Hired Latinx Child Farmworkers in North Carolina: Educational Status and Experience Through a Social Justice Lens

Abstract

We examine the educational experience of Latinx hired child farmworkers in North Carolina, using a social justice framework. Qualitative ( n = 30) and quantitative ( n = 202) data collected among children ten to seventeen years of age revealed elevated rates of grade retention and dropout status. Children reported disruption to their schooling caused by international and interstate migration and intrastate movement. Few worked during school time; nevertheless, children reported missed participation in educational enrichment opportunities and little integration into school life. Schools often failed to accommodate language difficulties and problems caused by migration, and an atmosphere of racism prevailed. Educational programs for children in farmworker families were established during the 1960s. However, they do not meet the needs of hired child farmworkers. Policies to reduce child employment in agriculture and to meet their educational needs are necessary to ensure the education needed for future health and well-being. We discuss the applied implications of findings.

Musculoskeletal injury symptoms among hired Latinx child farmworkers in North Carolina

“…Other studies also surveyed youth in high schools, thereby excluding younger child farmworkers and those not enrolled in school. Research reported elsewhere has shown that 10% of the 16 and 17 year olds in the current study were not enrolled in school at study baseline 26 …”

“…This study did not document concurrent participation in sports. However, the formative research undertaken to design this study found participation by only 10% of children in school athletics and none during the summer, 26 so there is likely little confounding by this.…”

Pesticide exposure among Latinx child farmworkers in North Carolina

“…Earlier analysis found that migrant child farmworkers, who are often located in western North Carolina, work in tomatoes but not in tobacco, indicating that these characteristics are confounding 60 . More importantly, this is another instance that migrant child farmworkers have greater jeopardy than those who do not migrant for both the health and educational sequelae of farm work 41,64 …”

“…This analysis uses interview data collected each year from 2017 through 2019 and pesticide exposure data collected with silicone wristbands in 2018 and 2019. The 2017 questionnaire addressed personal and work characteristics; results from this questionnaire have been published in several papers 41,55,60,62–64 . The questionnaires for 2018 and 2019 included items to measure current year work activities.…”

Structural Vulnerability and Occupational Injury Among Latinx Child Farmworkers in North Carolina

“…The Trump presidential administration stoked fears of immigrants and employed harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy. These practices affect Latinx children on multiple levels, including heightened personal and observed experiences of racism and discrimination 63,64 and fear of separation or personal and parental deportation. 65 These policies also affect children and their families’ access to healthcare, 53,66 an additional vulnerability should a serious agricultural injury occur.…”