School Kids/Street Kids

by Flores-Gonzalez, Nilda

• ISBN13: 9780807742235
• ISBN10: 0807742236
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Teachers College Pr

Summary

Only 62% of Latinos have completed high school, while 94% of Whites and 87% of African Americans have done so. School Kids/Street Kids examines who drops out and who graduates -- and why -- among Puerto Rican students in an urban high school. Using role-identity theory, Flores-Gonzalez explains how some students develop what she terms a "school-kid" identity that enables them to succeed in school, while others develop a "street-kid" identity and drop out. Based on a year-long study and in-depth interviews with Latino students, this book explores the implications of taking one of these identities -- which determines whether a student becomes, in Flores-Gonzalez's words, a "stayer, " a "leaver, " or a "returner" to high school. School Kids/Street Kids describes the sociopsychological dimensions of student identity development and the effect that school practices have on them. It also offers recommendations on how schools can facilitate the development of school-kid identities among Latinos and discusses how school reform can lead to their school success.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Sonia Nieto
Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Perspectives on Latino High School Drop-out	1	(13)
Theoretical Explanations for Dropping Out	4	(5)
Explanations for Minority Achievement	9	(2)
Construction of Identities	11	(3)
Patterns of Identity Differentiation	14	(18)
Introducing Role-Identity Theory	14	(9)
Using Role-Identity Theory to Explain High School Graduation and Drop-out	23	(1)
Applying Role-Identity Theory to Student Cases	24	(7)
Conclusion	31	(1)
Foundations of School and Street Identities: The Elementary School Years	32	(16)
Learning to be School Kids	32	(3)
Learning to be Street Kids	35	(5)
Transition to High School	40	(2)
Factors Hindering the Development of a School-Kid Identity	42	(5)
Conclusion	47	(1)
Dealing with School Stigma: ``I Guess One Reason Why I Stayed in This School Is to Show People''	48	(10)
The Reputation of Hernandez High School	49	(1)
Coping with Stigma	50	(4)
``Choosing'' to Attend Hernandez High	54	(2)
Conclusion	56	(2)
Peer Cultures and Self-Image	58	(17)
The Reign of Street Culture in School	59	(4)
Students' Self-Image and Reactions to the Social Environment	63	(10)
Conclusion	73	(2)
Finding a Safe Niche	75	(21)
Niches at Hernandez High School	76	(7)
The Significance of Extracurricular Participation	83	(4)
Constraints on Extracurricular Participation	87	(7)
Conclusion	94	(2)
From School Kids to Graduates	96	(16)
Reinforcing the Student Identity	97	(9)
Consolidating the Student Identity	106	(4)
Conclusion	110	(2)
From Street Kids to Drop-outs	112	(29)
First Doubts	113	(11)
Seeking Alternatives to the Student Identity	124	(7)
Turning Points	131	(4)
Creating the Drop-out Identity	135	(4)
Conclusion	139	(2)
(In) Between School Kids and Street Kids	141	(13)
The ``Renaissance'': Resolution of Conflict	142	(2)
On Becoming School Kids: Reestablishing the Student Identity	144	(8)
Conclusion	152	(2)
Creating School Kids and Effective Schools	154	(11)
The Challenge of Creating School Kids	154	(2)
School Reform for Latino Success	156	(6)
One Final Comment	162	(3)
Appendix A. Conducting the Study	165	(4)
Selecting the Participants	165	(1)
Gathering Data	166	(1)
An Afterthough: The Role of the Researcher	166	(3)
Appendix B. Student Data	169	(14)
References	183	(6)
Index	189	(10)
About the Author	199