The Embrace of False Immigration Narratives and Attitudes Toward Immigrant Students Among K–12 Teachers

• In Event: 64.061 - Immigration and Immigrants in the Trump Era

Abstract

This research is based on a survey of K-12 public school teachers nationwide (N=5,190) that examined their awareness towards immigration issues related to education and false narratives in the immigration debate as well as their attitudes towards rights for immigrant students, beliefs on borders and migration, and levels of nationalism. The four false narratives examined were the ease of obtaining citizenship, undocumented immigrants’ ability to receive public benefits, crime rates of immigrants, and terrorist activity of refugees. The analysis reveals a strong negative relationship between the embrace of false immigration narratives and attitudes towards immigrant students. In light of these results, the authors stress the importance of presenting the realities of the immigration system to both pre-service and in-service teachers.

Authors

• William McCorkle, College of Charleston

• Timothy Monreal, University of South Carolina

• Sophia Rodriguez, University of North Carolina - Greensboro