Between 1970 and 1988, the African-American/white achievement gap was halved; progress halted during the 1990s. Latino students made substantial progress until 1992. Increasing minority and low-income students' achievement levels requires focusing on what really matters: high standards, a challenging curriculum, and good teachers. (MLH)

In the mountains of western Guatemala, Maya K'iche communities draw on extensive indigenous knowledge of the local ecosystem to manage sections of forest allocated as community responsibility for generations. Supported by spiritual beliefs, community elders seek to guide the use and preservation of the forest despite illegal loggers, corrupt…

Integrates the epistemology of cultural syncretism or "mestizaje" into multicultural thinking, instructional materials, and teaching about Latin America. Discusses the origins of white and black myths of the conquest; the centrality of "mestizaje" in Latin American culture; "mestizaje's" origins from the 16th-century…

Explores some of the reasons for spotlighting Spanish language and Hispanic Internet sites on libraries' public access computers and recommends some sites for use by librarians working with Latino youth. (Author)

Reviews the literature on mentoring and the role of organizational socialization, then presents highlights from the Puente Project, a California community college program, as an exemplary model that addresses the needs of first-generation Latino college students from a cultural context. The paper discusses program successes and notes implications…

The present study aimed to assess the role of perception in shaping family realities after immigration. Research participants included six Central American parent-adolescent dyads who perceived each other to be further apart in their acceptance of cultural change than indicated by their self-ratings of behavioural shifts towards Western norms. The…

Japanese and South American immigrant mothers' parenting cognitions (attributions and self-perceptions) were compared with mothers from their country of origin (Japan and Argentina, respectively) and European American mothers in the United States. Participants were 231 mothers of 20-month-old children. Generally, South American immigrant mothers'…

From 1999 to 2002, two university professors, one trained in language education and French and the other in Hispanic literature, undertook a comparative qualitative study of their parallel third-year reading course. Using a variety of data sources, most importantly extensive interviews, they documented their teaching beliefs, practices, and…

Among Latinas, the number of cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is increasing relentlessly. From August 1989 to August 1990, there was a 53 percent increase nationally in cumulative AIDS cases among Latinas. In New York City, AIDS is the leading cause of death among Latinas aged 25-34. The conditions and circumstances that place…

Results of a statistical study of the two imperfect subjunctive endings in Spanish and Latin American journalism show the use of "-se" to be decreasing, although usage is slightly higher in Spain. Use of the imperfect subjuntive with an indicative meaning is also slightly more common in Spain. (MSE)

A telephone survey of 270 adults of Hispanic origin determined the characteristics of well-adjusted "Latinos" residing within San Francisco's Mission District, a bicultural/bilingual urban milieu. The well-adjusted Latinos when compared to least well-adjusted Latinos had better paying jobs, better education, more years in the United…

Health education needs assessment of four heritage groups in Chicago (Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Latin Americans) focused on estimating Chicago's Spanish-speaking population; identifying existing HEW-funded programs; prioritizing health, education, and social welfare needs; identifying cultural and geographic barriers to…

Reviews the historical development of the press in Latin America from the sixteenth century to the present. Discusses the various pressures that Latin American newspapers are subject to, including political censorship, economic restrictions, and cultural conflicts. (AEA)

The variations in government language policies in Latin America are primarily a function of economic and social struggles among contending national elites, all seeking to compel adaptation by subordinate groups. Not until the nineteenth century did the schools become a major vehicle for government policy implementation. (Author/SJL)

Alejandro Toledo, the first Native person to be elected president of Peru, talks about his Quechua roots; his proposed constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights for indigenous peoples; financial support for Native cultural preservation efforts; and his number one priority--to fight poverty through education, focusing on basic education,…