Speech #910161862

Mr. Speaker. migrant children are constantly pulled away from education with the turn of the crops. The Sodus migrant project at Sodus Central School in Wayne County. N.Y.. has gone a long way to develop the potential of these migrant children and to encourage the continuation of their education. Migrant children attend Sodus Central School from September through November. During these months. college students from New York State University College at Oswego help with the migrant children and attempt to supply some of the special and individualized attention that a teacher with a regular class might not be able to offer. The migrant children are not taught in separate classes. They join the regular class and become a cohesive part of the unit. The teachers feel that the college students bring to the class a new enthusiasm. new ideas. and the extra help that is so desperately needed. As one teacher said: We learn so much more about these children with these (Oswego) students helping. They listen to them. get them talking. bring them out in a way we never could in so short a time with so many. Another said: The migrant child desperately needs help. He needs the special and individual attention that only an extra teacher or aid can give him. One teacher said the contribution made by the college student to the migrant child was "development of selfimage through discussions and projects. and the sense that someone cares." The success of this project calls attention to the fact that all efforts must be made to encourage such programs. It utilizes so many possible resources to improve education for the disadvantaged. I would like to share with my colleagues the evaluations of the Sodus migrant project as made by the teachers and college students. as follows: SoDus TEACHER RESPONSES 1. Question: If asked would you be willing to have the assistance of an Oswego college student during the Fall of 1970? Yes--No. Why or why not? All the teachers except one said they would be willing to have an Oswego student next fall. The general feeling was that the students in this program helped provide individual attention and more of a onetoone relationship with the migrant children than the classroom teacher could ever provide. A few of these same teachers enjoyed working with the students as they had some fresh. new ideas. The one negative comment said that it was a disadvantage to the migrant child who needs the security of one teacher and not the confusion created by extra helpers. "The student had time to work individually with the childrenwhich I would never have." "I can use their help and their fresh young ideas. I enjoy working with these young people." "I enjoy working with the college level student. and the exchanging of ideals is worthwhile. fun. and interesting." "They are eager and the personal touch that they are able to give is of great value." "It has been so worthwhile to have individual help for these children who are short term students for our school system." "Migrant children need much individual help and attention. Large classes prohibit teachers doing just this.. ." "I feel these children receive more of the individual help they need through the Oswego students." "They were of great assistance to the classroom teacher. The Oswego student gave the individual migrant much needed attention. allowing the classroom teacher to move forward at a normal speed with her regular class." "The Oswego students are able to work with the migrants on an individual basis giving them the attention and feeling of personal achievement they so badly need." "Migrants need onetoone contactl Our classrooms are too large for us to help them adequately." "The migrant children need more attention than is possible to give them in a class of 35." "The migrant children need a feeling of belonging and recognition of one teacher for security. The school is trying to help them. by having special help which is upsetting and confusing enough for them." "The migrant child desperately needs help. He needs the special and individual attention that only an extra teacher or aid can give him." "We learn so much more about these children with these helping. They listen to them. get them talking. bring them out in a way we never could in so short a time with so many." "I feel we need all the help we can get in order to reach the needs of the migrant child." "The migrant students get more out of the sessions with the Oswego student than out of whole class activities." "Their concern for these children is great and I am glad to be able to give them the opportunity to develop background experience for their teaching." 2. Question: Were you provided enough assistance by your school system? YesNo.