Tensions in the Americanization Process

The tension of Americanization becomes more visible as the cultural diversity of a school community increases and concerns are raised about underachievement, home language use, and the integration of bicultural children in the process of schooling. To explain immigrant children's underachievement, or failure to assimilate in the schooling processes, the notion of cultural deficiency or deprivation is often assumed to be operative, even when it is not spoken of using those terms. What is assumed is that the lack of Americanization, academic failure, and even poverty are due to failure by...

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