A recent report from Rand, a think tank in California, titled "The Trend in Inequality among Families, Individuals, and Workers in the United States" by Lynn A. Karoly confirms that the gap between the haves and have-nots is widening and that the middle class in the United States is shrinking. Latinos have been particularly hard hit.…

Illiteracy is a serious problem in the United States, and Hispanics have substantially higher rates of illiteracy than any other major population group: by the traditional measure of literacy, the completion of five years of schooling, 11.9 percent of Hispanics 25 years and older could be considered illiterate, compared to 1.8 percent of the…

Although California's 106 Community Colleges' mission to accept any student who can profit from instruction and to provide transfer programs and vocational, continuing, and community education invites the non-traditional student to benefit from college education, the Community College students' success is not guaranteed because of the low quality…

Contemporary Mexican Americans have a multi-faceted character. Twentieth century Mexican Americans are no longer Mexicans but neither are they Anglo American. The strength of their Mexican traditions and cultural values and the forces of dilution to which these are exposed depend on various combined factors. Contributing to their multi-faceted…

Whether bilingual education programs continue to be model projects for demonstrating viable alternatives for the education of Hispanics or general programs to correct deficits in the education of our children, the selection of students for participation in the programs and the training of teachers for these programs are serious responsibilities.…

Current demographic statistics indicate that a nation within a nation is emerging; Mexican Americans, numbering 12 million in 1978, must be dealt with educationally, economically, socially, and politically. Approximately 42% of Mexican Americans are under 18 years old. Hispanic students form the largest ethnic minority population (34%) in the Los…

Studies on the portrayal of minorities, older persons, and females in elementary and secondary school textbooks used in the 1970s are reviewed in this publication. The studies are divided into the following categories: American Indians, blacks, Hispanics, Asian and Pacific Island Americans, religious groups, older persons, and females. In the…

The article presents sociocultural information about Black and Hispanic families and the implications for intervention programs for parents of hearing-impaired minority children. Discussion addresses the importance of the extended family and community in providing care, differing belief systems about handicaps, and anxieties in adjusting to a new…

Children Now is an independent children's advocacy group that promotes solutions to problems facing American children, with particular attention to the needs of those who are poor or at risk. The group provides policy expertise and up-to-date information on the status of children. Children Now's Children and the Media Program works to improve the…

This paper focuses on sociological and demographic characteristics of Hispanics, particularly Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans living in the United States. Sections are organized around data tables and figures (based primarily on 1990 census data), with explanatory text, and cover minority populations in the United States, Latino…

Over the last 20 years, the college enrollment rate of Latino high school graduates has dropped dramatically in comparison to that of non-Latino Whites. Among college graduates, the only category in which Latinos earned a degree at a higher rate than non-Latino Whites was at the associate's degree level. Latinos have nearly reached parity with…

This paper reviews the research on HIV risk, attitudes, knowledge, and behavior for Mexican/Chicano farmworkers and discusses culturally relevant prevention strategies. Following sociodemographic and HIV risk profiles for Mexican farmworkers, the major HIV exposure categories for farmworkers are discussed: prostitution, sex between men, needle…

This packet of materials is Phase 1 of a toolkit designed to enlighten education leaders about the need for HIV prevention for youth, especially in communities of color. One element of the toolkit is a VHS videotape that features a brief message from former Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher. The toolkit also includes a copy of a letter sent to…

Summarizes a study on educational conditions for Hispanic children within the context of school desegregation. Reports that continued segregation generates and sustains Hispanic school failure. (ST)

An investigation of gender differences in political and social attitudes among Latinos (Mexican Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans) found evidence for a Latino gender gap on attitudes toward social welfare issues and women's social and political roles. Contains 38 references. (LP)