Educating new Americans: Hmong immigrant lives and learning
Author(s):
Hones, Donald F.
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : Michigan State University, 1997.
Pages:
276
Language:
English
Abstract:
This study addresses the question of what it means to be an American through the life history of a new American from Laos. Shou Cher is a community liaison for an elementary school, an evangelical preacher, a community leader, a husband and a father. His lifetime of learning, presented mostly in his own voice, is framed by various historical and sociological contexts that have shaped his life, the lives of other Hmong refugees, and the lives of other Americans, old and new: These contexts include the history of immigrant education policies in the United States, as seen through the lives of immigrant children; the historical and sociological impact of warfare as well as missionary work in the lives of the Hmong people; and the sociology of generational conflict, especially as it is felt among immigrant groups. Finally, Educating New Americans suggests that immigrant parents such as Shou Cher can contribute to the process of teaching peace to children, and making peace between diverse groups in America, the land of e pluribus unum. This study is in three parts. Part One, "The Immigrant, the School, and Society," provides a methodological and conceptual framework for the life history narrative that follows. Narrative inquiry is suggested as a method best-suited to explore the experiences of immigrants becoming Americans, as it highlights their lives and voices in story form. Part Two, "The Life History of a Hmong American," forms the narrative body of this book. This part begins at a point where Shou Cher's life almost ended, as he recounts how he was shot and seriously wounded near his house in Michigan, and his subsequent feelings of alienation and homelessness. Following this episode Shou Cher's educational experiences are highlighted, from his youth in mountain villages in Laos and Thai refugee camps, to his adulthood as an immigrant in the cities of the United States. Part Three, "Resourcefulness, Relationship, and Respect: Lessons from a Life," interprets three major themes in the life history of Shou Cher: Resourcefulness is exemplified by Shou's ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and make use of a lifetime of informal educational opportunities to improve his life situation and that of his refugee community. The value of Relationship is seen in Shou's strong ties to family and community, and his emphasis on building relationships across cultural boundaries in his work at the school. Respect for people and for diverse traditions is what makes these relationships work. These "3 R's" are of value not only for Hmong immigrants, but for all Americans, as they embody communitarian traditions that have a long history in the United States.