*sigh*

I doubt that buying airtime to run (probably laughably square and ineffective) ads trying to make school seem "cool" is really the best way to improve these students' chances. When it comes to education spending, I'm all about investing in qualified and talented teachers (and enough of them to keep class sizes reasonably small), making sure that all students have books and other classroom and study materials, and developing good tutoring and extracurricular programs to help the students stay on top of their studies and engaged in their education.

Then again, what do I know? I'm not an L.A. educator, and their track record for success is just so impressive. (sarcasm)

Oh, and for this school in particular, it seems particularly important to have high-quality ESL instruction.

I know someone who worked as a substitute teacher in LA for a while. There were many students who did not speak english, so they just sit there. When the teacher called a conference with the parents, they didn't speak english either. I think that, like the story of Babel, the communication barrier is such a big obstacle.

If we want people to be actively engaged and productive members of society, we really need to make sure people learn english, and that there are bi-lingual teachers to enable this. I used to be more anti-illegal immigrant (sadly), but at some point you have to deal with the reality that exists. They are here, and if we want them to be able to provide for themselves and pay taxes, we have to welcome them into the fold.

i think that it's sign of the times that things like this are happening. to know that your school is made up from a majority of immigrants -and that they are struggling to make a better life for themselves here rather than where they are from - that's a challenge enough, and then to add the language barrier and the desire to just get out there and contribute financially. i think that by marketing to the teens in a way that they would be receptive is good - but i don't know if it's something that will even work. to show that you can make more if you have a diploma - well that's a good thing, but in most cases, these kids aren't going to go onto college so they probably don't really see the benefit. you can only hope that the next generation will feel more settled in this country - and try to stay in school longer.

Immagrints or not this type of problem was bound to happen sooner or later. Most kids now a days don't give about school and they think things will just magically fall into their laps. OR they don't care if they end up on the streets they just don't. It's a shame really because these people could have so much potential if they just pushed a little harder or if they got an idea of what living on the streets would be really like. Sigh

Having gone to LAUSD (LA School District)schools all my life, I understand why many of the students do so poorly. The school conditions are horrendous, they are unbearably hot in the summer and really cold in the winter,the bathrooms are always broken and dirty, and most of the schools haven't been updated since they were built. They stuff the class rooms so full of students that the teacher can't possibly keep up with all of them. The text books are so outdated it's not even funny. They keep cutting budgets and programs. The only area that got any money at my high school was athletics. Even then it was a private donation. It's really sad.

I think it’s hard to say most kids do not care or feel the same way about education as others or do not take stock in education. In some school systems not just immigration, there are good teachers but there are far and few in-between in poor neighborhood schools. I want to know why bilingual teachers aren’t being sought in this school.

My question is why are these teenagers being passed through the grades and do not have basic understanding. I know they have ESL classes in schools with high populations of immigrants but why are these kids sitting (Jill’s comments) and not being able to communicate with teachers still being passed along. I am sorry this is more than I don’t care mentality. I think most its they don’t care about me and why should I care mentality. It’s easy to sit and say kids do not care, they don’t want to learn English, they don’t want to learn, and they want the street life. But, if you have a kid that doesn’t have support at home, works for his own food, clothes, and lifestyle – regardless what the means, and the street life excepts him and treats him or her like they are someone and family. It’s hard to turn away from for most, some do make but there are a lot of children, teens, and people lost.

I just think it’s odd, that some school districts have the means and funds to provide their students with great education but others do not. I find it even more disheartening that kids are passed grade to grade and some drop out while others graduate and do what. What is the use of graduating if your reading level is 2nd or 3rd grade?

I work with teenagers, adults, and excons through my volunteer efforts and especially through me teaching the GED course – you would be surprised how many people have the defeated mentality that I am not good enough – when they are showed compassion and that someone is truly interested in teaching them and proud of them (what you learn throughout school if given the right tools) then they try harder, they have a greater self esteem, and they want and strive.

This is an issue of not enough funds subsidizing the children of illegal immigrants. Everyone that moves or lives here deserves free resocialization by way of government schools. I don't think anyone would disagree that it's a basic human right to go to high school and that no one should be deprived of it.

Funny that some people here don't realize the defeated mentality is taught along with failing. U.S. doesn't like critical thinkers! Pjam girl is speaking from her own experience and logic says better teachers and ESL and yet there are sh*tty teachers and worse school boards.

