Interesting Findings on Mexican American Integration

[Latin Knight]

Originally Posted by maton

Hey great topic!!!

Many good points made, I am still thinking about the issues raised. Just one additional thought that came to me as I was reading. I'd appreciate some feedback.

As you are well aware, many areas of the US are now infested with gangs who influences many things ranging from criminal lifestyles, language, blight, and overall quality of life issues. One big thing they influence is "schools" wherein kids infected by the gang culture get sucked in to poisoning the school environment through their anti-education, pro-drugs and crime, antisocial attitudes, and generally destructive behaviors ... including violence and potential violence.

It has been said that some schools "really can't teach" because mostly social work is done to pass along the kids through the grades... where "if" they graduate (even if they are straight A student) can't really read, write, or add beyond the 6th grade level. Now, one can blame the schools all day long, but I am convinced that this is mainly an excuse to think of ourselves as victims of discrimination, etc, etc. I know Raza families that sent their kids to college where they did very well and became professionals because they refused to buy into the anti-education and anti-America ideas common among barrio youth especially the gangsters and their admirers. Many barrio schools all over America, are "schools" in name only, this is painfully discovered when Raza student go to college. Here they discovered how much they unknowingly cheated "themselves". Lots of Raza students that make it in college actually did NOT go to public schools. Public schools have many problems where legitimate learning cannot take place and much of the problem is not the school itself but the community that supports what really goes on there that is the parents' and student own faults.

So, kids who attend public schools where gangs are part of the school environment are going to suffer the consequences of not being prepared for "good" colleges.

So, my question to you readers is: What about barrio gangs and their good or bad effects on Raza student?

Barrio gangs have a influence but I think these groups that think they speak for all Latinos are just as big a problem. They tell Latinos they need special help to complete the same tasks that a white person complete which causes a mentality that they are not as good. I guarantee if you gave Latino kids the same education as White kids and didn't tell them that they needed extra help then they could easily do just as good in school if not better. I think Latin Culture makes us harder working people so if we were given the same tools and not treated like we need the same help as the Mentally Challenged then we probably would do better then Whites in school.

East Asians are a good example of this. The Chinese don't have large factions of groups saying they work for all Chinese people and getting the Chinese help. You just have Chinese kids going to school with Teachers, Students, and Family all expecting them to do well and be hard working because of their culture and they end up doing exactly that.

[Vain]

Yes, gangs do influence those around them. Young kids are naive and see money being made or whatever and decide that's the life for them. A lot drop out because they might see school as a waste of time. Most of these schools aren't funded much and don't have great educational prestige. I myself went to one of these schools. Now that I'm in college, I see a lot of kids straight out of high school that don't know simple things, like the difference between two, too, and to, or how to find sales tax. Simple things they should know BEFORE graduating. Schools aren't doing their job. There was a debate a few years back between letting students graduate from these "barrio schools" and suffer in college or to hold trouble students back a year to make sure they are more prepared. Well, I say if the school doesn't do a good enough job of teaching well in the first place, why hold the student back another year?

[Latin Knight]

Originally Posted by Vain

Yes, gangs do influence those around them. Young kids are naive and see money being made or whatever and decide that's the life for them. A lot drop out because they might see school as a waste of time. Most of these schools aren't funded much and don't have great educational prestige. I myself went to one of these schools. Now that I'm in college, I see a lot of kids straight out of high school that don't know simple things, like the difference between two, too, and to, or how to find sales tax. Simple things they should know BEFORE graduating. Schools aren't doing their job. There was a debate a few years back between letting students graduate from these "barrio schools" and suffer in college or to hold trouble students back a year to make sure they are more prepared. Well, I say if the school doesn't do a good enough job of teaching well in the first place, why hold the student back another year?

Makes sense. Schools have low expectations of certain students and it causes them to underestimate students leading to the students underestimating themselves.

Blacks and Latinos are taught with "special" help while Asians and Whites are taught as if they are normal people and can accomplish the material themselves. It leads Blacks and Latinos to following the stereotypes and becoming people who need special help. It is a frustrating process.

[Vain]

I hope one day our kind can move into the ranks of Asians and whites without the help of affirmative action. We can do it with a bit of hard work and confidence. A little help from the schools and parents wouldn't hurt, either.

[Latin Knight]

Originally Posted by Vain

I hope one day our kind can move into the ranks of Asians and whites without the help of affirmative action. We can do it with a bit of hard work and confidence. A little help from the schools and parents wouldn't hurt, either.

Usually the hard work and confidence comes when schools and parents believe you can do it. None of that "Don't worry son second place is fine afterall the kid in first place is Asian" or "Do your best your going to a predominantly White school so it might be hard to keep up so just try your best"

Parents think they are helping by saying things like that but you scar the person mentally by acting like that. Schools aren't any better. Hovering over a Latino student in chemistry class as if you expect them to break stuff on accident while barely paying attention to the rest of the class because their White and Asian can affect how a person does.