Latest news with #RiversideElementarySchool
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Common sense but true: Don't let people who hate America move here
I pledge allegiance, to the flag . . . I heard those strange words for the first time at Riverside Elementary School in 1976, as a First Grader who had just moved to the United States with my family. I learned quickly how to say the words, but it took me much longer to learn what they mean. Like Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington, I was born English but chose to become an American. I took US history in middle and high school, got a degree in history, and later taught American history to 8th and 11th graders. But though I knew the names and dates, nothing taught me to love my country like spending half my life outside of it, including 23 years as a US diplomat in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The singularity of American freedom and opportunity is best proven through comparison. Like many other Americans who came here legally and became citizens, nothing rankles me more than seeing disrespect, ingratitude, and even homicidal violence from some who have been granted the opportunity to come here — or allowed to remain despite coming illegally. You'd figure the least they could do would be to obey our rules and respect our culture and values. Watching Columbia University and other supposed elite institutions become hot-beds of radical protest and support for antisemitism and terrorist violence has been painful. It's bad enough when the ill-informed youth are home-grown, but when foreign students here on visas are leading the charge, it's too much to take. So, we shouldn't – and we don't have to. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent announcement that he will interpret our visa laws to keep out those who would steal our secrets, undermine our democracy, or obstruct our foreign policy abroad, is cheering news. Law enforcement officials at the scene of the terror attack in Boulder. AP Photo/David Zalubowski He's suggesting nothing new – our immigration law already contains many ineligibilities both statutory and discretionary, which he can wield. All across the developed West, the same crisis is playing out: who gets to decide who comes in, and who stays? Does our citizenship have any value? Do we ask nothing in exchange? The global Left does not believe in borders. They think anyone, anywhere should be allowed to live where they want. When they get there, the Left believes they should get all the rights of citizens – health care, education, welfare, and even the vote. For them, under no circumstances should a foreigner – invited or not, criminal or not – ever be evicted. This is a recipe for national suicide, and it's a choice we should reject. On Sunday, an Egyptian illegal immigrant attempted to kill several American Jews in Boulder, Colorado by burning them alive. It appears the man entered the US with a tourist visa in 2022, which would have allowed him to come for six months tops. He overstayed, like maybe half a million other foreigners do every year and then claimed asylum so he wouldn't be kicked out. He was given a work permit while he waited years for his immigration case to work through the system. This kind of 'defensive' asylum claim is the easiest ploy for someone, even with no credible case, to remain here. Millions of aliens are waiting in processing backlogs, most of them with cases that don't qualify. Millions more entered illegally over land and were released by DHS when Joe Biden was president, with the administration encouraging them to all claim asylum. Soliman is in the country illegally. AP As Lora Ries and I argued in a recent Heritage report, it's time we reformed our asylum and refugee process so that it prioritizes American interests, brings in a finite number of people that we can accommodate and assimilate, and ends the farce of mass economic migration based on fraud. At the same time, the State Department is right to use the wide discretion they already have under immigration law to more carefully screen those coming in on visas, for whatever purpose. Anyone likely to be coming to foment political unrest should be denied — particularly students, who will stay for years. If visitors or students become undesirable after they get here, they should be sent home. Actively working against American basic values or foreign policy should be a negative factor in applications for legal permanent residence. The process should be real, not a rubber stamp. The bar for citizenship should be the highest of all — requiring not just a basic knowledge of civics, English, and history, but a proven love of this country, or at the very least no evinced hatred for it. We have enough domestic strife without importing the squabbles of the Middle East and the rest of the world. And though terrorism is the worst case of allowing in, or letting remain, people who harbor ill will towards our country or its people, every week brings examples of Americans robbed, raped, killed by drunk drivers, and even murdered by people who would not have been here if we had properly guarded our borders and enforced our laws. Just over a year ago, our Heritage Foundation Center for Border Security and Immigration started this visual map showing just a few examples of these preventable crimes. What started as a few spots has turned into a solid mass in some areas – like Massachusetts, whose governor seems to care more about the rights of illegal aliens than her own voters. No foreign national has a right to a US visa. Once they arrive, each visitor must do what he said he was coming here to do, and obey our laws. Some will learn to value this country enough to want to become Americans. Many of these will find a way, and they are welcome. But to preserve this unique society so many still want to join, we need to start according our country the singular value it deserves. Simon Hankinson is a senior research fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Center.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National literacy program launched at Riverside elementary school
MOOSIC — A national program providing free books to students was launched at Riverside Elementary East. Officials from publishing company Scholastic joined area legislators Thursday afternoon to kick off United States of Readers, a national literacy program run by Scholastic giving students in grades pre-K to eight in underresourced schools access to books of their choosing. Students get to select 10 books a year, with teachers receiving 25 books for their classroom. The books are free to all students. Judy Newman, Scholastic's chief impact officer, congratulated the assembled crowd of students in grades three to six and their teachers on being the first school district in the state to have the program and thanked state Rep. Jim Haddock, D-118, Pittston Twp., and state Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore, for their support. Both lawmakers stressed the importance of reading and shared their excitement about the program with the students. Haddock said reading and access to books are crucial for students to read at their grade level. The program will also encourage students to read for fun. 'You get to pick what you're going to read,' Flynn said. Children's book author Jerry Pallotta offered a presentation detailing his career, which began with reading to his four children. He also described how the ocean, fishing and boating trips in his native Massachusetts, as well as travels around the world, inspired his books — including his 'Who Would Win' book series, which compares the abilities of different animals. Pallotta told the students they can learn lots of information from books. The presentation concluded with teachers passing out copies of his book 'Who Would Win: Lobster vs. Crab' after the presentation, and Haddock, joined by students, unveiling boxes of books. Sixth graders Isabella Castro and London Ephraim are excited to have free books in their school. * State Sen. Marty Flynn speaks to students at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * State Sen. Marty Flynn speaks to students during the program at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * State Sen. Marty Flynn and state Rep. Jim Haddock listen to the program at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * State Rep. Jim Haddock greets third-grade student Michael Thorne before the program at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * State Rep. Jim Haddock speaks to students at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Childrens author Jerry Pallotta speaks to students at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Childrens author Jerry Pallotta speaks to students at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Students cheer during the program at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 8 State Sen. Marty Flynn speaks to students at Riverside Elementary School in Moosic Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand 'It's giving a lot of kids who don't have the money to buy books an opportunity to read what they want,' Castro said. They also like that it exposes them to different kinds of books. Officials at Scholastic launched the program in the fall, initially starting in Massachusetts, and plan to expand it to other districts in the state that receive federal Title I funds. Haddock said after the presentation he set aside $200,000 from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for the program. Riverside Superintendent Paul Brennan said the program, which started at Riverside Elementary East and West last month, has been good for the district. 'This is a really important literacy program. Senator Flynn and Representative Haddock really went out and found some funding for us to kick-start some of the literacy initiatives that the school board and myself and the principals have had,' he said. 'It's all high-quality books, and there's no price tag, which is the best.' Lawmakers have taken steps to help school districts provide better reading instruction, approving a bill last fall providing reading curriculums, screenings and teacher trainings in the science of reading.
