For my research project, I have endeavored to research about our southern neighboring country Mexico. This is a logical choice for me for several reasons: 1) I am the child of Mexican immigrants, who are now U.S. citizens, 2) both my parents attended college (more specifically, a technological institute) in Mexico in the period of the late 70s to mid 80s, 3) I myself attended a year of school (4th grade) in Mexico, 4) I am fluent in Spanish and have the ability to conduct research that will aid this project that might only be available in Spanish. Because of the aforementioned points, my research status includes having gathered information from my parents (i.e. interviews). Interviews with my parents are particularly relevant to this project as my dad completed the Industrial Engineering course of study with an emphasis in Electrical Engineering, and my mom completed the program for Human Resources specifically designed for the industrial sector. Here is sample of some of the data I have to date:
From looking at my dad’s college transcript, courses generally follow those offered in the engineering curriculum here at CalPoly. For example, support courses such as Statics, Dynamics, Calculus, Physics, Thermodynamics, etc.
Secondary education, which is High School for us and Bachilleres (or Bachillerato) or Preparatoria in Mexico, consists of 10th, 11th, and 12th grade only. (Secundaria comprises grades 7,8, and 9). Bachillerato or Preparatoria is not mandatory.
From interviewing my dad, children underwent an evaluation process held by their teachers at the end of Secundaria to discuss their strengths and viable career paths. Preparatoria is aimed for the preparation of those hoping to get into a university, and Bachillerato is more a vocational school. There is a similar process that happens in the education system in Germany, for those who might be researching that country.
My dad noted that knowing some English was definitely beneficial, as his university wanted to stay on top of the latest trends however they could. This meant using English-language textbooks, usually American, to teach the courses. This was attributed to the (perceived?) lack of up-to-date textbooks written originally in Spanish, or the lag in getting English-language textbooks translated into Spanish.
It should be noted that English is taught in public schools in Mexico since the elementary level.
More of my data is directly attributable to my personal experience with receiving schooling in Mexico. To engage in some of the concepts of the class, it would be interesting to see how Mexico’s engineering education might indirectly be a product of combining not only French and British styles of engineering, but obviously the American hybrid model as well, seeing that Mexican universities tend to follow a 4-year degree program. However, my working analysis would be to explore how those who are educated to be engineers in Mexico are highly encouraged, perhaps expected to learn English, yet I suspect that despite their knowledge of English, it is not these technologically-educated Mexicans who immigrate to the United States. I would like to explore how education (particularly engineering) shapes and reveals push/pull factors that might inform an individual’s decision to emigrate.
I really like your proposed idea for this paper, especially how you are going to use interviews from your family members who have personal experiences. It also might be interesting to see how engineering developed in different parts of the country throughout history. I am sure the Spanish colonization had a huge influence on education and the restrictions of education for the indigenous people. Different parts of country might have dealt with these influences in different ways. There might be some areas that were able to hold on to more traditional ways of professions and decided to value these skills more than technical education.
ReplyDeleteAnother aspect you could research is the influence of education and its relationship to the education in the United States. By the continuous immigration into the states there might be a study that describes different education as one of the motives. Are engineering degrees valued the same in both countries or what are the barriers going from one to another and are these barriers justified? Is higher education available to the majority of the population in Mexico or does economical position have an affect? These are just some different topics points that might help with your paper, I hope it was helpful. I can’t wait to see your presentation!
Christina, this is a fantastic project, with so many potential components! (Not all of which should/can be addressed for the purposes of this class project given the time limitations.) I think your focus on the relationship between educational level and subject-choice (e.g., engineering) and emigration decisions is quite interesting. Would this also be explored using an oral history/interview model? Or will you be examining macro-level patterns in terms of visas, green cards, etc.?
ReplyDeleteI think the question of colonization and education is an important one (including what some might call the economic colonization by the U.S. today). Like Jenny, I am interested in the question of engineering education and class.
I am also interested in the privileging of English-language texts in the engineering education curricula - it would be interesting to see if this pattern holds true throughout contemporary Mexico. It would also be fantastic to learn more of the history of engineering education reform in Mexcio - was Mexico's turn to the "engineering sciences" also part of a response to Sputnik (as in the U.S.)? In a Cold War context, I also wonder in what way, if any, engineering education is shaped by the comparatively greater politicization of universities in Mexico, the specific student protests of 1968, and/or the communist party?
As you are determining the direction you wish to go, you could choose to use oral history interviews with your parents as a primary data source and lens to explore broader patterns.
It may also be interesting to explore how NAFTA changes/does not change patterns of emigration amongst highly educated populations in Mexico (in comparison to other populations).
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