Mexican Americans and Education ─ El Saber Es Poder

As the Mexican American student population in U.S. public schools climbs to over 8 million, the establishment of policies that promote equity and respect have never been more crucial.In Mexican Americans and Education, Estela Godinez Ballon provides an overview of the relationship between Mexican Americans and all levels of U.S. public schooling.

Mexican Americans and Education begins with a brief overview of historical educational conditions that have impacted the experiences and opportunities of Mexican American students, and moves into an examination of major contemporary institutional barriers to academic success, including segregation, high-stakes testing, and curriculum tracking. Ballon also explores the status of Mexican American students in higher education and introduces theories and pedagogies that aim to understand and improve school conditions. Through her extensive examination of the major issues impacting Mexican American students, Ballon provides a broad introduction to an increasingly relevant topic.

Ballon uses understandable and accessible language to examine institutional and ideological factors that have negatively impacted Mexican Americans’ public school experiences, while also focusing on their strengths and possibilities for future action. This unique overview serves as a foundation for both education and Chicana/o studies courses, as well as in teacher and professional development.

Estela Godinez Ballon is a professor in the Liberal Studies Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Her research appears in theJournal of Latinos and Education, Sociological Methods and Research, andWomen’s Studies, among others. Her research focuses on Chicano/a education, curriculum tracking, and women of color in academia.