Searching for Equality: The Education of Cultural Minorities

5.1 What are the similarities and differences in different minority groups' struggles for educational equality?

• All minority groups started off in mission schools and/or segregated schools. Most of them struggle with language and cultural barriers in public schools. Some groups struggle with resistance and drop out rates more than others. Native Americans and Hispanics especially struggle in this area, while Asian Americans actually have higher achievement test scores and college attendance rates than other minorities and whites. Asian American have fared better overall than other minority groups, but still have problems in school and run into language and poverty obstacles. Considerable differences also exist between the educational experiences of different Asian American groups.

Cultural Diversity

1.1 Explain how cultural diversity influences learning.

• Different cultures have different attitudes and values about learning - some are beneficial to learning and others are not. 
• Language can be a huge barrier. Many students are hesitant to drop their use of non-standard English or to primarily use English at all out of fear of alienation from their peers and parents.
• Members of some minorities view succeeding in school as rejecting their native culture. Students who choose to succeed academically may risk losing the friendship of peers. Students who hold to this view may form "resistance cultures" where learning is not supported or is even opposed.
• Some cultures, such as the Vietnamese and other Asian cultures, strongly emphasize hard work, perseverance, and pride in their homes which can be seen in their academic studies.
• Indian cultures also have a high work ethic and determination.

Cultural Discontinuities

1. This section discussed two potentially conflicting ideas: accepting and valuing cultural differences and accommodation without assimilation. How do these ideas relate to this dilemma?

• In the story, the character is invited to an awards ceremony at a local church of Pacific Islanders to honor students from their school. Many things happened throughout the ceremony that were normal for the Pacific Islanders, but totally foreign to the guest. It made the guest really uncomfortable, but s/he struggle to remain quiet as to show respect and acceptance of their cultural norms. By doing so, s/he is trying to accommodate their differences, but it's putting a great amount of strain on her/him because s/he doesn't know what to do in the situation.