The Spanish-speaking school pupulation in the Northeast has grown significantly in size, but not in success in recent years. The Coleman Report revealed widespread and sustained inequality of educational opportunity for Puerto Ricans. However, the limited amount of other research on Puerto Rican students indicates that the problem lies in the…

This article describes the Aspira Consent Decree as an attempt to bring about the educational reorganization of the entire school system. (Author/NCR)

Evaluation of college-level Spanish-language textbooks to determine depiction of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban culture found inaccuracies, oversimplifications, and omissions about the ethnic groups. Foreign language educators should establish criteria for evaluating foreign-language textbooks to assure accurate representations of cultures and…

Describes an anthropological and ethnographic study of writing and the shaping of consciousness in a junior high school, focusing on narrative and performative modes of literacy. Shows how Black and Puerto Rican students struggle with their writing in search of a voice that can express their lived experience in a partially hostile world. (RDN)

This review of the literature on Puerto Ricans in historical and social science research focuses on major English-language books. The review finds that colonialism has been a major factor in, an orienting influence of, and a focus for critical writing about Puerto Ricans. In general, books published before 1970 were reflective, implicitly or…

Data from the Latino National Political Survey were used to examine respondents' use of primary and secondary ethnic identifications. "Hispanic" ethnicity was found to be neither simply instrumental nor cultural but rather a complex phenomenon, differing by many demographic characteristics and by use of panethnicity as a primary or…

Describes a community asset assessment used as a mechanism for reaching and engaging an undervalued community. Latino adolescents were placed in leadership roles as assessment interviewers in a Puerto Rican community. Discusses challenges and implications for involvement of Latino youths in school and human-services agency asset research. (LSR)

A study investigated the effectiveness of a 4-second time delay instructional package and language of instruction on the learning of English sight words and incidental information by 4 Puerto Rican middle school students with mental retardation. Both Spanish and English time delay conditions were equally effective and efficient for 3 participants.…

Purposes of this study were to identify certain psychosocial attributes and life experiences of minority adolescent mothers and explore variations in these attributes and experiences in and across age and ethnic groups. (PCB)

In response to reviewer criticisms, reiterates that the Hispanic community must share the blame for low Hispanic IQ scores and become involved in educational strategy development. Discusses bilingual education as a hindrance to Hispanic students, and the need for improved standardized tests with single norms. Contains 27 references. (Author/SV)

Illustrates the development of a news story on drug abuse in a North Philadelphia Puerto Rican community from the reporter's viewpoint. Relates difficulties in acquiring information, getting interviews, and writing the final product. Shares reactions to the final product. (LS)

Reports on study conducted among White, Black, Mexican, and Puerto Rican children in grades two, four, and seven to investigate ethnic differences in children's patterns of media use. Previous research studies are reviewed, hypotheses tested are described, and results are analyzed. (15 references) (LRW)

Home interviews with 30 Puerto Rican families in eastern Pennsylvania revealed that parents of higher-achieving children in grades K-2 preferred that their children have a native-language environment at home and in school to a greater extent than did families of lower-achieving children. Contains 48 references. (TD)

Results from analyses of census data for 997 immigrant Mexican wives, 347 Puerto Ricans, and 405 other Hispanics in comparison with 1,210 native-born counterparts and 8,766 white wives indicate that the labor force behavior of Hispanic wives is highly responsive to their earning potential. (SLD)

Examines concepts of culture and ethnicity commonly used to describe the adaptation faced by Puerto Rican migrant women as composite conceptualizations closely related to, and constructed by, language, class, and gender roles. The function of literacy is important in the adjustment of the newcomer. (SLD)