Can the elitists here start free private schools in LA? Or are they not that elite? Or do they just not really care?

If ornicsugr thinks no one would disagree that high school is a "basic human right", she's dead wrong.

I disagree.

Education is a privilege, and perhaps if people valued it as such, they wouldn't piss away their time in it.

I don't think illegal immigrants or their children deserve anything from the government. They are ILLEGAL as in CRIMINAL -- under no circumstances should the be rewarded for breaking the laws of the country with a free ride.

As for the legal immigrants, I don't know why the USA doesn't make proficiency in written & spoken english mandatory to cross the border.

The US will BE northern mexico in the next few decades. It's tragic.

I think it's funny in a you're getting what you deserve sort of way that with all the illegal immigrants flooding the LA school systems, they can't afford the necessary items to properly educate the children in their school system. It's time to get the illegals out of America.

I have an off center idea that would be interesting (although probably impossible because of funding/logistics). Open up satellite centers off campus where students could go for tutoring, after school programs, and computer access just by using their student id. These would be like mini-libraries and cafes with bi-lingual books, magazines, and other materials. Libraries and community centers are a great asset for out of school learning for children and their parents. Libraries often hold special programs tailor made to their community, immigrant or otherwise.

Those are excellent ideas. How do you fund them?

Take all the teachers in that school and reassign them, to other schools. Then raise the teacher salary in that school, double it actually, and hire only the best teachers, the proven-they-can-teach teachers. Best educated, best qualified, not emergency credential teachers. Switch out the administrators too.

The parents cannot advocate for their children, as they have no educational experience themselves.

Clean those bathrooms. Fix those heaters. Free apples and bananas and milk in the cafeteria all day long.

Did I mention strict, nurturing discipline?

This is a relatively cheap fix if you count all the welfare/prison costs you would save. Try it for 4 years.

Those are great ideas as well janneth, but again I'll ask: How do you fund this?

I think one of the biggest faults in the USA is that they catered to the illegal immigrants. So many services are available in spanish now, because otherwise it's "racist".

English is the official language of the US. The mexicans can learn it, or they can GTFO.

As for Janneth's plan -- take all the teachers and reassign them? Why would you punish the good students like that? Here you are planning to put the best of the best in front of the worst students, and then throw the bad teachers into the schools of english-speaking, tax-paying america. That's a little like throwing pearls before swine, don't you think?

Don't waste the good on the hopeless.

Oh yes and let's just fix everything and give free food away, by magic! Money grows on trees! It will be one more of President Bush's great investments for the good of the country -- we all know how good he is at those.
We should raise taxes to do it! Let's charge all the hardworking americans! Make them pay! There's illegal immigrants in need here! They're deserving, after all.

Maybe what really needs re-budgeting is the US welfare & prison costs instead -- like how about abolishing welfare for new immigrants? America is the land of the free, let them have the freedom to starve by their own hand.

hithatsmybike whoa, are you a Native Amercian? If no, then you are an immigrant. Your disregard for humanity is intolerable! Actually your lack of tolerance should not be tolerated. LOL

Funny thing is, you don't realize Bush already signed the North American Union do you? No more borders! The US really will be Mexico. I'll post proof of that under this post because the videos take longer to post.

Aprender escribe, escuchia y habla espanol por favor. Mi espanol is muy malo, pero mi comprehende mas o menos. It is a common language in many countries. Other nations learn at least three languages! Wow, they believe in education and they are smarter than us! US ranks LAST in math among the major nations and almost last in physics and chemistry.

Again, if your not indigenous, you are an immigrant or your relatives are! Maybe you didn't learn that in school.

There are a lot of factors that make people drop out of school. Help them if you can. How do you fund it? The people who have taken a step to provide good education in the communities are not the government or funded from, they are individuals like you!

North American Union

This will abolish the constitution.

"My question is why are these teenagers being passed through the grades and do not have basic understanding."

I agree. And this problem isn't just happening in California. I have known 11th graders from the "heartland" that could not read (HOW did you get to 11th grade?), and were not illegal immigrants or even spanish speakers.

The main problem, IMO, is that our schools are underfunded. Education is not a NATIONAL priority, the burden is passed to states and cities, some which have vastly greater tax revenue than others. I do not believe in the voucher system for private schools, because I believe that isn't realistic. There are many areas of the country where there are no private schools for hours and hours.

