The topic I am going to explore with you is educational opportunities and the lack of educational opportunities for immigrant women and their children in the early 20th century, late 20th century , to current struggles and my daughters' personal experiences with educational opportunities. By the end of this article, I hope I have helped you become more aware of the educational challenges these women and children faced, what students still face today, and a personal struggle with the 'education. Migration to America began in the 1800s with large numbers in Irish, Italian, and Jewish cultures. Before coming to America, many children of immigrants did not receive much education, and families did not consider education as important as learning a trade or finding a husband. Jewish families sent boys for religious education, but were not as worried about sending girls. For Italian girls, education was an option, but the poor needed their children to stay home and work. Most Italian families cannot afford to send their children to school. Irish girls were sent to school if the family could pay. Many children participated, but the Great Famine pushed many families to the point of starvation and no funding was available for the children. Eventually, many Irish families were forced to leave Ireland and many sought salvation in America. In the early 20th century, migration to America was frightening in many ways; mothers feared losing their children to American institutes. Some mothers felt that American education made their children “people of leisure” (Ewen, 1985). Mothers felt that schools were putting their children in a loss situation; they felt their daughters were needed at home to help with the housework...... middle of paper ...... support. The creator, “Norma Vega, social worker and former principal of Bronx International High School,” had a vision and continues to work with immigrants (Medina, 2009). Vega also highlights struggling immigrants: “If they were all sent to a regular high school, they would just be lost” (Medina, 2009)Reference Ewen, E. (1985). Immigrant women in the land of dollars. Canada: Monthly Review Press. Hans Johnson (2011). Immigration and education. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ppic.org/main/publication_show.asp?i=821. [Last accessed January 2, 2014]. Jennifer Medina (2009). At school for the first time, immigrant teenagers struggle. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/education/25ellis.html?pagewanted=all.Seller, M. (1994). Immigrant women. (2nd ed.). Albany: State University of New York Press