Sofia Slovik
Foundations of College Writing
Dr. Riley
8 March 2013
Hispanic Student Populations: A Growing Concern
All schools are widely diverse but a growing number of schools have an outstanding
Hispanic population that needs more attention than usual. According to a New York Times
interview with Maria Figueroa, a school in Tucson had gone to its own measures to tailor to
their Hispanic students by creating "culturally relevant" curriculum, new classes, and a MexicanAmerican studies department (Santos 2012). Unfortunately, due to a bill that banned lessons that
encouraged racial resentment, the program ended and was replaced by tutoring for failing
Hispanic students. As funds were cut, a new curriculum had to be put in place, actions other
schools should be taking to support the Hispanic population in schools. A growing number of
schools in the southwest have large Hispanic student populations that schools should be
concerned with academically accommodating, in hopes of success and the benefit of the entire
United States.
Hispanic student enrollment has increased drastically since 1972. The Pew Hispanic
Center conducted research and found that as of 2011, Hispanic students include 23.9% of pre-k
through 12th grade public school enrollment and 18-24 year old Hispanic students include
16.5% of all college enrollment (Fry, Lopez, 2012). Also, Hispanic students are now the largest
minority group on four-year college campuses (Fry, Lopez, 2012). Clearly, Hispanic students
are a very large part of the population and the future will greatly depend on these students.
These students will inevitably become our future leaders, politicians, co-workers, neighbors,
friends, and family. Hispanics' roles in our future depends greatly on their education and
willingness to work hard. This drive to work hard and go to college in order to obtain a wellpaying job is directly influenced by stereotypes, self-esteem, and high schools' efforts to
encourage successful, young Hispanics and it is important that numbers continue to rise and
more Hispanics take their education seriously.
A large factor in Hispanics' school performance is the environment in which they are
living in. As indicated by Guyll and his colleges' extensive research, "acculturation and ethnic
identity may be associated with Latino/as’ educational outcomes and be relevant to their lower
levels of academic achievement" (Guyll, et al., 2010). Acculturation is defined as "adaptational
changes that result from immigrants’ contact with a host culture" (Guyll, et al., 2010). Hispanics
that are less accustomed to the ways of life in the United States and poorly fit with university life
are more susceptible to doing worse in their education than accustomed students. This trend is
especially prevalent with foreign-born Hispanics. Also, most educational institutes in the U.S.
teach in English while some Hispanic students may not be as comfortable with English as their
non-Hispanic counterparts, or may not speak English at all. Many students may only speak
Spanish at home and their parents may not speak any English, depriving them of the opportunity
to learn English until exposure to school.
The journal also states that "ethnic identity is an element of one's self concept and, as
such, corresponds to how one's membership in an ethnic group contributes to one's identity"
(Guyll, et al., 2010). Hispanics may form a strong attachment to their ethnic group and solely
identify themselves by their ethnic group. This signifies the value and positivity associated with
group membership to an ethnic group. Factors that can affect the influence of an ethnic group
include immigration, interacting with host culture schools, and being in the statistical minority.
However, with an attachment to their ethnic group, Hispanics may not to venture off and
explore themselves as individuals nor explore what they are educationally capable of. Branching
off from the security of an ethnic group presents many challenges for Hispanics. Ridicule from
other Hispanics that remain strongly attached to their ethnic group may occur and lead to a
lonely, outcast feeling. This may lead to lack of motivation to succeed in school and adopt
customs of the U.S. culture. Hispanics that feel secure within a close-knit ethnic group may
struggle with acculturation and stepping out of their comfort-zone in order to do well in school
and later on in life.
As with any minority group, Hispanics may be negatively affected by stereotypes and
others' perceptions of them as students, workers, and citizens. Opinions are extremely influential
and may completely warp a Hispanic student's view of them self, their ability to complete school
work, and succeed in the professional work environment. It is not uncommon to hear jokes
about Hispanics, hopping the boarder, working illegally, and not being able to speak English.
Much of the media, such as television shows, movies, and music, also poke at Hispanic
stereotypes. Movies and television shows quite often depict housekeepers and gardeners as
Hispanics that speak little to no English. In an episode of the popular television show, "South
Park", one of the main characters teaches a classroom filled with a diverse group of students,
coming from many different minority groups, but mainly Hispanics. The students are portrayed
as rowdy, disrespectful, uneducated, and difficult to teach. The main character says to himself,
"How do I reach these kids?" several times throughout the episode. This is just one of many
examples of stereotypes in the media.
