Unfortunately. the child was dying on Saturday. Mr. President. the fate of this child is all too typical of what such an existence does to the children of hapless. helpless migrant workers. Because there is no one to care for the children while their parents are laboring in the fields. many of them must work also. Being constantly on the move. the children cannot stay long enough in one place to receive an adequate education. Thirty percent of all migrant childien have less than 8 years of education. 40 percent. less than 11 years. If they survive their early childhood they are virtually doomed to repeating the dismal life ol their parents. t" The fact is that 17 percent of migrant workers today are functional illiterates. Half are under 25 years of age and onefourth of them are between 14 and 17. Because of their youth or lack of education. most migrant workers and their youngsters have no awareness or interest in the political process. They move from county to county. and from State to State. They have no Representatives. or Senators in the State legislatures or in the U.S.
Identified stereotypes
Migrant children are doomed to repeat the lives of their parents due to lack of education and opportunities.