Immigrant children are vital to our future

Have you ever wondered why some lawmakers want numbers on immigrant students one year and other years they don't?

Three years ago some lawmakers resisted the federal government's method of determining the number of minority students regarding No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Some were ready to turn down federal funding rather than give in to the feds. This year, some changed their minds and ordered an audit to determine the cost of educating undocumented students, telling us they wanted it so they can get federal funds.

The reason one legislator wanted the information was to evaluate spending on education, adding, "Maybe we are not charging enough income tax." Can you imagine any lawmaker wanting an audit in order to raise taxes? Is it really to get money from the feds and to consider raising taxes, or is it for political posturing? Where there is such inconsistency, it leaves voters in a quandary and mistrustful of their elected leaders.

Seems legislators want the "ultimate" data when it comes to looking at issues affecting the powerless, while not hesitating to spend tax dollars on soccer stadiums without adequately studying the matter.

Voters understand policymaking is tough business, but they deserve it to be done by first asking how it promotes the public good, that it be done fairly and consistent with community values.

I confess my bias on the matter, as I was one of those children sitting in our public school classrooms years ago, struggling to speak English. So, when I see legislators trying to make political hay out of the education of the most vulnerable children in our schools, I am saddened. I was born and raised in this state and was proud of the values and high moral ground for which we were known.

We learned about values in our homes, churches and in our schools that formed the Utah character. We played on the school grounds with kids from all ethnic backgrounds, many speaking in broken English learned from immigrant parents — Italian, Greek, Syrian, German. Somehow, our station in life did not matter. We were told we were all children of God.

The most disturbing aspect of hunting for undocumented children is it erodes the moral high ground we in Utah take great pride in maintaining — caring for the less fortunate among us, and the dignity and worth of every individual. It is those principles that hold our nation together and created a government that allows the dreams and talents of all to flourish. We built institutions to perpetuate those principles — government, religions, schools and families.