I think our country really needs to look at our priorities. If we want to have thriving businesses in 10 years, we need to educate children NOW. I believe our educational system has a huge impact on our economy. It needs to get much more funding.

And yes, illegal immigration is illegal and it sucks. On principle, I don't think that people who break our laws should get hand outs. Pragmatically thinking, though, I realize that if we do not educate them, then it greatly limits the amount of benefit they can provide to society, and greatly increases the burden to society in other areas. When weighing the pros and cons, I think it is in our best interest to not encourage poverty.

I have known 11th graders from the "heartland" that could not read (HOW did you get to 11th grade?), and were not illegal immigrants or even Spanish speakers.

Jill - you are spot on. When I am teaching these GED classes these kids can barely write a complete sentence let alone read at least a 5th grade level but they made it to HS before they dropped out. The students are tutor are all Citizens - we have a class for ESL and they also have it difficult but it seems to be harder for students who do not learn their "native language" English. Just to let you know the there is no official language in the US --yes the majority of the language spoken is English.

I know right there are a lot of underfunded schools --why are they underfunded. Do we not respect or want education for all children the same. I just find it ridiculous that people complain about how grateful a child is based on what you perceive. Seriously, have you ever thought about sitting in a class in the dead of winter –here in Chicago – can get below 10 degrees and your classroom doesn’t have heat or you have leaky pipes from the classroom. And please do not tell me that the parents and school do not fight for funding. We are having that same problem here in Chicago and I am sure even in other cities and states, that teacher, parents, and city officials complain about low funding. And nothing gets done, it has even been such a stink made here – that one city official has boycotted the first day of school and have all students of poorly funded schools shipped to schools that are highly funded. The state is so up in arms about this boycott but are they trying to increase funding to those schools – No.

Now unless we as a national are going to send every illegal back to their native country –then this problem needs to be dealt with. I don’t know where the funding is going to come from but they are hear – we either deal with the problem now or we will later deal with the outcomes this problem continues to create.

That is pretty amazing to hear, Bella! Less than 10 degrees in a classroom???????

I read about some schools that close early at 1:30, because the school can not afford to pay teachers to work a full day. These kids don't even get a full day of classes! I know a teacher from "the heartland" that has to buy her own board markers and paper! PAPER!

Shouldn't we have some sort of national standard of education so that this doesn't happen?

One interesting thing about the illegal immigrant aspect....

I think our country needs to look at more political solutions to this problem. I read the other day that the man in charge of John McCain's Latino outreach used to work for the Mexican government. His job was to work for Mexico and try to get healthcare benefits and citizenship for Mexican immigrants in the United States.

I couldn't believe that another country pays someone to try and get their citizens to become citizens of another country!?!

I couldn't believe that another country pays someone to try and get their citizens to become citizens of another country!?!

I wonder why that is even a job.
Jill- I am now wondering if there is such a job in the US that will allow me to do that. I bet that job pays really well. Sad but true.

Jill, the cold classroom is sometimes a reality - some parents do not want to keep there kids at home b/c they will get more behind already than they already are. I use to sit with gloves and a hat on at school with my coat. It was like you never leave outside.

One of my friends moved here from VA – wanted to teach in the inner city and make a difference. yeah, she learned that she had to pay a lot out of pocket just to teach. Her mom and dad (both teachers) were astonished at the school structure and what the curriculum was at the school very different from well funded schools. With the pay for teachers they can hardly afford to shell out for books, papers, and pens. How do they make their lively then. Then you have some teachers that are the complete opposite of the good teachers – they know d*amn well they can’t get a job at a well funded school because not only do they lack the teaching skill, the ability, or the heart – they just don’t want to do it. So, they get jobs at these low funded schools and blame there inability on the students, parents, the neighborhood and way of life. Then you have some teachers who have the heart but not the patience or the ability to relate. My friend tells me stories and sometimes they me cringe – it’s always good to hear stories from the other side.

"I couldn't believe that another country pays someone to try and get their citizens to become citizens of another country!?!"

Perhaps in the long run it saves the US money (via less immigration to the US)?

we pay ONE salary to help other countries' citizens... give them incentive to stay put = less immigration?

ok I don't have time to read the rest of the comments at the moment because I'm just about to run out the door for work..

MD, I am not Native -- but I'm not an "immigrant" either. Know why? BECAUSE I WAS BORN HERE.

