“I’m Thinking I Want to Live a Better Life”: Syrian Refugee Student Adjustment in New Brunswick

Authors

  • Helen Massfeller University of New Brunswick
  • Lyle Donald Hamm University of New Brunswick

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20355/jcie29354

Abstract

In this paper, the authors explore the re-adjustment experiences of seven refugee students from Syria and Iraq who enrolled in a large high school in New Brunswick. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, school and community documents, and field notes. Five themes were identified and are reported and discussed in this paper. Recommendations for future direction regarding how to successfully integrate Syrian refugee children into Canadian schools are provided.

Author Biographies

Helen Massfeller, University of New Brunswick

Lyle Hamm (PhD.) is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. His research, broadly speaking, focuses on demographically changing schools and communities, Intercultural Education and Peace-Building, and Social Justice Leadership. Lyle served as an educator and administrator in Alberta for 22 years. He can be reached at lhamm@unb.ca Helen Massfeller (PhD., R. Psych.) is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. She teaches in the Counselling program and conducts research in the area of Counsellor Education, Supervision, and Positive Mental Health. Helen has a particular interest in promoting the mental health of teachers and administrators working in culturally diverse schools in New Brunswick. She can be reached at helen.massfeller@unb.ca Amanda Scott (M. Ed) is a teacher and researcher in her home province of New Brunswick, Canada. Amanda’s international travelling and teaching experiences in Pakistan have ignited her passion to learn more about the complexities of cultural diversity in schools. She currently works as a research assistant on a funded research project that is investigating the impact of demographic change and immigration on New Brunswick schools. Kevin Cormier (BA, Multimedia Studies) is an Instructional Technology Specialist and System Administrator for D2L Brightspace within the Centre for Enhanced Teaching and Learning at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Kevin is a research collaborator examining the impact and implications of immigration and demographic changes on teachers, administrators and students in a New Brunswick high school context. He can be reached at kcormier@unb.ca

Lyle Donald Hamm, University of New Brunswick

Helen Massfeller (PhD., R. Psych.) is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. She teaches in the Counselling program and conducts research in the area of Counselor Education, Supervision, and Positive Mental Health. Helen has a particular interest in promoting mental health of teachers and administrators working in culturally diverse schools in New Brunswick.

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Published

2019-02-26

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2019): Special Issue: Syrian Refugees’ Encounters with the Canadian Education System

Section

Articles

License

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