As the U.S. teacher shortage continues to worsen, large, urban districts have turned to hiring teachers from abroad, including countries like Spain, Mexico, and the incorporated U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. However, several researchers in the field of have pointed out to the unexamined complexities of hiring Latin American and Spanish teachers…

This paper aims to identify the basic contradictions that exist between Mexican pluricultural policy, which is built on solid statistical analysis of data on migrants and which is the basis of intercultural education policies throughout the country, and the fact that few of the intended recipients -- mainly migrant youth -- are afforded an…

People of color in the United States have utilized the liberationist "testimonio" as both methodology and narrative development. This essay provides a discussion about the roots of "testimonio" in Latin America and how it has been transformed, integrating qualitative research approaches, oral history, spoken word, and memoir…

A week long immersion experience in Guanajuato, Mexico provided an opportunity for public health and nutrition students to improve their understanding of Mexican culture, nutrition, and food traditions. The experience positively impacted the students' understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity in working with the local Mexican…

Rapid Mexican immigration has challenged host communities to make sense of immigrants' place in New Latino Diaspora towns. We describe one town in which residents often characterize Mexican immigrants as model minorities with respect to work and civic life but not with respect to education. We trace how this stereotype is deployed, accepted, and…

Despite their differences in place and time, the woman-centered Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral and the Chicana lesbian feminist writer Gloria Anzaldua both looked to a transnational intellectual American history that frequently connected discourses of esotericism, indigenismo, and mestizaje. My comparative approach shows how both women used these…

"Los testimonios," or life stories, shared in this volume reveal that academia represents a labyrinth of challenges for aspiring and emerging Latina scholars--a story these authors know all too well. As Latina "veterana" scholars, who have traveled this arduous journey, the authors recognize that their collective efforts have…

The Latin America Project, which developed print and nonprint materials for use in grades 6-12, is described. The two-year effort was conducted in five phases: survey of existing materials; the development of curriculum units; review of curriculum by teachers attending summer institutes; field testing and evaluation; and dissemination. Titles of…

The objectives of Project Mexico were to train a group of 15 community college instructors from Southern California in an interdisciplinary approach--integrating ideological, technological, and societal perspectives--to the study of Mexican culture, to produce new curriculum materials for use in community college classroom instruction, and to…

In this book Professor Davis illustrates the often unexpected reach of historical research intended originally to fill a knowledge gap. He found a forgotten figure from the past who as a scholar and teacher had contributed significantly to education. Manuel's story warranted attention, but in reconstructing it Professor Davis discovered leads to a…

Recent trends in higher education and society, particularly in California, are seen as threatening progress of Latino Americans. Issues discussed include public attitudes about affirmative action, anti-immigrant legislation and sentiment, opposition to Latino studies, demographic trends, stereotypes of minorities, and the "adobe ceiling"…

Statistical tables, graphs, and photographs accompany this narrative summary that highlights 1980 census information abut Hispanics in the United States and emphasizes Hispanic progress since the 1970 census. Comparisons are made between 1970 and 1980 census information and between Hispanics and the total United States population. Text is…

Three papers pertaining to the General College Pilot Education Program (PEP), a retention effort undertaken by the General College, University of Minnesota, are presented. In "An Overview of the General College PEP Program in Its Second Year," C. P. Zanoni addresses the components of the program, evaluation efforts, and program costs.…

Efforts of the General College of the University of Minnesota to increase student retention during the 1979-80 academic year are described. The target groups were high-risk students, especially representatives of minority groups from traditionally nonacademic populations. The college mounted a pilot education program (PEP) comprising three…

An end-of-year evaluation of the 1979-80 University of Minnesota's General College (GC) Pilot Education Program (PEP) for academically underprepared minority group students is presented. The results show that compared to other GC students, the PEP students came to the college with weaker academic skills, and had different personal characteristics.…