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The Latina/o Pathway to the PhD: Abriendo Caminos Jeanett Castellanos, Alberta M. Gloria, and Mark Kamimura (Eds.) Sterling, VA: Stylus, 2006, 286 pages, $24.95 (softcover)
Because Latinos are the most rapidly growing minority population in the country, and the majority are below 18 years of age (U.S. Census, 2001), it is both timely and fitting that The Latinalo Pathway to the PhD: Abriendo Caminos (The Open Road) appears as we explore a number of issues related to Latino education. This edited volume utilizes the metaphor of an educational highway to the Ph.D. and is divided into three sections: El Camino Recorrido (The Road Traveled), Navegando el Camino (Navigating the Path), and Aprendiendo de los Pasajeros (Learning from the Passengers).
Section one provides context, using descriptive data, personal stories, and educational research to document the educational journey of Latinos. In chapter one Patricia D. Quijada and Leticia Alvarez suggest that in order to increase the representation of Latinos in graduate school, K-8 educational experiences must be examined and gaps addressed. The authors highlight Latino enrollment trends and argue that familismo must be utilized in order to engage Latinos in the learning process. Similarly, Milton A. Fuentes examines factors associated with high school matriculation. The author challenges the notion of "dropping out" and suggests that the literature points to Latina/o students as being "pushed out" of school. Four contextual dimensions are listed that have shown to be successful in schools with high Latino enrollments.
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