Article Critique
Folk Dress, Fiestas, and Festivals: How is Mexico
Portrayed in U.S. Primary Grade Social Studies
Textbooks?
Rationale
Mexican immigrants and descendants consist of a lot percentage of students in U.S., especially in Texas.
It’s necessary for American students to learn more about Mexico.
Gap
The contents in past textbooks are superficial.
No comprehensive analyses of textbook about Mexico for primary grades have been published.
Context
Texas state social studies curriculum standards is going to be revised.
(Hope this research could give the government recommendations.)
Question
1.How is Mexico represented in social studies textbooks for grades 1-3?
2.What suggestions are provided for teachers related to teaching about Mexcio in social studies textbooks for grades 1-3?
(pp. 25-26)
Method
Constant comparative method of analysis
3 series of textbooks mainly used in Texas
Qualitative Research
Harcort-Brace
Scott-Foresman
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
(pp. 25-26)
Method
Constant comparative method of analysis
Search everything about Mexico
Qualitative Research
textual passages photos
mapsillustrations
tables
charts
captionsreferences
teacher’s edition notes
Method
Constant comparative method of analysis
Finally create 4 categories
Qualitative Research
holidays Mexcio people and heros
contested history
Mexican-U.S. relation
Theoratical Framework
1. Cross-cultural understanding
2. National relationship
(pp. 26-27)
Similar to Su’s (2007) approach during a study of Taiwanese textbooks from 1978-1995, we explored two themes to address the research questions.
Findings
photographs and
illustrationsMexican Food
DanceFestival
stereotype刻板印象
Findings
holidays
Cinco de Mayo1862/05/05
Independence Day1810/09/16
v.s. v.s.
著重在節慶、慶典,忽略其背後帶有愛國精神的價值觀和歷史脈絡。
Findings
Mexico people and heros
Mexico farmer
more than their people in cities
Mexico worker
藍領工人、農民工的景象
Findings
Diego Rivera (muralist)
Indigenous people(Aztec)
Ancient Americans more than other heros
忽視當地原住民文化與現今墨西哥人的連結;當代人物重畫家而少有墨國偉人的介紹。
Findings
contested history
There was NO “TEXAS” that time!
v.s.
¡ Texans against the Mexicans!
¡ Americans against the Mexicans!
U.S.-centric
以美國為中心的論述,沒有還原到當時的歷史脈絡
Findings
Mexican-U.S. relation
Use of maps
U.S. to be the top over Mexico
Economics
Agricultural products
Natural resources
National or state borders
Human migration
美國為中心,自我優越的角色
Conclusions
superficial
U.S.-centric
stereotype
Recommendations
Balance between old/now, holidays, people
What are considered important by Mexicans
Correct historical frame/perspective
Reflection
Correct historical perspective
Reflection
Textbooks are powerful “message senders”
What ideology [͵aɪdɪˋɑlədʒɪ]
behind those textbooks we still ignore?
Reflection
1. 「理論框架」的索引來自台灣研究,但該研究中 並未提出兩個觀點。
2. 研究方法缺乏詳盡的敘述說明,特別的範疇的產生方式, 亦會影響。
That’s it!603750190 Nick 2014/12/05