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Hispanic children constitute the largest population of racial/ethnic minority students in the nation 's public schools. By the year 2023, the Hispanic enrollment is expected to increase to 30% of the total school population (pre-K through 12) in the United States. Because cultural background affects student learning, family and consumer sciences (FCS) educators must be knowledgeable about the cultural characteristics and family background of the students they serve, and they must practice culturally responsive teaching. In this article, 10 characteristics of the Hispanic culture and family values are presented along with implications for FCS educators, the teaching process, teacher education, and professional in-servicing.
In her 1994 Commemorative Lecture, Kellett (1994) discussed family diversity in the United States and its impact on family and consumer sciences (FCS) practice. She noted that the Flispanic community comprised 10% of the population. Hispanics are now the largest minority group in America, representing 17% of the total U.S. population (U.S. Census, 2014). Within the next decade, the Hispanic share of the population is projected to increase across nearly all of the U.S., with the highest concentration in the South (Urban Institute, 2015). By 2060, it is projected that the Hispanic population will constitute 31 % of the nation's population (U.S. Census, 2014).
For clarification, the U.S. Census Bureau (2011) defines Hispanics as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race" (p. 2). In particular, Hispanics of Mexican heritage comprise about two-thirds (64.9%) of the Hispanic population, making them the largest single Hispanic origin group in the U.S. (Pew Hispanic Center, 2014).
By the year 2023, the number of Hispanic students is predicted to increase to 30% of the total school population across all regions of the country, creating challenges for teachers, communities, and society who must accommodate their needs (National Center for Education Statistics, 2014). These challenges and opportunities extend to FCS professionals. Given the changing demographics, FCS educators will experience an increasing population of Hispanic students in their classrooms and educational settings. Because the mission and focus of the FCS profession is on families and improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and society, FCS educators need information about Hispanic families, their culture, and their...