Mexican Understudies

Although the statistics are more than 10 years out of date, the reality of America school segregation has not changed. The barely functional buildings, lack of up to date text books (or in many cases any text books), overcrowded classes, non-existent lab and computer equipment, and low paid teachers create a situation of despair that leads to a drop out rate of more than 50% in many districts. And even those who graduate are often barely literate. Kozol draws the clear link between these schools and the imprisonment of the oppressed nations who, after dropping out of a dead end education, end up locked behind bars.

One particular class that has influenced me tremendously is my Ethnic Studies 130 course, the Chicano/Mexican-American Experience with Professora, Dr. Julie Figueroa - a badass professor most definitely. In her class we read the book, “Subtractive Schooling: U.S.-Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring” by Angela Valenzuela. In this book, Valenzuela thoroughly explains her three-year ethnographic study “of academic achievement and schooling orientations among immigrant Mexican and Mexican American students at Juan Seguin High School in Houston, Texas” (p. 3). As I only hope you get to read this book, I understand by your time there will be numerous more books out talking with new data so I will summarize the chapters in the next paragraphs for you because i think it is important for you to know of this book.

Tucson High Magnet School was established in 1892 as part of the Tucson Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona. It is the oldest high school in Arizona and the largest high school in southern Arizona. Its location has changed and moved over time;

The concept of schooling, and how it differs from education, takes center stage in Angela Valenzuela’s Subtractive Schooling. The book is the culmination of a three-year study of Seguin High School in Houston, TX. Using data analysis as well as extensive observations and interviews, Valenzuela puts a face to the numbers. A significant portion of the book focusses on the role of language in terms of its application to culture. The book also shows a road map to creating relationships with our disenfranchised youth that will lead to authentic learning and positive changes in school culture. Valenzuela’s Subtractive schooling offers a sordid and shocking tale of “what could have been.”

Howard (2010) quickly changes gears in Chapter two, Changing Demographics, to look at the differences in language, ethnicity, race issues, culture and classism when regarded and compared to those who achieve on level and those who fall in the achievement gap. Howard examines the quickly changing face of America with the increase in Latino populations across the nation. Positing that teachers must adapt to understand and connect to students of diverse populations or there will be a great disconnect and divide that could be disastrous for the growing number of students that are part of the achievement gap, as well as the negative ramifications that could come from not evaluating the needs of those in the achievement gap. Howard (2010) also speculates the long term negative aspects that could come to the United States, especially in global market, if we as a country do

In the essay “Still Separate, Still Unequal” by Jonathan Kozol, the situation of racial segregation is refurbished with the author’s beliefs that minorities (i.e. African Americans or Hispanics) are being placed in poor conditions while the Caucasian majority is obtaining mi32 the funding. Given this, the author speaks out on a personal viewpoint, coupled with self-gathered statistics, to present a heartfelt argument that statistics give credibility to. Jonathan Kozol is asking for a change in this harmful isolation of students, which would incorporate more funding towards these underdeveloped schools. This calling is directed towards his audience of individuals who are interested in the topic of public education (seeing that this

She explains that students are seemed as incompetent and ignorant due to their level of proficiency in the English language, but in reality, there is a high chance they are smart individuals. Unfortunately, because American schools fail to understand the Mexican schooling system, students are left to suffer the consequences. Angela, explained that school that provide ESL or ELL classes participate in subtractive schooling. Subtractive schooling can be described as the removal of language and culture and forcemeat into the language and culture of the dominant culture, in this case English. The example that Angela used was the De-Mexicanization of students who migrated from Mexico to the United States and are forced into learning English and adopting the American lifestyle. Angela informs that students want to know that educators cared about them before being cared for. In order to do this, educators must embrace the culture of the students rather demolish it and make it into something else. Based on the issues that Angela provided it seems that teachers are unaware or just assume that Mexican-Americans do not care about school based on their attitude and style of dress. It seems that a great percentage of students drop out or fail to provide high marks in school because of the

“Still Separate, Still Unequal”, written by Jonathan Kozol, describes the reality of urban public schools and the isolation and segregation the students there face today. Jonathan Kozol illustrates the grim reality of the inequality that African American and Hispanic children face within todays public education system. In this essay, Kozol shows the reader, with alarming statistics and percentages, just how segregated Americas urban schools have become. He also brings light to the fact that suburban schools, with predominantly white students, are given far better funding and a much higher quality education, than the poverty stricken schools of the urban neighborhoods.

