Immigration

http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss

I have not looked at any one individual school and how they are portraying immigration but at the Californian State Board of Education who issue comprehensive guidelines on learning outcomes for children through all subjects. In the History-Social Science standards introduction immigration is shown to be significantly important right away,

'They recognize that America's ongoing struggle to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution is the struggle to maintain our beautifully complex national heritage of e pluribus unum.'

This significance is re-enforced by the fact that students are to be introduced to the concept that a diverse population with a varied ancestry is a positive thing that makes America great in the First Grade (ages 6-7). Discussing issues to do with immigration with children so young creates an awareness of the importance of it in both a historical and contemporary sense.

Throughout the varying aspects of history and through the Grades, immigration is discussed in relation of cause and effect to virtually all major American events. Each and every time when it is discussed it's shown in a positive light as a quintessential factor that has made America great.

The amount about immigration taught is probably due to the fact that these standards are for California, a state with a large immigrant population, and as such perhaps there would be less influence of it in other states.

These standards are also slightly dated now having been issued in 1998 and though immigration from Latin America was high then in the years since it has increased massively so perhaps there might be a need for more teachings relating to that issue.