Ryan lely/Sonoma Valley Sun
Left, Jesus Guzman, right, Mario Hurtado
El Sol de Sonoma
On May 15, some 125 Sonoma Valley High School students left class and marched on the sidewalks along Broadway to Sonoma’s plaza to rally against such things as a recent decision by the Santa Rosa Junior College Board that could make college tuition more expensive for immigrants.
Jesús Guzman and Mario Hurtado, two Sonoma Valley High School students who are friends, helped organize the rally.
According to them, May 15 was not an excuse to cut school.
“It’s important that people know that what happened that Tuesday was not an excuse to get out of school. We traded a chemistry, English or history class for an immigration class, since that day we spread a lot of information among the students. They learned that, sometimes, we need to raise our voices in order to be heard,” Guzman said.
Guzman thinks that decision of the Santa Rosa Junior College Board not to give students who do not pass California’s high school exit exam the opportunity to apply for in-state tuition discriminates against Latino students.
“Many of the American students, who speak the language, can’t pass the test. So how do they expect students who have lived here a short time and are learning English to pass it?” asked Guzman. “I’m not saying that they can’t, but it is important to make clear that they have a disadvantage.
“We Latinos are affected because we have not mastered the language. Other community groups, such as African-Americans, do not have as many problems defending their rights, because they all speak the language. We, on the other hand, find ourselves with a language barrier,” said Guzman.
Guzman arrived in the United States along with his mother 16 years ago – his dad was already here – and attended elementary school in Petaluma and Santa Rosa.
“Changing schools constantly because of my father’s work affected my education,” is one thing Guzman remembers about his education.
“Many Latinos come to this country out of necessity. My parents had to leave school very young to work and earn something to give us. When I had to do my homework, sometimes my parents couldn’t help me. Even when I went up to my dad and talked to him about high school and about my future in the university, he could not help me. To me, that is also a disadvantage because you have parents wanting to help and support you, but sometimes they can’t,” said Guzman.
When asked what was more important to them, their family or their education, they answered family.
Guzman said, “My family. Because without them I would not have an education. Several people have told me that in this country you don’t get anywhere without an education, and I know it. What these people don’t understand is that the situation for undocumented students is different. Just think for a minute, what happens to the education of a 10-year-old kid when his parents are deported to Mexico?
“Most likely, the student’s education is interrupted, or finished. That is why we go out and protest in support of an immigration reform that keeps families united and legalizes illegal workers.”
Hurtado wants to become an architect. Guzman wants to study philosophy and law at the University of Berkeley, California.
