Chapter 6

This chapter bothered me in the fact that we have to look at aspects of a family dynamic in the Hispanic population as a family does not take education as serious as other cultures. We must change our ways to help bring their scores up even though it is not a major focus for the family.  If the family does not care about the education of the children, and we cannot get through to the family, the education system is blamed for something that is beyond their control.
The reason this bothers me so much is the fact that when a black or white student lives in a poverty stricken neighborhood and their numbers on tests are low it seems to be written off as a fact of the neighborhood.  If a kid from another country moves into the neighborhood and his scores are low, things must change to help that child.  I feel at times, we worry more about the people coming into the country then the ones that are already here. I just feel that the focus should be on everyone and trying to help all students, not just one group or another. It is a hard act to balance.  Looking at all children in America, it has came up with the, "No child left behind," but nothing is perfect in a society as large as America.  I believe that the politicians should talk with the teachers that are in the field, to find out what is working in the classroom, instead of just making new laws and a lot of noise. 
One thing I did find fascinating  is that English is not America's native language.  I also found it interesting that schools taught in German until WWI or Japanese until WWII.  After the wars it seems as though America relaxed with the education system and chose not to teach in other languages.  Today, we cannot teach in another language unless it is for teaching that language specifically, but we have to help all of these students who do not speak English assimilate.  I feel that sometimes America tries to be too politically correct.