Analyzes the negative perception of Hispanics held by most Anglos and its impact on Spanish teachers' and students' motivation. Discusses means to improve teaching, diversify programs, and outgrow inferiority complexes through public relations resources and cultural awareness. (MES)

To test a hypothesis that a positive improvement in attitudes and perceptions of Mexicans and Mexican Americans would result from a special curriculum unit pertaining to Mexican and Mexican American culture, 154 Anglo American and Mexican American children enrolled in 6 sixth-grade classes in Chandler, Arizona, were randomly assigned to control or…

As part of a larger study of seven Mexican children in California, researchers investigated the problems Hispanic students may have in adjusting to a school culture different from their home culture. Findings suggest that effective teachers understand the significance of collective work in the Mexican family. (KH)

This paper analyzes the literature pertinent to the educational and occupational aspirations of Mexican American youth. Following a historical account of the Mexican American presence in the Southwest, this review focuses on social science literature, primarily of the 1950s-70s, that viewed Mexican Americans as having culture-based pathological…

This book contains selected papers presented at a working conference, "Cultural Diversity: Implications for Education", held in 1991. The issues explored cover such areas as cultural therapy as a means to enhance student-teacher relationships; the differences in attitude and motivation of immigrant and domestic minority youth; the…

Discusses a study conducted to show how factors such as depression, somatization, and acculturation affect the academic performance of Mexican-American women in community colleges. Results indicate these variables have no significant relationship to academic performance. Includes 24 citations. (JDI)

Latinos and Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) are increasing in numbers throughout the United States. This study reports on a survey administered to 350 APA and 119 Latino American students entering a large east coast university. Significant differences between APA and Latino students emerged: (1) APA students were less likely than Latino students to…

Hispanic women still face educational and employment handicaps rooted in racial and sex-related discrimination. Because Hispanic women are the product of two cultures (the traditional Mexican American culture inside the home and the dominant American culture outside the home), they sometimes face a struggle. Although research indicates that…

Although Mexican Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, their history and literature are seldom taught in American classrooms. A study of over 3,000 high school sophomores in the Southwest revealed that neither Anglos nor Hispanics were aware of the contributions of Mexican Americans. Incorporating Mexican American…

This book provides some helpful tools that will allow teachers to use children's literature as a vehicle for modifying cultural stereotypes. The sections contain short summaries of 239 carefully selected children's books, each of which features main characters who contribute to an understanding of one's cultural heritage and ways to modify a…

Papers from the 1991 joint Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT)/ Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) conference are presented. Because the state of North Carolina is in the forefront of state-mandated foreign language education in the elementary schools (FLES), 4 of the 10 articles in this volume address FLES…

Reports on a study of the relationship of family role and structure with academic achievement among 2,666 Anglo and 492 Mexican American high school students. Relates behavioral, attitudinal, and structural dimensions of families to students' self-reported grades. Finds that familistic attitudes are important to academic success. (CFR)

A questionnaire with 120 variables was given to 105 high school juniors and seniors in Anthony and Canutillo, Texas, small school districts in which the majority of students are Mexican Americans, to study the perceptions of the schooling experience of this regional culture. Questions covered policy awareness; perception of school, teachers, and…

Two English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers looked at parent involvement and cultural traits of Hispanics to better incorporate local Hispanic families into their school system. The project took place at Chamberlain Elementary School in Goshen, Indiana, in 1998-99. The school enrolls about 314 students, of whom approximately 94 are from…