ERIC Number: EJ1129407
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Mar
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0042-0972
EISSN: N/A
"If You Need Help, They Are Always There for Us": Education for Refugees in an International High School in NYC
Mendenhall, Mary; Bartlett, Lesley; Ghaffar-Kucher, Ameena
Urban Review: Issues and Ideas in Public Education, v49 n1 p1-25 Mar 2017
This qualitative study examines how an "international" high school in New York City responds to the needs of refugee students. It asks: "What are the specific academic needs of secondary-level refugee students? How does one school meet their needs, and what challenges are encountered?" To complement one-on-one semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, this qualitative study also entailed a participatory visual methodology through which students were provided digital or disposable cameras and asked to take photographs of the people, places and/or things that contributed to their schooling experiences. The exercise and resulting images provided students and researchers with a creative way to shape the project and address emerging issues. The findings document key school-based factors that contribute to academic inclusion of refugee and asylee students, including: educator support, care and encouragement; linguistic support from teachers; learner-centered pedagogical approaches; and flexible and responsive curricular approaches and assessment strategies. Refugees are generally grouped with other immigrants, with insufficient attention to their unique experiences and needs and thus inadequate services for refugee children. The findings from this study will help to remedy this gap and yield important insights regarding how to improve schooling for vulnerable populations in urban settings.
Descriptors: Qualitative Research, Urban Schools, High Schools, Refugees, Student Needs, High School Students, Semi Structured Interviews, Focus Groups, Photography, Student Experience, Educational Environment, Teacher Student Relationship, Teacher Role, Student Centered Learning, English Language Learners, Curriculum Development, Evaluation Methods, International Schools
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York (New York)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A