Maybe you didn't learn this in school yourself, but in most countries, if you are born within their borders, you receive citizenship. This is one of the methods your illegals use to grab US citizenship -- waddle over the border and pop a kid, yay! a way to a green card! Newborn babies are NOT landed immigrants.

As for the school system, I'm not surprised by the US rankings. Education has never been a priority for America -- this is evident by the shady business of online universities and "equivalent" diplomas like the GED (which isn't even accepted at the schools here in Canada).
And there's no consistency across the board. Brilliant minds graduate from US highschools and go on to be incredible researchers, scientists, doctors whatever -- meanwhile others graduate and, like many of you said, can't read beyond a elementary school level.
I never attended highschool in the US, so I don't know how they do things, but I think a standardized exam for graduation would be helpful. In Canada there's a government exam for every subject that you take and it's often worth half of your final grade in that class. It's one of the easier ways to make sure the standards are consistent at every school, and pinpoint which schools are failing to teach their students enough math/english/whatever.

If some of you watch Oprah, you'll recall an episode that i believe included bill gates and the subject was underfunding in schools. It was called, "Failing Grade".

When they arrived at Harper, the students from Neuqua Valley were shocked immediately by the difference between Harper and their own school. For starters, students have to enter Harper through a metal detector. They have a pool at Neuqua Valley, but the Harper pool hasn't been filled with water in a decade. The Neuqua Valley students have an award-winning music department, while Harper doesn't have enough instruments for a music class and relies on improvised instruments—like banging on desks.

At Neuqua Valley, students can enroll in more than two dozen advanced placement courses, compared to the two offered at Harper.

"It's so mind-blowing to think that there's such a difference and we're both in the same state, an hour away from each other," one Neuqua Valley student says.

After sitting in on a math class at the suburban school, a Harper student was particularly worried about what her Harper education was actually teaching her. "I was looking at the math problems that they're doing [at Neuqua Valley], and I'm like, 'What language is that?'" she says. "As soon as I get to college, I'm going to be lost."

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/oprahshow1_ss_20060411/4

Now, why are 2 schools in the same state getting different treatment?

Hithatsmybike, MD probably resisted the uninviting tone of your post.

Thanks RockAndRepublic - I also saw that episode. It was scary but I guess some people don't care b/c its not their kids or love ones. They can continue to make assumptions of "these" people and there motivations. Thus continuing the divide.

Why is it that Harper is "underfunded"? I'm not sure we are getting the whole story. Is it because the property tax dollars aren't being channeled to the school system? Is it because there aren't enough people who are actually paying property/other taxes to be able to afford those extras?

unDave, are you saying having competive curriculum that helps a student flourish in college and able to go to college and actually get in – that should depend on money? Or is your statement in reference to the swimming pool.

Looks like most of you are seeing the same problems and asking the right questions.

The thing is that no one is finding the right answer and if I spell it out, you won't except it.

I will spell it out anyway, the government wants you to be not too educated so no one questions there activities.

The video I put is finally up and no one is questioning that!!!!!

Looks like they did a good job of making you not think critically.

hithatsmybike: You are not an illegal because you were born here and then they are not illegals because they were born here. Your own logic is your demise.

How exactly did you migrate here is the question? You are and immigrant but indeed many people that are Mexican the so called "immigrants" ancestors stood on this land entitled to natural resources of the land before your ancestors did!

Let us also recognize that there are many benefits to the US having low wage earners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the words of Haile Selassie I “Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war and until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained... now everywhere is war.”

MD - She is not "illegal" because her parents immigrated here legally, she is not an immigrant, because she was born here.

Bella - Everything depends on money and financing. If one school doesn't fund those programs, that's their problem. Why are those programs not being provided? Probably lack of funding. Why is there a lack of funding? You've got to pay the teachers to teach those courses, and if you can't afford to pay the teachers because funding shortfalls, then where do you get the money?

MD I skipped the video given that it was from Oprah.

My video is from CNN. The Oprah talk is not in reference to CNN.

I just find it funny that the people who complain about those who are uneducated illegals are ignoring that they are indigenous to this land, being born somewhere doesn't entitle you to more human rights.

Seems keeping them illegal furthers the brutality of the Mexican war.

If your family members were immigrants, at some point, chances are people called them names and told them to go back to their origins too. Just as the people who taunted your family when they migrated, the ignorance is perpetuated.

