Smart Talk: Lancaster schools sued by refugees; DNC wrap-up
What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, July 29, 2016:
Turmoil around the world, specifically in the Middle East, is leaving many people displaced and seeking a new home. Conflicts arose as different sides, in the United States and Europe, argued both for whether to accept or turn away refugees. Despite the controversy, the U.S. plans to take a maximum of 85,000 refugees during the 2016 fiscal year. But once they’ve been screened and accepted, what happens to refugees in the United States?
They integrate. They begin to live their lives in the United States. In part, that involves their children attending school wherever they’ve settled. The School District of Lancaster, which enrolls approximately 500 refugees annually, was recently sued by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of six student refugees. The suit alleges that school officials unfairly forced the students into the Phoenix Academy, an institution which is described as using “boot-camp-style discipline,” and having less English language education, resulting in several student refugees dropping out. Joining us Friday to discuss the suit and her recent article detailing the situation is Emily Previti, a WITF reporter for Keystone Crossroads.
Also, WITF’s Radio Pennsylvania reporter Rachel McDevitt joins us on Friday. Rachel spent the past week in Philadelphia covering the Democratic National Convention. Rachel wraps up the week for us including her take on Hillary Clinton’s nomination acceptance speech.
