We are going to find that what makes this issue so complex is that each
group
of immigrants and each subgroup within each immigrant group is not going to
be
the same. I found immigrant Latino (Mexican) students in central Denver
(urban) very uniquely different from Latino (Mexican)immigrant students at
the
South Alamosa Valley (rural southern Colorado) and Grand Junction (urban
but
removed from Denver). Students in predominantly Latino schools will be
different from students in predominantly mainstream White schools, even
within
the same district. Often the surrounding community provides a support
network
that helps immigrant families open-up their norms and expectations rather
than
fold-in within the safety net of what is tried, proven, and familiar. It
also
helps when they have other relatives and/or close friends near by who can
provide models that demonstrate that relaxing the rules will not prove
disastrous to the family unit. It makes a big difference whether they are
the
first within the family - group to migrate.
One thing I was told as a child and have heard Latino parents say to their
children is that children only speak when asked, only directly to the
question, or when they "know" more than adults, which is NEVER! In Spanish,
"los ninos hablan cuando las gallinas..."* Others are "en boca cerrada no
entran moscas,"* and "el que mucho habla mucho yerra,"*"oye, mira y calla,"
*
meaning that keeping the mouth shut avoids speaking nonsense and being
embarrassed. These types of expressions are abundant and clearly indicate a
cultural inclination toward [children] not speaking "too much." Many
Spanish-speakers, particularly from the Caribbean and Mexico, are familiar
with these expressions. Some are the equivalent of "children are to be seen
and not heard." While this is presented within the context of the family,
children often take them outside to the classroom. I remember sitting in
class
as a child not saying anything even if I knew the answer because the
teacher
had not asked me directly. My parents also advised me not to answer all the
time because I didn't want the teacher to think I was "sobrada" (excessive
to
the point of being annoying). Particularly, females have to learn
moderation.
My mother herself was taken out of school in the 9th grade by her father
because she was "too smart" for a girl and made the boys look bad. They
were
concerned about marrying her properly. I admit that was a while back but it
also happened to two cousins my age. I could have passed those values on to
my
own children, etc. When we consider families coming from poor, rural,
isolated, and "traditional" communities in Latin American countries,
sometimes
old values remain. These are families often forced to leave their countries
abruptly for political, economic, and other stressful circumstances
(including
home violence). They may not necessarily be familiar with "American"
culture
when they arrive and may even view it with a lot of suspicion. They may not
ee their stay in the U.S. as a permanent move and want to ensure the
integrity of their family and values for their return. When I lived in New
York my mother reminded me not to become "too American" because it would
make
it tougher on me and all of us when we went back. Americanized girls in
Puerto
Rico were not seen very well. It was often rumored that they were less
moral.
Indeed our largest source of friction was my desire to Americanize. When I
returned I was often criticized openly for having acquired bad habits and
ideas.
We need to examine the reasons for the family's migration and whether they
intend to return to their home country.
Marta Cruz-Janzen
<cruzjanzen@ACC.FAU.EDU>
*Some translations:
"los ninos hablan cuando las gallinas..." translation: the children talk
when the chickens....
"en boca cerrada no entran moscas," translation: when the mouth is closed
mosquitos do not enter
"el que mucho habla mucho yerra," translation: the one who talks the most,
he hurts through actions
"oye, mira y calla," translation: Hey, look and be quite (or Hey, look and
listen in silence)
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