Education of Mexican Americans in the United States: Lessons From the History of New Mexico

• In Event: 49.036 - Policies and Practices in State and Local Contexts in the West

Abstract

This paper provides an historical perspective on the education of Mexican Americans in the United States using the state of New Mexico as a case example. The recent increase in Mexican immigrants seems to have overshadowed the long history of Mexican Americans in the U.S. and they are now viewed as a recent phenomenon in our schools. This is historically inaccurate, but worse, it marginalizes students and affects the status and achievement of Mexican American children in our schools. Data sources and modes of inquiry studied education broadly but paid particular attention to literacy and language use.

Author

• Toni Griego-Jones, The University of Arizona