Sunday, November 25, 2007

Immigration Day

This week, the fifth grade had an Immigration Simulation.
Each child was given a name, age and country of origin and then "sailed" to America.  
Christian was 31 year old Paolo Cantoloni from Italy.  Once on Ellis Island, they were processed through Immigration.  There was a medical exam and a legal exam and, if needed, even a mental exam!  They waited in long lines to go through these exams and based on their answers to the examiner's questions, either passed or failed.  The immigrants were checked for lice, scoliosis, and eye disease (and several other exams that I wasn't even sure about) at the medical station. Then at the Legal Exam, each was asked about his plans in this country and had to pay a processing fee of $10. Unfortunately, while they were in the long line, some less than honest immigration workers offered to move them to the head of the line for...you guessed it...$10.  Of course, when they got to the legal exam, they were not able to pay their processing fee and were deported.  There were also immigrants who were detained based on their answers to some of the questions.  But most, including Christian, passed both exams and were able to enter America, where they ate graham crackers and drank milk (since America is the Land of Milk and Honey!) and got to watch An American Tail movie.  The poor deportees were stuck in the Deportation Room and were forced to do math worksheets (ugh!)  The kids were really nervous!  And it was very funny to hear their answers to some of the questions we volunteer examiners asked.  Their answers were based on their studies, and were not given to them before the simulation.  I think they really learned a lot...especially the poor deportees!  There were lots of high fives and shouts going to America...and even some tears on the way to deportation.  

Lining up to "board" the ships

It was really cramped in steerage!

the Medical Exam

The Legal Exam

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