Deculturalization and the Struggle for Equality 8th Edition Chapter 2
Deculturalization and the Struggle for Equality: A Brief History of the Education of Dominated Cultures in the United States
This text is a concise history of Anglo American racism and school policies affecting dominated groups in the United States. It focuses on the educational, legal, and social construction of race and racism, and on educational practices related to deculturalization, segregation, and the civil rights movement. Spring emphasizes issues of power and control in schools and shows how the dominant Anglo class has stripped away the culture of minority peoples in the U.S. and replaced it with the dominant culture. In the process, he gives voice to the often-overlooked perspectives of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Native Americans. An understanding of these historical perspectives and how they impact current conditions and policies is critical to teacher's success or failure in today's diverse classrooms.
- Education Nonfiction School Teaching
168 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1994
Ratings & Reviews
Community Reviews
22 reviews
Spring presents a very brief history of oppression in the United States that's neither complete nor flawless.
156 reviews 10 followers
In the first chapter, the author was very one-sided and angry. He is Native American, so I understand his aggression. If I did not have to read this for a class, I would have put it down after a few pages because the author is deliberately slanted. In the second chapter, Spring calms down, and the book moves along very well. He deftly covers the subject of forced assimilation and deculturization on non-white cultures since the 1700's. It is not the definitive word on this type of treatment because I believe every story has 2 sides, but it is definitely worth reading. There were many things I was unaware of before I read this book. This book is relevant because of our current situation with illegal immigrants. It may just change a few opinions.
- read-2008
101 reviews
The book was full of relevant information, but the content was disorganized at times. Some supporting facts had little to do with the topic of the paragraph, at other times content from several pages early was written again. Most of all, it felt like Spring was in a place to write the history of the Native Americans but was guessing at other areas of the book. Oh, and a personal pet peeve, Wikipedia should never be used as a source in an informational text of this level. Take the time to find a reliable source or don't include the information.
- academic
294 reviews 19 followers
This book studies only three cultures dominated through educational policies of the US - Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, and African-Americans. Fantasticlly educational read, if not quite an encompassing perspective. Spring shines when talking about his own culture in particular. I'm glad I read this, yet I feel enlightened and ashamed at the same time.
Read
Edited June 30, 2012At times, I felt like Spring was beating a dead horse (pardon the dubiously appropriate idiom) in detailing the ways in which minority groups have suffered discrimination in US education, but I did learn some new information about the subject. It's a decent introduction to anyone who isn't very familiar with the subject.
211 reviews 5 followers
Spring and Zinn are kindred spirits, I believe.
- school
213 reviews 13 followers
I think this book provides an insightful and lucid look at how schools have attempted to replace minority cultures and languages with those of the dominant culture. Spring's book is a must read for understanding historical and current flashpoint issues in schooling. Spring's illuminating discussion of how 21st century corporate culture is a dominant culture itself and how today's education policies are designed to prepare all students to fit into it. Perhaps the premise of his book is that white Anglo-Saxon Protestants have systematically denied educational access to ethnic minorities in order to establish and perpetuate their own system of privilege. The book covers historical injustices against several minority groups: Asian-Americans, Hispanic Americans, and others. This book gives a very different look at the history of minorities in the United States than perhaps many have heard in school or elsewhere. The content is easy to read and is not too saturated with statistics to understand. I would recommend this book to anyone who may be going to work in the education system.
195 reviews 5 followers
I enjoyed this book. The author gives a brief telling of the history of deculturalization education policies in relation to a few of the major non-white groups in the United States. It's interesting and straightforward, though perhaps not as exhaustive as some readers might hope. I would recommend it if you're interested in the topic of how education is used as a tool to bolster and maintain dominant culture in this country.
- books-read-in-2018
2 reviews
Very eye-opening and thought-provoking. However Spring had a very angry tone and was quite biased. Still worth a read especially if going into education. I only wish the chapters were shorter and his thoughts more organized.
3 reviews
This book is essential to understanding the history of education in the United States. This book and the topics are heavy but important to read and understand the history of the American education system for various ethic and racial groups.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 22 reviews
Deculturalization and the Struggle for Equality 8th Edition Chapter 2
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