A Study Of Puerto Rican Bilingual Education In New York City (1968-2001)

Between the 1950 s and the 1970 s,A large number of Puerto Ricans migrated to the United States,New York City became their largest settlement.After settled in New York,Puerto Ricans faced severe language and culture shocks.In society,they are treated as second-class citizens and suffer from racial discrimination.At school,they are faced with a series of education problems,such as high dropout rates,poor academic performance and low academic qualifications.Faced with the mission of solving education problems,fighting racial discrimination and strengthening ethnic identity,Puerto Ricans were hoping for bilingual education.This study mainly discusses the evolution process of Puerto Rican bilingual education in New York City,the role of government,Puerto Rican students,parents and communities during this process,the implementation of bilingual education programs,and Puerto Rican attitude to bilingual education.The foreword introduces the research background and problems,defines and explains some main concepts,and summarizes the relevant research of foreign academia.The thesis is made up of three parts.Part one reviews the background of the Puerto Ricans fight for bilingual education in New York City,including the evolution process of the Puerto Rican migrate to U.S.and its causes,the educational dilemmas faced by them in the United States and the multiple reasons of the difficulties,which have paved the way for later interpretation of the Puerto Ricans' efforts to obtain bilingual education.Part two discusses the opening and development of Puerto Rican bilingual education in New York City,including the original intention of Puerto Ricans to strive for bilingual education,the development of the Puerto Rican bilingual education in New York City from 1950 s to 1970 s,and the effect of the bilingual education.Part three describes the changes in attitude toward bilingual education among Americans and Puerto Ricans in New York City in the context of federal and local bilingual education policies tend to be conservative,and New York City Board of Education recognizes that bilingual education has achieved little success.Finally,sketching the limited effectiveness of bilingual education and the reflection of Puerto Ricans on this issue.The conclusion briefly summarizes the full text,outlines the development track of the bilingual education policy and its essential characteristics,discusses the underlying reasons for the changing attitudes of Puerto Ricans toward bilingual education,and looks forward to the solution for Puerto Ricans in solving education problems.