Hispanic students that live in an environment where they are constantly surrounded by
negative portrayals of their ethnic group, will grow to believe they are accurate portrayals. This
pattern ties in with the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy. Self-fulfilling prophecy is defined as
when an individual believes to know the outcome of something and because of this strong belief,
the prediction actually comes true. An example of self-fulfilling prophecy is when a student will
tell themselves and others that they will fail their math test and when it comes time to take the
math test, they have the idea of failing so embedded into their mind that they actually end up
failing the test, just as they predicted and told themselves they would. Hispanic students are
definitely treated differently by some people and that has a negative impact as well. If Hispanic
students are constantly treated differently, told that they cannot do well in school, or as well as
other ethnic groups, because of their Hispanic ethnicity, they will believe it and fulfill the
prophecy.
Clearly, the issue of Hispanic students success is an issue that must be taken care of.
People should be concerned because of the fact that these Hispanic students are the future of our
country. Like the school in Tucson had taken action to celebrate ethnicity and encourage high
self-esteem and applying one's self, other schools may take action to accommodate their
Hispanic student population. It must be reinforced that Hispanic students are just as capable of
achievement and good grades as their non-Hispanic peers. Efforts to eliminate, or even decrease,
Hispanic stereotypes may drastically help as well. A decrease in acknowledging already existent
stereotypes may boost Hispanic students' perception of themselves and instill goals of success.
Hispanic students need to be able to believe in themselves and succeed. If nothing is
done to improve the educational success for Hispanic students, conditions will only worsen.
Hispanics' lack of commitment to school may negatively influence other students as well. This
issue does not only affect Hispanic students but also everyone around them, as any issue does.
Action should be taken in order to encourage and ensure that Hispanic students completely apply
themselves in school and believe that they are equally capable of being intelligent and successful
as anyone else.
References
Fry, Richard, and Mark Lopez. "Hispanic Student Enrollments Reach New Highs in 2011."Pew
Hispanic Center RSS. Pew Research Hispanic Center, 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.
Guyll, M., Madon, S., Prieto, L. and Scherr, K. C. (2010), The Potential Roles of Self-Fulfilling
Prophecies, Stigma Consciousness, and Stereotype Threat in Linking Latino/a Ethnicity
and Educational Outcomes. Journal of Social Issues, 66: 113–130. doi: 10.1111/j.15404560.2009.01636.x
Santos, Fernanda. "Tucson Schools Overhaul a Program to Help Struggling Hispanic
Students." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Sept. 2012. Web. 06 Mar.
2013.
Sofia Slovik
Foundations of College Writing
Dr. Riley
8 March 2013
Essay #2 Reflection
When I write in an "academic" way, I think I definitely do not sound like myself. I
change my tone, word choice, and sentence structure to accommodate my audience, a professor
or my classmates. This academic way or writing brings out a different side of me and my ability
to express myself. It is more sophisticated I think and more so based on important issues and
facts. I do not sound like my usual self because I normally do not discuss these things with my
friends or use this type of language. My personality is also suppressed more. It would obviously
be inappropriate to weave jokes or talk about what is on TV. into an academic essay. Overall, I
just think writing academically shows a different side of me, a side that not many people get to
see.
Sofia Slovik
Foundations of College Writing
Dr. Riley
8 March 2013
Essay #2 Exercise
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, Sofia Slovik, am writing this letter to bring to your attention the issue of Hispanic students
with a low motivation to learn and work hard in school. This is a growing issue among schools
with high populations of Hispanic students and action must be taken in order to improve
conditions.
On behalf of the large Hispanic student population at Reading High School, I ask that you
consider donating money to go towards a translator, a curriculum that includes Hispanic culture
classes and a Mexican-American Studies Department. The money will also go to one
educationally benefitting item that the Hispanic students vote on.
Thank you for your time and generosity. Please be aware that your contribution is greatly
appreciated and will make an immense positive impact in hundreds of students lives, both
personal and academically. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Sofia Slovik
Sofia Slovik
Foundations of College Writing
Dr. Riley
8 March 2013
Essay #2 Exercise Reflection
The essay and the exercise are very different in tone do to the purpose of each. The essay
was more so to inform the audience of an issue that needs attention, while the exercise almost
needed less facts but more convincing words in order to get a donation. The tone of the exercise
was just as professional, if not more, as the tone of the essay. The exercise was also different
because word choice matters a lot more when asking a private foundation for a donation. It is
necessary to stick out because there are countless other organizations and causes that all ask for
donations.