrant children working on farms in Western New York showed that a third of the children had been injured while working during the past year.
Because child care facilities are rarely available at migrant camps, many Farmworker children are present in the fields. This will expose children to pesticides on plants and in the dirt. Because children have a smaller body mass, consequences of pesticide exposure may be more severe.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 300,000 farmworkers suffer acute pesticide poisoning each year. Anecdotal reports from clinicians indicate that many cases of pesticide poisoning are un-reported because patients do not seek treatment, or are mis-diagnosed because the symptoms of pesticide poisoning can resemble those of viral infec.
Comparisons on the US east coast between the health status of migrant children and children from the general population, show that migrant children are almost three times more likely to be reported in fair or poor condition.
Differences in acculturation levels of parents and children place strain on the family. Some migrant children are forced to learn English quickly so that they can serve as negotiators for their family. These skills are required beyond expected for a childŐs age.
Migrant Farmworkers--Who are They?
Farmwork is a honorable job performed by many of our ancestors. It has been the means of family union for hundreds of years in the US. But now, because of our new information era, less Michigan native people select this job as their primary means of income.
Michigan and the entire US depends on farm workers to take care of the crops. It is estimated that 85 percent of all migrant workers are minorities, of whom most are Hispanic (including Mexican Americans as well as Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, and workers from Central and South America) The migrant population also include African-Americans, Jamaicans, Haitians, Laotians, Thais and other racial and ethnic minorities.
Recent studies show that some parts of the agricultural industry rely on undocumented workers. But, most migrant farmworkers are either American citizens or working in the country legally. They also generate more in taxes paid than they consume in services received. Illegal immigrants are not eligible to receive most forms of public assistance.
The Agricultural Economy
It would be impossible to support the multi-billion dollar fruit and vegetable industry in this nation. Migrants provide seasonal labor at critical periods in crop development. Farmworkers needed to hand -pick apples or peaches, harvest asparagus chiles, stake up tomatoes, dig potatoes or beets, or work in a packing plant.
Over the last decade more than 85 percent of fruits and vegetables produced in the US were hand harvested and/or cultivated. Domestic production of fruit and vegetable production has steadily increased over the last decade.
The majority of farmworkers earn annual wages of less than $7,500. This income has degreased 5 percent when its adjusted for inflation in the last 10 years. If, migrant farmworkers become disabled or reach retirement age, they are often unable to prove their claims for Social Security benefits.
Everyone benefits from farmworkers. Farmworkers are a tremendous national resource, often taken for granted. Their hand work brings food to your table. Next time you are traveling and see the migrants working in the fields, think about the wonderful job they are performing for all of us. They are not a burden, they are an asset to out state and nation.
