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Latinos and Educational
Reform in the United States
By Manuel Hernandez-Carmona copyright 2008
mannyh32@puertoricans.com
Although educational reform has been confronted with optimism,
Latinos have learned through disillusionment and false expectations
and are walking forward to a present and future with educational
empowerment. The objective of the contemporary American educational
system is to create critical thinkers who will become pro-active
participants in society. Consequently, the educational advancement
of the American Latino community is directly related to their
struggles to achieve economic, social and political justice
in the United States. There are so many issues that affect
Latinos today, yet education must be the primary target of
reform for Latino themselves.
There is a need for educational reform, but we Latino leaders
cannot expect reform to come without the walls of the community;
reform will come within first, then make its way outside of
the walls of Jericho. In Sandra Maria Esteves’ “It is Raining
Today”, the speaker examines history, identity and education,
“Bring back truth, return the remnants of my identity, and
bathe me in self-discovered knowledge... (Latino/a Literature
in the English Classroom p.269).” But how de we change attitudes
and mentalities that have been deeply rooted and ingrained
in our minds and hearts for decades? How do we go beyond senseless
debates on who is and who is not to blame for our educational
setbacks and pitfalls?
When I attended grade school in Tarrytown, New York, my teachers,
emphasized and stressed the importance of an education. As
a typical American boy, I learned to love the classics. Tarrytown,
today called Sleepy Hollow, is small but rich in history and
pride. It is known for the setting of Washington Irving’s
legendary Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. In terms of language,
I spoke English at school, but Spanish was the primary language
in my house and at church. My personal experience taught me
that an education is the key element for social and economic
development. In-spite of the great difficulties confronted
by newly arrived Latinos, an American education will provide
them with the skills and strategies needed for further social,
academic, economic and even political advancement.
How can our children compete in a new found world with higher
academic standards? America enjoys competition, and an undergraduate
education is no longer a guarantee for success. How can our
children be part of a society if we Latino parents continue
to misconstrue the importance of personal involvement in our
children’s education? We need reform, but it will only occur
from within ourselves first. Looking within will help us to
see ourselves in a mirror to assess, reflect and implement
the strategies and initiatives necessary to transform and
make a difference. We know the statistics by heart, and they
are a reality, but the truth is in our minds and hearts. It
is not up to Senators Obama and McCain; it is up to we Latino
leaders to raise our voice and speak out on the need for all
of us to unite, define a vision and set the wheels in motion
to impact the education of our children today, tomorrow and
for generations to come. |
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Manuel Hernandez, a contributing columnist to HispanicVista.com
(www.hispanicvista.com), lives in Puerto Rico where he teaches school. He has
a B.A. and MA Teaching English. He is candidate for a PhD. He has just published
a textbook titled, Latino/a Literature in The English Classroom (Editorial Plaza
Mayor, 2003). For more information, e-mail him at mannyh32@puertoricans.com For
school orders, go to www.editorialplazamayor.com for more information or call
787-764-0455 For a complete bibliography: email me at mannyh32@puertoricans.com
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