The other side of the Asian American success story

by Wendy Walker-Moffat

Those who wish to avoid the costs of educational reform often point to Asian Americans as evidence that minorities can succeed without special program support. But as Wendy Walker-Moffat shows, the story of Asian American success deflects attention from the very real problems faced by new Asian immigrant groups. In this book, Walker-Moffat reveals the bitter contrast between the educational experiences of new Asian immigrant groups and the Asian American success myth. Using the case of the Hmong, a Southeast Asian refugee group that settled across the United States, the author shows how ill-prepared school systems are to educate newcomers. The book describes the well-intentioned but harmful practices that provide immigrants with a separate and unequal education, challenging prevailing motivation theories regarding academic success. Walker-Moffat points out the crucial connections between culture and learning and presents concrete ways in which schools can do a better job of educating a