Yesterday the Pew Hispanic Center published a disturbing report: Hispanic Household Wealth Fell by 66% from 2005 to 2009. This statistic is even more shocking when compared with Blacks whose wealth fell 53% and with Whites whose fell only 16%.
For some reason Hispanics seem to pay a heavy price (if not the heaviest price) in a variety of arenas whether we are talking about dropout rates, scores on tests, teenage pregnancy, obesity, gang affiliation, etc. It is probably for this reason that research has shown that factors that effect education more often than not have a higher influence on Hispanics and other minority students. These factors include such things as having not only a qualified teacher but a quality teacher (especially three years in a row), class and school size, attendance in a quality preK program, community involvement, etc.
When we say that Esperanza is being founded to target Hispanics and/or low income students it is not to say that other students aren't welcome. We just know that if we provide the best learning environment possible for our Hispanic students all students will benefit.
In 1996 John Morefield said something that I wholeheartedly support, “I have come to believe that a school designed for children of color, works for white children. The reverse, however, is not true. Consequently, if we design our schools to work for children of color they will work for all children.”
Resource:
http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=145
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