ED362342 RC019293
Title: Look Me in the Eye: A Hispanic Cultural Perspective on School
Reform.
Author(s): Valdivieso, Rafael; Nicolau, Siobhan
Author Affiliation: American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral
Sciences, Palo Alto, CA.(CIQ02000); Office of Educational Research
and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC.(EDD00036)
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 1992
Notes: Paper commissioned for At-Risk Evaluation.
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC02 Plus Postage.
Language: English
Document Type: Information Analysis (070)
Geographic Source: U.S.; District of Columbia
Journal Announcement: RIEFEB1994
Hispanics
are a diverse group with considerable differences in country of
origin, social class, race, educational status, and level of assimilation.
Nonetheless, what does characterize all the major groups except
the Cubans, albeit in varying intensities, are high levels of poverty
and low levels of educational achievement. Cultural differences
between Hispanics and non-Hispanics often put Hispanic children
at a disadvantage when they enter school. Some guiding principles
for educational reform efforts to increase Hispanic student learning
are: (1) creating a comprehensive sense of student responsibility
for the well-being of the school; (2) demonstrating care and concern
for every member of the school community; (3) expecting academic
excellence; (4) grouping heterogeneously (and eliminating tracking);
(5) requiring involved, active learning; (6) strengthening the counseling
function; (7) involving and educating parents; (8) connecting school
and work; (9) immersing students in family and life planning; and
(10) providing opportunities for advancement upon high school graduation.
Despite the controversy surrounding bilingual education, the issue
of how to teach English to language minorities must also be addressed.
This paper contains "thumbnail histories" of the major
Hispanic groups in the United States. (Contains 28 references.)
(KS)
Descriptors: Bilingual Education; Cubans; *Cultural Differences;
*Educational Attainment; *Educational Change; *Educational Strategies;
Elementary Secondary Education; *High Risk Students; *Hispanic Americans;
Immigrants; Mexican Americans; Parent Participation; Poverty; Preschool
Education; Puerto Ricans
