Abdín Noboa-Ríos, Ph.D., a native of Puerto Rico raised in the states, is a social scientist and educator who has worked in the fields of education, mental health, and organizational development for decades. As a former practitioner and now researcher from the barrios of Chicago and New York, he has long observed and confronted status quo. Alarmed by how flawed “reform” in education has been, he is disquieted by how poorly conceived “policies” have promoted rather than solved inequity. Concerned about America’s future, he strongly questions where we are going. In response, he bravely calls for a new paradigm, as a necessary renaissance that can escape current chaos and move toward progress. With six earned degrees and additional postdoctoral studies, he has developed a keen eye that addresses imbalance in our educational system.
Book 1: The Story of Latinos and Education in American History
The 2014–2015 academic year marked the first year that American, preK–12 public school enrollment became majority nonwhite, with Hispanic/Latinos emerging as the largest minority. With continuing population shifts, Latinos now represent more than 1-in 4 (28%) of public-school students.
Unquestionably, American public schools are in trouble, with national achievement reaching new lows and progress for nearly two-thirds of all 4th and 8th graders below proficiency. Adding to the imbalance, students of color rank lowest, with Latinos and African Americans remaining consistently last.
To understand the history of Latinos in particular, The Story of Latinos and Education in American History goes back in time to recreate the story, basically responding to how and why Hispanics got to this point. In this book, Dr. Noboa-Ríos relates the dark legacy before and after Plessy, as well as post-Brown challenges that linger. For a better and more balanced future for the nation, the challenge is to ensure that Latino students excel. Understanding how and why this dark legacy occurred is imperative to rectify the situation.
Book 2: Critical Issues of Latinos and Education in the 21st Century: Where Are We?
The year 2011 marked the first time in U.S. history where more nonwhite babies were born than white babies. Academic year 2014-15 marked the first year that K-12 public school enrollment became predominantly nonwhite. Among the five largest school districts, Latinos represent the predominant group. Such demographics are about a stemming population shift, not immigration, as well as the fact that more Anglo-Americans are dying than those being replaced by birth.
Meanwhile, our public schools are in trouble, where “normalized failure” has become the new norm and international achievement has reached new lows. In this mix, Latinos are 1-in-3 newborns. As the future of America is now “inextricably linked” to these children, our educational system must be more responsive, or the nation is imperiled.
For this book, Abdín Noboa-Ríos interviewed 112 prominent educators nationwide, including some of the best Hispanic educators and thought leaders in search for answers to America’s educational challenge. What do they say? What do these leaders see? What can we learn? Their many suggestions and concerns are well highlighted. For these leading scholars and practitioners, their views are about fundamental renewal, not piecemeal reform. Such action will require enormous shifts in both mindsets and attitudes. Appeasement misses the point. We can no longer undermine the severity of the problem.