I read your paper Sunday and saw Mary Walker’s column. (“Protect those ‘yearning to breathe free,’” June 17).

As a former teacher, my experience has been that most of the Mexican immigrants want to change America. We can co-exist, yes, but this is America, and they need to embrace our educational standards.

Yes, they can preserve and honor their culture, but understand, this is America.

I taught African and Asian students and their parents would always say, “We accept your culture and strive hard to be the best we can be educationally, but we do not want to change your culture. We are visitors here and will follow the American way.”

— Renee Hillman

Goldsboro