Being born in America, of American parents means you should be entitled to American rights in America. Being born of Illegal Aliens means you do not. Please stop referring to this group of people as immigrants, they are not. Immigrants come into a country legally. They have failed to do so, and as such, do not deserve immigrant status.

Immigrants come into a country legally.

You mean illegal immigrants, right, Dave? Because if so, I do agree with you absolutely.

I'm not sure what you're asking Jude. I was meaning that Immigrants come into this country through the process set up by this country. They don't sneak through under the fence in the dead of night.

Crap...totally my fault, Dave. I read that as "Immigrants come into a country illegally."

I totally misunderstood you, and I apologize. I'm off to bang my head on the keyboard for a while now.

MD Free, you are making too much of a stretch with native americans being the only "true" americans and everyone else is immigrants.
Even if that were the case, there's still a big distinction between those that are legal citizens of a country, by birth OR immigration, and those that enter illegally, live illegally, work illegally, which allows even further illegal activity like avoiding paying taxes.

I was born in Canada, and I hold citizenship to this country by my birth. This doesn't make me an immigrant. Where did I immigrate from? I was raised in this country, I work in this country, I pay taxes in this country, and therefore, it is mine.
I held a green card for the USA when I lived there. I was a legal immigrant, but I refused to apply for citizenship (they no longer allow dual citizenship, so it would mean surrendering my Canadian citizenship). In any case, I lived & worked there LEGALLY, which is more than I can say for many Mexicans.

The Mexicans are not even prepared to function in the society they've escaped too. We all know Mexico is a sh*thole outside the tourist resorts, but even so, I don't have sympathy for the scum the scuttles across the border with not a word of English and no intention to improve themselves and the country by being there. Sure, most of them are seeking a "better life" -- but their idea of a better life is NOT a college degree and good paying job, it's a free ride on social assistance.

As for "human rights", there's no such thing as universal basic human rights. If the USA offers more "human rights" than Mexico, it's because it's a better country to live in and those are the benefits to the citizens thereof. A Mexican is NOT entitled to the perks of being a US citizen simply because they are human too. The USA flourished by its government, people, and resources. Mexico does not deserve a piece of the pie simply for being a next door neighbor.

I have no problem with immigrants seeking to obtain a better life through educating themselves and working in the country that provides them great opportunity. I live in Canada, where a number of different cultures are represented. At my university, the white population is equally met, if not exceeded by immigrants, or the children of immigrants, from Japan, China, Korea, India, Greece, Turkey and various African countries. You know what they're doing? Working Canadian jobs, going to university, improving themselves and their families, and ultimately contributing the success & prosperity of the country.

Know whose collecting welfare? Your friends the ever non-immigrants, the Native Americans.

The US made the mistake of declaring every human being born on US soil, air-space or water an American citizen, and now the country is paying for it.

You are generalizing, stereotyping and not looking at the history as being relevant hithatsmybike .

Still no mention of the North American Union, it will be in place soon, no more borders and eventually no more constitution. I understand this is a different subject. Next time maybe.

In legal terms, UnDave35 is right to reference immigrants vs. illegal immigrants.

My reference is according to history. I will try to stick to law or mention when I am not as much as possible if it will be less confusing to convey my point.

hithatsmybike two things, first, you have obviously never been to a welfare office, but currently there are people in there that were making a quarter of million a year, and now they need help to keep their lights on. That is not a result of illegal immigrants but it might be because of poor education or war.

Two) the ignorance in your last statement is too general and doesn't really support anything ethical.

By that last statement you should be shipped off to Canada right? (you still never stated your ethnicity not like I care)Should we send black people back to Africa and say thanks for building this country but the US made a mistake in treating you like humans?

What I really think you mean is not the above paragraph exactly, but I think you really believe that Native Americans and Mexicans make this place worse because they are going to our schools requiring teachers to work harder and care. That is a huge burden to America right? The under paid teachers and this school funding thing is so much worse of a cost to the US (not America, the US) than is war. Everywhere is war...

I am not going to make you open your eyes at all I can see. NAFTA is alright with you too, and our ties with Mexico and how much money we make from the stolen natural resources, the cheap labor as if we don't add and endorse the poor conditions of the country don't matter according to you. You don't mind riding on the backs of the poor and you think somehow they are riding on yours.

Many here have already admitted they know what goes on and no one has called them "the scum the scuttles across the border" WTF?
Where do you think your Vitamin Water comes from while they only turn on tap water once a week in Mexico city and many there are dying as a result of your consumption.