It has become common today to dismiss the lack of education coming from our impoverished public schools. Jonathan Kozol an award winning social injustice writer, trying to bring to light how our school system talks to their students. In his essay “Still Separate, Still Unequal," Kozol visits many public high schools as well as public elementary schools across the country, realizing the outrageous truth about segregating in our public education system. Kozol, cross-examining children describing their feelings as being put away where no one desires your presence. Children feeling diminished for being a minority; attending a school that does not take into consideration at the least the child’s well being. Showing clear signs of segregation in the education system.

Mexican Americans in the education system have been treated unfair. From the Mendez v. Westminster to the low number of students graduating from high school and moving to a higher institution shows that the system has done nothing to help these students. By the help of the community wealth theory many of the few numbers of scholars who have been able to reach these higher institutions have been able to put families, schools, peers, and other influences for their benefit and for helping them enter these systems which are not welcoming to them. Various aspects of these systems need to be change from the diversity of teachers and desegregation in and within schools around the US which would influence the communication and thoughts that Mexican

Precious Knowledge, is an incredible documentary detailing the events that occurred in Tucson High School. To encourage Mexican American students to attend school and graduate, the High School implemented a Mexican-American studies program that allowed students to learn more about their culture and origin. The program turned out to be highly successful and did indeed increase the attendance and graduation rate of the students, with many of them rekindling their love of learning. Unfortunately however, many people opposed the ethnic studies program - concluding that it was “anti-American” that installed anti-American values into the students; for example, Benjamin Franklin not being shown in the most positive light. This reached Tom Horne, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who was also against the ethnic studies program, and he proposed and succeeded in passing a bill that prohibited the program. The remainder of the documentary consists of the teachers and students protesting the bill and attempting to prevent the bill from being passed.

The United States of America is a nation based on the idea of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness, the people from this country have an obligation to make sure that every American can experience these given rights. However by banning Mexican-American studies in Arizona, this right to express and learn about their culture is taken away. According to Kirk Semple of the New York Times, about 41 percent of all Mexicans between ages 16 and 19 [in the city] have dropped out of school. There could be a plethora of reasons why this statistic may be so high for Mexican-Americans, however, based on the statements made by students in the documentary Precious Knowledge, there

Education is an important resource that is used in the contemporary world to succeed, as it diminishes the obstacles that are faced in life. It has enabled community members to prosper both socially and economically. However, in America, a nation that is the world’s superpower, fails to provide proper and equal education to its children. Many public schools across America lack the proper funding, qualified teachers, and necessities. The people affected by these problems belong in low-income communities and are minorities. Many have taken their voices to shine light on this issue. Writers such as Michael Moore in his essay “Idiot Nation” reveal the frustration regarding the downfall of the American educational system because of its political ways. Jean Anyon “From Social Class and The Hidden Curriculum of Work” reveals the inequality of education based on a student’s community and socioeconomic status. Jonathan Kozol “Still Separate, Still Equal” reveals the inequalities and segregation of the public educational system. These writers point out the various pitfalls of America’s educational system by demonstrating the inequalities, segregation, and imbalances minorities face. No education system is perfect, but by providing qualified teachers, resources, parental involvement, and funding schools properly an equal education experience can be offered to each child regardless of their geographical location.

The school is located in a safe middle class neighborhood that resides on a particularly steep hill leading to a dead-end so it does not garner much attention from neighboring communities. It is a small close-knit community predominantly consisting of Hispanic and Filipino people. Many of the people are first and second generation immigrants who are bilingual. These two groups share the same cultural value of the importance of family so there are many children in the area.

In a world that is constantly changing and becoming more and more diversified it is important that our public school system reflect this change. According to American progress.org “More than 50% of all U.S born babies are babies of color. It is estimated that by the year 2050 our nation will have no clear racial or ethnic majority.”(Kerby1). All this means is that the world is diversifying; it is up to us to give students the tools necessary to interrelate in their new surroundings. Students spend 1,016 hours in school, it is important to expose students to different cultures throughout their academic career.