Three University of Alabama students have joined forces to tackle the issue of Hispanic children adapting slowly to new customs. Erin Shirley, Wilson Boardman and Laura Dover worked together on forming a program that focuses on helping these children cope with American culture.
After attending Alabama Action, a service learning project for incoming freshmen in the UA Honors College, Shirley, a sophomore majoring in health care, and Boardman, a junior majoring in international business and Spanish, learned of needs in the community and recognized the lack of assimilation as a major one.
"We learned Hispanic children tend to fall behind in elementary school and ultimately end up dropping out because they start so far behind," Shirley said. "They go into kindergarten not speaking English and drop out, which leads to lower chances of getting a good job, and the crime rate increases."
Recognizing the situation as not only an issue for the Hispanic community, but for society as a whole, they decided to take action. "We wanted to do something about it," Shirley said.
The two got together with Dover, a junior majoring in philosophy and Spanish.
"We met with a lot of our mentors, and Laura, who is actually from the Blackburn Institute, and ended up getting funding for the program from the Daniel Scholars' Grant," Shirley said.
The Blackburn Institute, housed within the UA Office of Student Affairs, is a community of current and former students who engage in community service.
The Daniel Scholars' Grant, issued through Blackburn, is given to support student initiatives, and provides funding for two years.
"All the programs the grant has started have eventually picked up their own funding," Shirley said.
With the funding established, the Hispanic children get to learn expense free.
"They get free breakfast, free lunch and free transportation," Shirley said.
"My fulfillment has been having them come in speaking completely in Spanish, and now us being able to speak to the whole class in English," she said. "Even if they don't respond in English, they are better understanding of the language. It's amazing how fast they learn at that age, and how fast they soak up English.
"The kids have gotten so acclimated to the setting of school, from standing in line to washing their hands. It's the littlest things that will help them make progress in kindergarten. It's been amazing."
The state allowed 12 children from Tuscaloosa City Schools to participate in the program, the Hispanic Jumpstart Program, which began on June 4. The kids attend from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. They've been working out of Alberta Elementary School with the student tutors.
"We hope to eventually start a year-round preschool program," Shirley said, "but we know you've got to start small to have results."
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