This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1077727X08330671v1 37/4/422    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Nesteruk, O. Articles by Garrison, M. E. B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Immigrant Parents’ Concerns Regarding Their Children’s Education in the United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: nesteruko{at}mail.montclair.edu.

	Abstract

A growing body of research suggests that as immigrant families assimilate into U.S. culture, their children’s academic achievements and aspirations decline. This article explores possible reasons for this finding from the perspective of immigrant parents from Eastern European countries whose children attend U.S. schools. In-depth, qualitative interviews are conducted with 24 married mothers and fathers who hold professional-status employment. The data are analyzed using open and axial coding approach and three central, recurring themes emerge: (a) Parental Influences: "Education is a must. . . . The sky is the limit"; (b) The Educational System: "It is not challenging enough, and homework is not required"; and (c) Sociocultural Influences: "Everything here is about making money. . . . But what about our children?" Supporting, illustrative narratives are presented in connection with each theme to explain the perspectives of these immigrant parents on their children’s schooling in the United States, and to add other tentative factors for further research into the decline of the children’s academic achievement and aspirations with longer residence in the United States. Implications for family and consumer scientists are presented.

First published on February 23, 2009, doi:10.1177/1077727X08330671

Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal 2009;37:422.

A more recent version of this article appeared on June 1, 2009


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?