Richard Ramos Angelo State University A Search for Answers Richard Ramos Angelo State University

Definition OCS- In the San Angelo Independent School District we have an assigned area for students that have violated school rules to a point they are placed under suspension on the school campus.

Problem A majority of students referred to OCS are of Hispanic ethnicity.

Questions Why are there so many Hispanics in OCS? Is teacher-student cultural differences the key to the disproportion? Are classroom management systems biased?

Hypothesis Incongruity between the cultural backgrounds of teachers versus that of students Findings will also suggest an identity crisis

OCS assignment by Ethnicity 2002-2003 Enrollment by Race/ Ethnicity 2002-2003 Teachers by Ethnicity 2002-2003

Parent Questions What ethnic group do you identify with? How much education do you have? It is important to you for your child to get a good education? What is a good education? How much time do you spend with your child on homework? Do you support the school system? What kind of attitude do you have towards our schools? Do you feel like the school system is failing you?

Student Questions What ethnic group do you identify with? Do you know the history of that ethnic group? What language do you speak at home? Why did the teacher or principal assign you OCS? Is OCS a punishment for you?

Student Questions Cont. Is it important to you to get a good education? What is a good education? How much time do you spend on homework? Do you like school? Why or Why not? What do you expect to get out of school? What kind of attitude do you have towards school? Do you feel like the school system is failing you? What do you like about school? What do you dislike about school? Who is your favorite teacher? Why?

Student Questions Cont. Do you plan on graduating high school? What do you plan to do when you graduate high school? Do you know what it takes to accomplish that goal?

What does this all mean? Teachers- mainstream emphasis on individualism Hispanic culture’s emphasis on cooperation in the attainment of goals can result in Hispanic students’ discomfort with this nation’s conventional classroom competition (Vasquez, 1990)

Home Nurtures dependency Children loved and enjoyed Nurtures cooperation Authoritarian style Low-income children do not have preschool experiences Low income families are forced to value daily survival more than the educational needs of their children. Girls do not need to be educated as much as boys Promotes ignorance of sexual matters Achievement is for family satisfaction Some low income families do not see the connection between school related behaviors, such as daily school attendance, and doing well in school. School Values independence Teacher seen as distant and cold Values competition Democratic style Expects preschool experience Expects parents to value education above all others Both sexes should be educated equally Advocates sex education Achievement is for self-satisfaction School assumes that families know the types of child and family behaviors that lead to good school performance. Source: Vasquez-Nutall & Romero-Garcia (1989, p. 67)

Plan of Attack Give the students an identity. (Carlos Jimenez) Earn their respect. The Latino emphasis on respect as part of education may lead to students being labeled apathetic or insolent and receiving less attention in the classroom than their Anglo peers (Valenzuela: 1999) Show them the road to success. Roughly 70% of Hispanic high school students are enrolled in classes that will not prepare them for college (Adelman: 1999)