Immigrant children are the fastest growing segment in the U.S. child population. These children come from a variety of nations, speak a multitude of languages, and have a range of ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Ensuring that these students receive a high-quality education in our school systems is a pressing issue faced by educators, administrators, and policymakers nationwide.

A Special Issue of the Harvard Educational Review— one of the nation's leading journals of education research, practice, and theory— presents an in-depth look at the complexities of educating these immigrant children.

In-depth original qualitative and quantitative research gives insights into issues such as language difficulties, acculturation stress, discrimination, low teacher expectations, violence, and poverty. Personal essays, interviews, and student artwork present firsthand the realities of everyday school life for the children of immigrants.

Contents include:

· In "Structuring Failure and Success: Understanding the Variability in Latino School Engagement," Gil Conchas looks at several school programs for immigrant students, with an emphasis on how these programs construct academic success or failure for low-income immigrant and native-born Latino high school students. Go to abstract

· "A Comparative Longitudinal Approach to Acculturation Among Children from Immigrant Families," by Andrew Fuligni, discusses the methodological issues in studying immigrant children, and makes the argument for a comparative longitudinal approach versus a cross-sectional design. Go to abstract

· "More than 'Model Minorities' or 'Delinquents': A Look at Hmong American High School Students" Stacey Lee's analysis of academic success as the result of both cultural transformation and cultural preservation. Go to abstract

· "The Value of Hard Work: Lessons on Parent Involvement from an (Im)migrant Household". This in-depth qualitative study by Gerardo López of one immigrant Mexican family challenges current understanding of parental involvement in children's schooling. Go to abstract

· "Parents' Aspirations and Investment: The Role of Social Class in the Educational Experiences of 1.5- and Second-Generation Chinese Americans" Vivian Louie looks at the experiences of second-generation Chinese Americans, and the similarities and differences across social classes. Go to abstract

· "More Than Empty Footprints in the Sand" is a moving essay on the personal side of policy and practice dilemmas concerning undocumented immigrant children. Eva Midobuche shares her childhood memories of growing up along the Texas-Mexico border and witnessing the horrid experiences of undocumented workers and their children. Go to abstract

· "The Work Kids Do" revolutionizes the traditional way educators, policymakers, and scholars look at immigrant children. Marjorie Faulstich Orellana moves away from the view of these children as "problems" with "needs" that educators must address, and focuses instead on the contributions they make to their homes, communities, and schools. Go to abstract

· A quantitative study by Xue Lan Rong and Frank Brown of Black immigrants from the Caribbean and Africa-a population that has not traditionally received much attention in literature on education and immigrant children-and some important findings on generational achievement patterns. Go to abstract

· In "The Sojourner Experience of Yemeni American High School Students: An Ethnographic Portrait" Loukia Sarroub beautifully illustrates the incompatibility and conflicts in the lives of Yemeni American girls between the different social and mental "spaces" they negotiate in their daily lives. Go to abstract

· An afterword by Carola Suárez-Orozco examines the current state of research on immigration and education, and points toward important areas for future research. Go to full-text of article

The diversity of populations and the variety of voices represented in this book-length Special Issue of the Harvard Educational Review make it an invaluable resource for anyone involved with the education of immigrant children. Order your copy today!

Harvard Educational Review Special Issue: Immigration and Education
ISSN 0017-8055
© 2001
316 pages
$30.00
SALE PRICE: $19.95
Call 1-888-437-1437 to order