Class Discussion: In journals and/or as a class discussion, address the following: How do the facts from the handouts match your predictions? Are there any surprises? How do you think immigration impacts your community? Opinion poll: In a recent Pioneer Press/Minnesota Public Radio poll (September 23, 2004), 49 percent of participants said that immigrants help the economy by providing labor for jobs that would otherwise go unfilled. But by a narrow margin, 42 percent to 37 percent, Minnesotans said the cost of helping immigrants begin their new life outweighs their economic, social and other contributions.
| Optional Extension |
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| Handout 7.4: “Unity in Diversity” brings out the complex issue of cultural assimilation. Set up a classroom debate on the topic of “Do immigrants embrace or resist mainstream American life?” Students conduct research on both sides of the issue and present the information in two teams. |