The Power of Parents

The Author: Edward M. Olivos is Assistant Professor in the Division of Teacher Education at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He received his Ph.D. in education jointly from San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University. His research interests include: Latinos and education, bicultural parent involvement, policy studies, bilingual education and critical pedagogy. He has published professional articles and book chapters in those areas.

«'The Power of Parents' is a superb contribution to the growing study of bicultural (for example, Latino) parental involvement in the public school system. In an engaging and intellectually stimulating manner, Edward M. Olivos masterfully crafts a case that authentic dialogue between bicultural parents and schools will not occur without tension or conflict. Drawing from models of structural inequality in society and anti-deficit thinking, and the actual voices of disenfranchised Latino parents, Dr. Olivos provides the field with a probing and intellectually useful theoretical framework that seeks possible pathways for emancipatory and democratic experiences for bicultural parent involvement. I highly recommend this outstanding book, particularly for use in teacher education programs.» (Richard R. Valencia is Professor of Educational Psychology and Faculty Associate of the Center for Mexican American Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, and Editor of 'Chicano School Failure and Success: Past, Present, and Future' (2nd ed., 2002))
«'The Power of Parents' documents why bicultural parents are resistant to participate in institutions, such as schools, that are alienating and unkind to them and their children. This book does not just point out the gross inequality of access in schools for bicultural, especially Spanish-speaking parents, but also offers a bold and daring solution to this problem. This book is an important testimony of bicultural parent empowerment as well as a political tool to be used. Anyone slightly interested in equal treatment and equality for bicultural children and their parents in U.S. schools must read this book.» (Luis Urrieta, Jr., Professor of Chicana/o Studies and Education, University of California at Davis)