From: Margaret Robertson <mroberts>
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 09:59:20 -0600 (CST)

I would like to add to Lulu Delacre's suggestions of points of contact with the Latino community. Although their numbers are not large, Spanish Immersion schools are growing. I understand what Maia was saying about the focus on white children acquiring a foreign language being out of balance (I myself have encountered racist/classist attitudes when questioned about our selection of a Spanish Immersion school for our children i.e. "Why not French?"), but would hasten to add that for many of the parents choosing this education for their children the opportunity to expand our children's world view by giving them more than a token exposure to other cultures is as much a part of their decision as the opportunity for their children to learn a second language. Parents and teachers in these schools (who come from a variety of Latino backgrounds as well as European backgrounds) are dedicated to expanding American children's world view and, judging by the acceptance of cultural items and viewpoints as
"cool" at my children's school, largely successful. Here is a wonderful opportunity to promote heightened awareness of books with Latino authors and themes to be presented to those from within and outside of the cultures. Although not a huge market, these schools can play an important part in their role as an advocate of Latino cultures and a bridge between cultures in their promotion of these books in their libraries, book fairs and their outreach to their communities.


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 Margaret Robertson 651/628h31
 Ramsey County Public Library 651/628h33 (fax)
 1941 W. Co. Rd. E-2 mroberts at ramsey.lib.mn.us
 Arden Hills, MN 55112
Received on Thu 16 Mar 2000 09:59:20 AM CST