Study: Latinos value education

By Diego Sorbara
Adelante staff writer

One boy wants to be an engineer because of his uncle’s influence. One girl wants to be a lawyer because she has seen the hardships her family faced.
These Sedalia youths are not alone. The children of Latino immigrants are now graduating from high school with high hopes for attending college. Discrimination and language difficulties, along with a host of other barriers, confront many of them. Leaving home and paying large sums of money for a university education is a foreign concept to many of the families who come from countries where college is publicly funded.
Still, despite the obstacles, this new generation has a drive to attend college.

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Ninety-five percent of Latino parents who responded to a survey by the Pew Hispanic Center said that it was “very important” that their children attend college, according the center’s survey of Latinos’ attitudes, which was released in late January. However, only 13.6 percent of Latino high school graduates actually went on to college in 2002, according to the U.S. Census.

Obstacles
Despite the lower college attendance, many families are actively seeking information about higher education, and many Latino students are interested in college.
“I have four families right now where a child is graduating and their family wants information on assistance for college,” said Carmen Bartlick, a liaison between schools and families in Sedalia.
Information about the enrollment process and financial aid can be confusing to both students and parents, however.
“The information given to them is overwhelming,” Bartlick said. “The parents depend on the kids and translators to explain it to them, and often they can’t get the information in Spanish.”
Ismael Batancourt, who works with international programs at St. Louis University, echoed that sentiment at the 2004 Cambio de Colores conference. He explained that many Latino parents do not speak English. Tackling forms such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which uses complex language, is an incredible ordeal.

Language barriers
Language can be a barrier throughout the educational process. Language proficiency when the student is young can make or break a child’s education, according to Linda Espinosa, an MU education professor. If a child does not acquire English proficiency, he or she is at high risk for low academic achievement and dropping out of high school. However, the children who are most likely to succeed develop their native language as well as English.
Ninety-two percent of Latinos agree with nearly all Americans in the Pew survey that teaching English to immigrant children is important. Latinos disagree among themselves, however, about whether the schools are doing a good job of teaching English. Latinos born outside the United States were more supportive of the schools in general than were Latinos born in the United States.

Visa problems
Visas are another problem area that families face. Most colleges will not admit undocumented students. Bartlick sees many such cases, but she doesn’t get involved; she is merely a go-between in this process.
“Some students go back to their home country to get their visa,” Bartlick said. “I redirect them to those who can help them, but ... it’s up to them to follow through.”
(To learn more about higher education opportunities for undocumented students, see “Undocumented students rally in D.C.”).

Culture clash
Intolerance was another problem Bartlick identified. Sometimes when people come from different backgrounds and economic levels, she said, the possibility of exclusion is greater.
Nearly half of Latino parents surveyed think Latino students are not doing as well as white students because teachers have lower expectations due to racial stereotypes.
This disparity might stem from cultural differences between the Latin American educational system and the one here.
“Our public schools have a tradition of active PTAs,” Espinosa said. “In Latin America, parents might not have the same traditions and would not expect to have a voice in their child’s education.”
Despite the difficulties, both Bartlick and Espinosa emphasize that success is possible.
Although the girl striving to be a lawyer is facing some tougher circumstances, Bartlick says, the boy hoping to be an engineer is on a positive track.
“It’s going to happen. It’s taking a little longer, but he’s getting support from his peers and family,” Bartlick said. “I really think he will go to college.”