[This story first appeared in the January 4, 2002, issue of The Sampan newspaper, published by the Asian American Civic Association in Boston, and is being reprinted here with their permission. We would also be interested in publishing other stories in which students reflect on their experiences with advocacy during the recent budget crisis.--Ed.]
Adult immigrant students in Massachusetts got more than they bargained for when they fought against the proposed cut in Adult Basic Education. Not only did they help get most of the money restored (when the supplemental budget was signed on Dec. 19), they also got a crash course in local politics.
For those unfamiliar with what happened, the proposed state budget crammed through right before Thanksgiving contained a 44% cut for ABE (about $13 million would be gone). ABE includes English-as-a-second-language for immigrants, GED programs, literacy classes, and other basic education courses for adults. The Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education informed ABE program coordinators all over the state of the cut and sent them almost daily updates. MCAE also informed the ABE coordinators of how to fight the cut. Teachers of ABE and their students quickly followed MCAE's advice and organized to get the money back. Here in Chinatown, ABE teachers at the Asian American Civic Association and the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center helped their students write to legislators and call representatives and even march to the State House.
"There was a very well-organized response. People mobilized and went to the State House. It became apparent that it was very important that the money get restored," said Paul Wingle, a special assistant to Senate President Tom Birmingham, of the protest against the ABE cuts. He said that the receptionist at the Senate President's office estimated that about 1,000 calls concerning ABE came in a day. "We haven't even counted the number of letters yet," Wingle said. In this story, you will meet the Chinatown ABE teachers and students who helped in the statewide effort to get the money restored.
"Despite the horror of potentially losing our classes (from the budget cut), it was really inspirational seeing this population, which is usually seen as quiet and not active (politically), making an unquestionable difference (in helping to get the money restored)," said Maryana Huston, the ABE English-as-a-second-language program director at the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. "The state made a big mistake waking up this group," said Stan Kaplan, an Adult Basic Education ESL teacher also at BCNC. The two said they had never participated in such a large campaign before. They said they first notified staff and kept them updated about the budget and told the students what was going on. "I went around and talked to many of the classes. (I told them) we're going to fight this. The students were ready (to help)," Huston said. "I told my students to call and write their representatives," Kaplan said. "The students were more nervous about losing their ESL courses than calling their representatives."
Richard Goldberg, an ABE English-as-a-second-language teacher at the Asian American Civic Association, said he did the same. "It was pretty clear that we would need to write letters, make phone calls and visit the State House," Goldberg said. "I told my students very frankly and clearly what was going on. First we talked about some vocabulary, like 'budget' and 'restore,' and then we put it in the context of their life. We let students know that this fight is winnable. They knew what they were doing (when they started protesting the cut). We didn't make them. No one rejected it. This was a great civics lesson. It was something real."
"I was sad, upset," said Lily Zhou, an ABE student taking English-as-a-second-language at the AACA. "My teacher told me that a lot of money was being cut from ABE and that it would be a big problem for us. At that time I wondered if protesting was worth it. I thought it would be hopeless." Zhou came to the United States from China less than a year ago. She was planning to enter her final ESL course at the AACA in the spring, but wouldn't be able to do so if the cuts stood. Zhou said that though she had never participated in any sort of protest before, and that it is mostly illegal to do so in her home country, she wasn't nervous about writing her legislator or going to the State House because it was a group effort. "It worked," she said, adding that she's now more interested in U.S. local politics.
James Huang, who came to the U.S. from China two years ago, also takes English ABE courses at the AACA. "If the state cut the ABE money, then I wouldn't have a chance to study English anymore," Huang said. "It's not only for me, but also for my people. I know that if I want to live in the U.S., I need to improve my English. I thought, if I can do something to help get the money restored, then I wanted to do it. I wanted to take responsibility." Huang wrote a letter to his legislator and even talked about the budget cuts on a Malden public access show. "I learned not to only accept the government's decision. I will have my own voice. Here is open to my voice. In China, the government is the government and the people are the people. Here there is interaction. It is possible to be involved."
Bik Sim Lam was finishing her last ABE English course at the AACA and would not have been directly affected by the cuts. But she still participated in the protest by writing and going to the State House. She said she did it because she "wants all the immigrants to be able to study English." She came here from Hong Kong in 1986. She said that if the ABE classes didn't exist and she had to pay for expensive tuition-based ESL programs, she would have likely put off learning English. She said she had never protested before, but for this cause she did and would do it again.
Man-Chok Tin, who came here from Hong Kong 11 months ago and who is also studying ABE English at the AACA, even talked to Birmingham's aide, Colin Mahoney. He told him the importance of ABE. "I was very sad when I found out that ABE was (going to be) cut. I just came here from Hong Kong. I wanted to learn English. If I don't have good English, I can't survive. We had to have a voice. Like I said in my letter to Birmingham (he wrote to Birmingham asking for the ABE money to be restored): If you didn't have an education, how could you do what you do (Mr. Birmingham)?"
"I don't have any experience writing in English," said Alex Chow, who came here from Hong Kong 14 years ago and is in the AACA's ABE English course. "So, I let my oldest son look at my letter (to Thomas Finneran) to check the grammar. I worked on my letter for four nights. I didn't feel so good when I found out the budget was being cut. Right now the economy is pretty tough. But we are the taxpayers. We work and pay taxes. If my English is not good, I can't find a good job to support my family."
Most of the calls to representatives were scripted. The ABE teachers helped the students, some of whom could hardly speak English, figure out what to say and then to write down whether or not that representative committed to restoring the money. "I was so impressed by the students. There were hundreds of people calling," Huston said. "They didn't seem nervous about doing it," Kaplan said. "I see the students (in general) have trouble making phone calls, and they did it. I sent the most willing students to make the calls first. Then they came back the next day and told the class. That inspired the rest to do it."
As for the letter writing, teachers at the AACA and BCNC told the students to make basic points--that they wanted the money restored--but not to simply copy one format. Here are some excerpts from letters from students of both organizations:
"Dear Senator Birmingham: I'm an immigrant. English is very important for me. I need to study more English to help me live in the U.S.A. Now you cut the budget for Adult Education. I'm very angry. I hope you can give us a chance (to) learn English."
"Dear Mr. Finneran: Everybody says I am very smart. If you can restore the budget to (help me) continue my study(ing), I will do excellent work and volunteer in the community in the future."
"Dear Thomas Finneran: Every year I pay the school taxes for education. Now, the state government (is going to) cut the (adult basic) education budget. (They're going) to save the money for what? The Big Dig?"
"Dear Mr. Finneran: I came to the United States two years ago. I wanted to make a good life and have more opportunities to broaden my horizons in the future. Therefore I decided to come to the United States. My parents and I had many difficulties because of the different cultures and languages. I also had a hard time finding a job. At this moment ABE (is) close to me and is my only hope in the United States. I learn about the American culture and some basic computer and English skills in ABE every day."
How did the folks at the State House respond? "I think on some level it was gratifying to see such a response from new immigrants," said Wingle, special assistant to Birmingham. "It was a good demonstration (to them) on how American politics work."