erses the individual can be at odds with the dominant culture of the American school system. Traditionally the Hispanic culture centers around the family, church, and community not around the individual.
The cultural differences can increase the difficulty that students have relating to teachers and to school. High school students especially may not find any connection between their culture at home and what they are learning at school. When a school's curriculum has no relevance to the student's home culture the student is at great risk of prematurely leaving school. Without cultural relevance, a student may believe that school is not important. If school is not important then the student may decide not to continue to attend (Barry, 1998, p. 634). Without a high school diploma a student's economic potential is generally limited and the cycle will continue with the next generation. Texas Teacher of the Year, Miguel Ignacio Tinajero, has stated that: "When you have a teacher who feels respect for who the students are--their culture--they wil
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