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Beyond Sheer Trends: Latino Education: By
Manuel Hernandez
There is no doubt about the Latino influence in the United
States, but its presence is mostly visible in the world of
music and entertainment. Latino actors, actresses and mega-star
singers have knocked on doors, entered the house and moved
in to stay. With more Latino politicians in Office throughout
U.S. cities and Congress than never before, the 21st century
promises to open new gates of opportunity for the largest
minority in the United States. But the social, financial,
educational and even spiritual development of the Latino community
depends on its vision and its ability to go beyond sheer trends.
In the past, the educational system failed to meet the diversified
demands and unique academic interests of American Latinos;
this worked against those who wanted to follow the footsteps
of a few megastars and politicians who became successful in
a house closed to them before. These doors opened because
of their commitment to hard work, perseverance and education.
In the present, there has been a lot of commitment to information
and planning but less commitment to action and results. How
can these doors remain open if education serves a community
that grows in number but diminishes in knowledge?
Trends in music are sometimes sudden and unexpected, but
changes in education and the core curriculum require much
more than sheer trends. Research, scholarly study and scientifically
supported evidence are all required to convince those who
have the keys to go beyond sheer trends and make things happen.
Let us be specific and spearheaded about strategies in which
to improve academic standards for Latinos. The current educational
standards need to be revised and enhanced with vision and
knowledge on how to improve interest in reading, writing and
math. The new SAT will have three sections: reading, writing
and math. These changes will encourage educational influences
in the core curriculum across the United States that will
without a doubt affect the education of Latinos and other
American teens as well.
The five states with the largest Latino population deliver
about two-thirds of the electoral votes to win the U.S. presidency.
This influence has not been taken for granted by politicians
on all blocks of the neighborhood. With that kind of influence,
Latinos can and will rise above sheer trends and will devise
a plan to improve the education of their children. The better
educated a community is the more influence it will surely
have in all rooms in the house. This week marks the forty-second
anniversary of the ?I Have a Dream Speech? by Martin Luther
King. It all starts with a dream and develops into a vision
which will undoubtedly produce a higher quality of education
for Latino
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