I mean it when I say you can look up recent history and see how tied we are to the current conditions and problems of those people.

There are many who speak English, learn English and want to learn English, read and finish college but you don't think their high schools should be good enough to prepare them for college.

Hispanic people hold their culture to them dearly and it should be allowed since this used to be their land 150 years ago. Oddly enough, Spanish/espanol is not the indigenous language, it is a result of being enslaved by the Spaniards and having their tribes slaughtered prior to the US conquering them.

Thank God the majority under this blog agreed there should be better education somehow. We should hold our States and Congress responsible and accountable for the school budget, the unequal spending in different districts and the wrong doing that goes on.

I do not tolerate racism! Study sociology before you use poverty as a tool to be racist.

whoops typo..I think you'll understand without correction anyway.

Back to the topic's question, the community's messed up and funding for the community activists has been called for by the volunteering activists. Since they have already proven that their leadership and role modeling has influenced many kids from joining gang activity, they seek help or donations to continue contributing to their communities.

More role models in local communities that are effected by poverty!

It doesn't matter if you don't tolerate racism -- that's hardly inspiration for me to stop lumping Mexicans & Native Americans into the stereotypes they've built up for themselves. Your feelings don't matter, only facts do, and the fact of the matter is that if you sneak into a country illegally, you are not entitled to the benefits of living there as a citizen, because you are a CRIMINAL.

You think the welfare office is full of people raking in a 250K a year? Sure, maybe there's one or two in there, but the majority of the welfare group is made up of teen mothers, the unemployed, the "disabled", and various other people that think sitting at home is a better use of their time than money.

I currently DO NOT live in the USA (and thank god, it seems to be getting worse by the day there the way the economy is imploding in on itself), so you won't be shipping me back to Canada any time soon. I left by my own accord, because I prefer it here to the states. It's cleaner, quieter, and there's no Mexicans. Well, there are a few, but they speak english and *gasp* WORK.

So how many Mexican immigrants make up the prison population in the USA? How many finish highschool? What about college?
Isn't California something like 60% hispanic? Bet that number doesn't match the prison population & university graduates.

As for studying sociology, I don't think I'll have to suffer through that class until senior year. As for now, poverty is not a tool to be racist -- I don't respect poor white people either, it's not a race thing.

The vast majority of workers in low wage jobs are Mexican and bless them for their hard work that keeps businesses thriving.

The prison industrial complex is a business that makes 4 times the money than do schools. Maybe that's why schools suck. They would rather fund a project that makes more money(prison industrial complexes) than give funding to a project that will work preventively(schools).

Your perpetual racism is as cute as your picture.

U.S. had more casualties building itself than did Hitler vs the Jewish. It's ill math. If your frame of mind is such, than you equate to the perpetuation of murder, thievery and lies in the name of $$.

"Your perpetual racism is as cute as your picture."

WTF??

"U.S. had more casualties building itself than did Hitler vs the Jewish. It's ill math. If your frame of mind is such, than you equate to the perpetuation of murder, thievery and lies in the name of $$."

I have no idea how you come to this conclusion. Please support this claim with some facts.

how did we get from not tolerating racism to thinking it's cute?

Nice job dancing around the points in my post though.

I wouldn't "bless" a mexican for working low-wage jobs -- they're the ones keeping the wages so low, which hurts Americans!

If there were no illegal immigrants working for whatever they could get, the wages in the USA would have to increase to be competitive and entice LEGAL employees. Currently the McDonald's by my house is hiring at $10.50/hr -- what's yours at?
We don't have waves illegals willing to fill any open position in the economy, so generally the low-wage jobs go to teenagers or lifers (people that don't have the skills for more demanding jobs, but aren't useless either).
Positions in construction and labor are by far the highest paying entry-level positions here, but the same is not true in the USA, because why pay a legal citizen $20/hr when you can get a mexican to do it for $8/hr (or less)?

US and Canadian dollars are not the same! Your opinion of what would happen if there were no Mexicans/illegals is still an opinion.

I will answer undave privately, and anyone else who wants to inquire may do so or their own research.

As of today: USD $1.00 = CAD $1.0517

They're not the same, but they're not that different either.

Also, economy is not an opinion, it's a fact. You suggested I enroll in some Sociology -- why don't you do some dappling in Economics? Maybe take a course on Logic while you're at it.