Deck 7: Understanding European American Children and Adolescents

Question 1

Explain how the concept of family for European Americans might vary based upon such factors as country of origin, date of immigration, socioeconomic conditions and religion.

Answer 1

The concept of family for European Americans can vary greatly based on several factors.

Firstly, country of origin plays a significant role in shaping the concept of family. For example, individuals from countries with strong cultural emphasis on extended family structures, such as Italy or Greece, may prioritize the involvement of extended family members in their family life. On the other hand, individuals from countries with a more individualistic approach to family, such as Germany or the UK, may place greater emphasis on the nuclear family unit.

Date of immigration is another important factor. European Americans who immigrated to the United States several generations ago may have assimilated into American culture and adopted more individualistic family values, while more recent immigrants may still hold on to traditional family structures from their home country.

Socioeconomic conditions also play a significant role in shaping the concept of family for European Americans. Those who come from wealthier backgrounds may have the means to prioritize leisure time and family vacations, while those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may place greater emphasis on financial stability and providing for their family.

Religion also plays a role in shaping the concept of family for European Americans. For example, Catholic European Americans may place greater emphasis on religious traditions and rituals within the family, while Protestant European Americans may prioritize individual spiritual growth and personal relationships with family members.

Overall, the concept of family for European Americans can vary significantly based on country of origin, date of immigration, socioeconomic conditions, and religion, leading to a diverse array of family structures and values within this cultural group.

Question 2

Elaborate on some steps which educators can utilize to helpelevate European American learners' self- esteem and cultural identities.

Answer 2

There are several steps that educators can take to help elevate European American learners' self-esteem and cultural identities.

1. Incorporate diverse perspectives and representation in the curriculum: Educators can include diverse voices, experiences, and cultural contributions in the classroom materials, literature, and history lessons. This can help European American learners develop a more comprehensive understanding of different cultures and their own place within a diverse society.

2. Celebrate cultural heritage: Educators can create opportunities for European American learners to share and celebrate their own cultural heritage. This can include activities such as sharing family traditions, food, music, and stories. By highlighting the richness of their own cultural backgrounds, students can develop a sense of pride and belonging.

3. Foster inclusive classroom environments: Educators can create a classroom environment that values and respects diverse perspectives and backgrounds. This can include promoting open and respectful discussions about cultural differences, addressing stereotypes and biases, and promoting empathy and understanding among students.

4. Provide mentorship and role models: Educators can connect European American learners with mentors and role models from diverse backgrounds. This can help students see successful individuals who share their cultural identity, while also exposing them to different perspectives and experiences.

5. Encourage critical thinking and self-reflection: Educators can provide opportunities for European American learners to critically examine their own cultural identity and biases. This can involve activities such as journaling, self-reflection exercises, and discussions about privilege and power dynamics.

By implementing these steps, educators can help European American learners develop a stronger sense of self-esteem and cultural identity, while also promoting a more inclusive and respectful learning environment for all students.

Question 3

How might educators address the history of European immigration into the U.S in a way that fosters multicultural awareness and understanding?

Answer 3

Educators can address the history of European immigration into the U.S in a way that fosters multicultural awareness and understanding by incorporating a variety of perspectives and experiences into their curriculum. This can be achieved by not only focusing on the dominant narratives of European immigration, but also including the stories of marginalized and underrepresented groups within the European immigrant population. Educators can also highlight the contributions and cultural influences of European immigrants on American society, while also acknowledging the challenges and discrimination they faced.

Furthermore, educators can facilitate discussions and activities that encourage students to explore the diverse cultural traditions, languages, and customs that European immigrants brought with them to the U.S. This can help students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the multicultural fabric of American society. Additionally, educators can also incorporate literature, art, and music from European immigrant communities into their teaching to provide students with a more holistic understanding of their experiences.

Incorporating primary sources, such as personal narratives, letters, and photographs, can also provide students with a more personal and nuanced understanding of the immigrant experience. By presenting a more comprehensive and inclusive history of European immigration, educators can help students develop a more empathetic and informed perspective on the impact of immigration on U.S society. Ultimately, by fostering multicultural awareness and understanding, educators can help students recognize the richness and diversity of the American experience, both past and present.

Question 4

Identify some of the common stereotypes attached to European American groups in the popular media. What is the role of educators is dispelling some of these perceptions?

Question 5

Address how some European Americans might have difficulty appreciating the need for a multicultural emphasis in education. What challenges do they face in light of changing demographics?

Question 6

Immigrants from Europe came to the U.S. because of:

A) crowded conditions
B) scarce farming land
C) the rural systems' social and economic strain
D) the abolition of feudalism
E) all of the above

Question 7

Which statements should multicultural educators consider as true?

A) All cultural categories, majority or minority, deserve everyone's respect.
B) Racial categories are clearly delineated.
C) Many cultural groups have been treated badly; however, skin color was not the reason.
D) Everyone knows the category in which they belong.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 8

Although European Americans vary by country and language, etc. they do tend to hold common values on:

A) individual, personal achievement
B) free enterprise
C) private property
D) all of the above
E) a and c only

Question 9

In 2005 approximately_____Europeans entered the United States as permanent resident
S?

A)45,600
B) 56,000
C) 46,500
D) 104,600
E) 10,460

Question 10

Which of the following factors can interfere with the educational advancement of European American students?

A) rules forbidding learners from speaking their native languages
B) failure to provide adequate ESL programs
C) perceiving that students have the same learning style
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 11

Which of the following viewpoints have been helpful to educators in addressing immigrant families?

A) Immigrant students give up all their cherished customs so they can "fit in."
B) Immigrants arrive from a wide array of origins and for many different reasons.
C) Immigrant families experience few conflicts within the family because of the close attachments with one another.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 12

In the German American family, the father tends to have which of the following attributes?

A) kindly demeanor
B) unreserved
C) emotionally available
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 13

Effective educators can help enhance self-esteem by:

A) researching the significance of language and customs
B) helping students comprehend their potential
C) encouraging ethnic pride
D) honoring individual differences
E) all of the above

Question 14

Self-esteem tends to_______in European American learners.

A) be quite stable
B) be related to cultural identity
C) be unrelated to stereotyping
D) consistently increase
E) be relatively unimportant

Question 15

Greek Americans tend to emphasize family and highly value honor, which they call_______:

A) philotimo
B) machismo
C) filial respect
D) philanthropy
E) none of the above

Question 16

The immigration of European Americans to the United States included people from a vast array of regions.

Question 17

The U.S. education system has a proud history of cultural sensitivity when it comes to European Americans

Question 18

Most European Americans live in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Question 19

Stereotypes are predominantly based on well informed, though hurtful beliefs.

Question 20

One can safely assume that someone coming from southern Europe will have more or less the same cultural characteristics as a person coming from eastern or Western Europe.

Question 21

Unlike other cultures, European American males and females are very much alike in terms of learning style and world views.

Question 22

European American families are made up of many similar cultures, forming a tightly homogeneous group.

Question 23

Teachers have no effect on a learner's achievement.

Question 24

A school which is inclined to change according to the diversity of its student population can have significant positive influence on its learners' self-esteem.

Question 25

It is advisable to have school correspondence translated into the learner's native language so that parents can comprehend the school's mission.