Large amounts of immigrants move into the US causing financial and educational strain

Today immigrants come from a plethora of different backgrounds. Most coming from Mexico, but many also migrate from the Philippines, China, India, Vietnam, El Salvador, Cuba, and Korea. The United States today is more diverse than ever before and this diversity continues to increase every
day. As a result, the diversity in such places as Northern Virginia is forever rising. In areas

image from latino.foxnews.com

surrounding the capital specifically, such as Virginia counties, Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William there has been a major boom of diversity, with the recent Hispanic migration as well as Asian. This movement has been occurring and increasing since the 1990s, but in recent months there has been major growth. In recent summer months, many people began sending their children to the United States as an attempt for refuge from bad situations in their home countries. As they came to the states with nowhere to go, the government sent them to designated states and areas, such as the Northern Virginia and Maryland region. As expert on migration and professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, Janelle Wong, points out as a positive in the midst of such a controversial social issue.

 
Contrary to what many believe there is some positivity within major areas of immigration

Although many consequences come with this large wave of immigration and many adjustments must be made, everything isn’t all bad. With the large wave in immigration over recent decades, the population of multiethnic citizens has increased as well, which helps to mix tradition and culture. This actually helps to bring the region together and immigrants also open their own businesses, not only adding to the culture of the area, but also helping the United States’ economy.   The United States was built off of immigrants and diversity and this same structure can still be supported by more recent immigrants.  Also, as previously explained these people are hoping to gain refuge from coming to the United States, so from a humanitarian standpoint this is a very positive phenomenon.  When adding in all of these factors of course the politics must be reviewed.

Wong made it a point to mention the political standpoint on the issue and how the recent influx of young people from the Central American region have changed the viewpoints of many politicians regardless of political party.

The political response which has come from the recent wave of immigrants has been both negative and positive. 

The negative consequences that follow large Migration to the Northern Virginia region

The consequences for this rapid growth is now, more than ever, extremely prevalent. There has been a housing squeeze causing many people to have to move from their counties, as well as a major effects on education and schools within the area. There has been and will continue to be an increase on the financial strain of the government and the amount that must be spent continues to increase. This amount will jump rapidly, as can be seen by the graphic to the right, if illegal immigrants are in the future provided full amnesty in the US.  Aside from that, schools in the area now need more resources than ever, not only to fit all of these new students into the schools, but in order to be able to hire help for these students that do not speak
English. More programs must be put into place in order to help these students learn English and then learn the basic grade level material. These children have just been placed in a foreign environment with no parents or place to go after coming from strenuous living environments, so many feel that counseling should be offered. The focus of many school’s then has to be teach foreign students to read, write, and speak English. The program implemented in order to teach English called the English
for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program costs about $3,454 per student. So with this large increase in foreign students, you can see how it can put a financial strain on these counties and areas in general. Additionally, teachers must spend more time on more basic concepts with these foreign students which may become problematic for those students who have lived here all of their lives and understand the basics. Education is one of the main concerns of the large increase in immigration, especially with the people coming over being so many children.
Alas there has been little to no solution given for these new arising problems.  Expert Wong makes a general suggestion that for the sake of long term benefits, the United States learns to deal with these immigrants.

Anthony13

Senior Citizen Americans have adapted to the way of modern technology use, depending on their overall health, income, and education

The older age group of Americans surprisingly use more technology than one might initially think.  Although of course to no comparison of those within the teenage or child age group, who grew up in a predominantly digital age.  However, they have adopted the basic ways of technology such as getting on the internet and having a cell phone.  Technology use amongst senior citizens is based largely on exactly how old the person is, their level of education, and their level of overall mental and physical capability. 

 

Younger seniors with a higher education and income are more likely to use technology, but for different reasons than the younger generation

Seniors cannot all be grouped together, those who make more use of technology are normally younger than the age of 75, which is when technology use drastically falls off.  Even those who are just in their early 70s statistically use the internet and make use of technology more so than those that are 75 and above.  Moreover, about 90% of seniors with an annual household income of $75,000 or more go online and 82% have broadband at home. While those numbers drop 39% going online and 25% having broadband at home when the annual income is at $30,000 or less per year, all according to Pew Research Center.  Those seniors with a college degree are more likely to use go online as oppose to those who do not.  Nonetheless, seniors who go online do so more to read on an e-reader or tablet, rather than a smartphone for social media.  Some do use social networks, but it’s far less than the younger generation of course.  Only 27% of the older adult population use social network sites and these people have more constant communication with those they care about.

 

Although seniors have greatly adapted to new technology, they still fall behind the younger generation in technology adoption

As anyone would probably assume, despite the level of adoption and adaptation the older population has made in regards to technology use, those within a younger age group, particularly adults 18 and older, but younger than 65.  The majority of seniors, regularly use the internet, as well as use a cellphone, although slightly less have a broadband connection.  Several factors influence the use of technology by seniors and the large gap between their use and the use amongst the younger generations.  For one, their physical capabilities, or lack thereof, very often hinder their technology use.  Loss of eyesight keeps older people from using the internet or more high-tech phones because of the reading difficulty.  Additionally, older people, seeing as how they are not a generation that grew up with the same technology as is prominent now, have a harder time adjusting and learning to use the technology of today.  An overwhelming 77% of seniors, as reported by Pew Research Center, said they would need someone to help them and walk them through using newer technologies, such as smartphones.   However, once the older population is able to overcome these obstacles, most times internet and technology use ends up becoming a part of their daily life.  

What is "Good Interactivity"?

listen to ‘What is "Good Interactivity"?’ on audioBoom

1 in 5 children use mobile devices daily. Surprisingly 60% of 0-8 year olds in the US use them to read, but 58% use them to watch TV at least once per day.

This graphic is interesting because it shows a different side to the often criticized use of technology by young kids.  This data projects a brighter light on the "overuse" of technology by showing a large percentage of 0-8 year olds that use media to read or be read to, showing the educational support technology provides for young people.  Although, following close behind is watching TV, a healthy balance is brought to the forefront.

Study shows that email stands as the most common form of communication technology between students and professors, but of course cell phone and social networking top the list of students' communication amongst each other.

Data Breach

What I would share on social media is that there has been yet another data breach at another large retailer.  Home Depot has confirmed a data breach in Canadian and US stores.