The debate over the resettlement of refugees in the United States is rooted in the question of whether and to what extent people expelled from their homes in war-torn places can successfully integrate and assimilate to the American way of life.

A related concern has to do with how such integration and assimilation takes place. Schools play a crucial role in inculcating American values in children. But the question is: Can schools assimilate children into a new culture while also preserving important parts of their native cultures?