Illegal to go to School

Throughout the history of the higher education institution there have been several time frames when certain individuals were kept out of the classes due to social requirements. The most familiar of these time frames being the era when women were kept out of the classroom and when people of color were not allowed on campus. Yet there is another highly controversial time frame occurring in America today. It involves students whose current legal status is categorized as “illegal.”

It doesn’t matter what side of the argument that you might be on, there is something larger to discuss here than simply “allowing” one class of individuals to enroll in class or not. It is the cloud of social norm and the ideas that are instilled in to the minds of the mass majority that make this issue such an interesting one. Where are the ideas coming from? How is it that we accept them so casually and side on them so passionately?

You may find yourself on the side that such “aliens” shouldn’t be allowed into colleges, and you may believe you have hard evidence and statistics that support your ideas. Yet, have you ever stopped to ask yourself what makes your point of view the right choice?

A hundred years ago, if someone had asked you if women or people of color should be allowed in your local college institutions you may have sided on keeping them out. That is, if you were on the voting side pool of wealthy white males. Your answer may have been quite different if you were one; a woman, two; a person of color or lastly; both. Very few times would individuals side against themselves or make a choice that could potentially affect them in the future. We see this across many issues that are circulating especially with the presidency candidates and upcoming election. People side on the side that best suites them, but where is the breaking point?

If you answer is in the majority rules idea, you may just have a point. Maybe you will even be surprised at the changes that are occurring in the population growth in the country and soon expect for laws to change. Immigrants that have found their way to this country for many different reasons usually bring the young with them. These children enter the educational system at an early age and adopt the American dream as their own. Yet, many of them hit a major roadblock after high school graduation. Both lack of financial support and legal hindrances keep them from obtaining a higher level of education.

Just how we have seen a change in public opinion about women and people of color in schools, maybe someday soon we will be able to witness a change in the higher education institution to allow students in every state in the United States to attend the college of their choice regardless of legal status.