In the chapter on education, Hopgood takes on the notion
that Asian children tend to out-perform children from other cultural
groups. She examines culture and
ethnicity as a variable for academic achievement by through a review of research,
informal interviews and reflecting on her own experiences. Her inquiry stresses how parents are the
purveyors of cultural messages to their children about the importance of
academic success.
Last year, I completed a series of interviews with a group
of first year students at a Midwestern college.
The focus of the second interview was to examine how family and
community contexts have shaped the beliefs and attitudes of the student and how
those beliefs translated into their college experience. I asked the students about why they chose to
go to college and what they believed about education. As a follow up, I asked them what they
thought their parents believe about education and how that message was
delivered to them.
Students in the group described education as a means to
getting a job and success as well as improving themselves as a person. For example, one person stated, “I think it
opens your mind to what’s out there” and “taking classes will make you smarter
and at the same time more personable”.
When asked what they thought their parents believed about
education, the students consistently stated that their parents thought
education was important. They described
both direct messages around the dinner table about the importance of education
and working hard. They also described
indirect teaching through parents modeling their own learning and being engaged
and involved in their child’s education.
What the parents did mattered.
The actions and words of the parents translated to the personal beliefs
and motivations that students have for their own education.
Hopgood reported on several studies and polls that show that
students in the United States are not performing as well as counterparts in
other countries. She raises the question
that even though American parents likely want their child to success, are we
really devoting the time “to instilling in our children with value of studying
and working hard to achieve what they want and to overcome any so-called
barriers or lack of opportunity” (p. 251).
With the broader cultural lens, we have to also consider rich factors
such as societal expectations, political systems, media representations, etc.,
but we still get the idea that what the parent does or does not do makes a
difference.
Hopgood, M. (2012). How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm: And
Other Adventures in Parenting. New York: Algonquin Books.
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