I’m in the process of kindergarten registration for my middle son, filling out all the forms. One of the questions (required by the state of New York) is “Ethnicity of the child”. If I’m “Caucasion/White” and my hubby is “South Asian” (pure pakistani), what is my son?
It doesnt matter at this point I dont think but it may make a difference later on. Like colleges have certain “quotas” to meet.
Anyway I’m really not sure what his official “classification” would/should be…
I dont remember having to answer this question for the elder son but he goes to a special class so either it didnt come up for him or I just dont recall seeing it.
You should technically pick mixed. The fact they dont have it on the list is just plain stupid.
If it doesnt matter what box you check off, you can put the kid under South Asian. Affirmative Action will help him down the road, it might even make it easier to get into the university he/she wants. :-)
When my hubby was going thru the immigration process, he was told that his classification was "Asian".
I didnt finish the form yet but I think I'm going to circle the "Asian" choice but write "Caucasian/" in front of it. From the little I can find out on a weekend, it seems like ethnicity is based more on paternal side than maternal. Otherwise, I'd choose "Caucasian" but write in "Asian/" in front.
They do this for statistical purposes, analysis of ethnic makeup of each school district, gives the bean-counters lots of data to have fun with, to see "how" each ethnic group is doing, where they are, how they score on standard tests broken down by ethnic group etc. Thats why i dont think it matters too much at this point in their lives. But since the classification "Asian" is considered a minority, they will have more opportunity when applying for colleges and scholarships later on if this classification is applied to them.
When I was filling forms for ZAfeerah the lady asked me same thing and i said that she is born here but we are asians and she said as long as she is born here we can write down the ethnicity white because she is AMERICAN. thats what i did i know my children look different ofcourse desi but since they are born here and are raised here so why not.
The fact of being "American" has no bearing on ethnicity...
Many "americans" are black. Some are hispanic. Or asian.
If you were told to write "caucasian" simply for the fact that your child was born here, theres nothing wrong with that....but is that what their "ethnicity" is considered to be - in a legal sense? I tend to think not. Not a big issue to be sure...but I do wonder about it and wonder what impact it will or could have later on in their lives.