Hispanics Education and English Proficiency

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Permalink Reply by LANYON on February 18, 2009 at 3:28pm

This Social Network for Latinos is a good forum to address two issues: jobs and education. These are intertwined, must be addressed separately, and require extensive participation. The prevailing question is: "Will families be willing to sacrifice their traditional belief that a university degree is a MUST to become rich and famous in this society?"

As a Civil Rights Coordinator, I worked in the Vocational Technical Education system for some time and, to my dismay, discovered that it was very difficult to convince Latino families that their children DID NOT have to go to the universities and obtain a sophisticated and expensive degree. Vo-Tech education is FREE or quite inexpensive, and it gives the student a skill to fall back on during difficult times when an income means survival. Not only that, Vo-Tech also encourages students into "non-traditional" courses that offer more interesting options to a skillful career. However, this technical education did not carry the "status symbol" that universities promote. Nowadays, entrepeneurship is critical, and we all know that everyone always needs a beautician to do manicures, barbers to cut hair, technicians to do the hospital work, electronics specialists, mechanics to fix cars..... carpenters, electricians, plumbers, masons and horitculturists for those pesky jobs that take most of our leisure time.

Just as well, the Jobs of the Future will be based on electronics, computers, sophisticated instrumentation that requires individuals with many years of preparation in order to understand their intricacies, manipulate their programs, and put them into action in the appropriate work environment. However, for many years there has been a deliberate move within the public school system, from High School through the University years, to "channel" female students AWAY from the Math&Science courses, thereby giving them a substandard preparation for entering the workforce that demands this knowledge.

I would like to hear comments in this regard, because just like many Latinos have experienced or perceived some form of discriminatory evaluation regarding the language barrier, so have they experienced and perceived discrimination regarding their enthusiasm and interest in pursuing careers that require math&science courses, other than the "traditional" female careers promoted by the academic elites.

Also, I'm searching for ideas and a methodology to promote an infinite number of "academias" that will teach, tutor Math&Science courses to prepare our Latino students for "The Workforce of the Future". Additionally, this must be complemented with a program of mentorships, tutorships, assistantships, and scholarships that bring them into the world of business in a seamless transition.

Your comments are appreciated.... please email me at "tsalazar66_@hotmail.com".

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Permalink Reply by Antonio on March 11, 2009 at 9:32pm

I agree, i would propose that contact through the young latino cell phone using population be a strategy. Most young latinos have a cell phone account package that includes internet access and most of the group you want to reach gets information from this group. Another location is any public library in the united states. There are free internet Texting ideas that companies are using to get to the texting market nowadays. You can setup a Mobile Marketing Campaign Text Messaging, it being done now with the si se puede rallys seen in past years. What do you want to do once you get their attention?

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Permalink Reply by LANYON on March 15, 2009 at 9:33am

The Youth wanting to use the Internet has two options: 1) buy a computer (very expensive to them) or 2) use the local Public Library System - here they have to compete with other minorities that, in large part, mostly use the system to search for Facebook, Twitter, etc. instead of homework. If they're using their cellphones for interconnecting, then they can afford a computer...... in this case, it's up to their parents who, most likely, are footing the bills.
My question has always been: with large national groups such as La Raza and LULAC getting so much funding, in the millions, why haven't they campaigned for local computer availability in the barrios? In fact, why haven't they promoted ESL and Math&Science programs at neighborhood levels to improve the education of Hispanic students, and assure their future success in their working years? Why does it ALWAYS have to be about political issues that mostly exacerbate the way that Hispanics are treated, nationally? Is their aim to maintain a high level of "victimhood" in the masses to enrich their coffers?........ this is just a thought because our youngsters deserve a better future than radicalism.

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Permalink Reply by Fernando A Camacho on May 14, 2009 at 1:06pm

I agree we need to discuss here issues about jobs and education

Maybe here we can create a network of opportunities for those Latinos that are looking for a job...

If you have a job to offer you can do it here...

Also, if you are looking for a job, you can requestde here

Thanks

Fernando

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Permalink Reply by Guillermina on September 17, 2009 at 8:54am

Usually jobs are there, education and opportunities are also there and available for everyone. The problem is that not everyone think that those opportunities are for people like them and besides, they don't even think that they can meet the requirements for those opportunities. And when someone tells them, you do not belong here, they believe it.

There is a lack of faith in the system. The achievers are not celebrated enough. They seem to be too far to reach. Some of our young Latinos grow up without seeing an uncle, or even a neighbor graduating from college and turning into worthy man.

What we see are the stories of those who spend so many years to graduate and after that, they have to work in a supermarket. There are not too many close examples to prove that education makes the real difference. That is not about a degree, but how the teaching from school can open our eyes to new doors and windows that we couldn't possibly imagine.

By the way, computers are now cheap. I found a very good one for $200.00, not too long ago.

Thanks and have a good one,


Guillermina

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