Demographers predict that by the end of the century Spanish-speaking persons will constitute the largest minority group in the United States--in this context, bilingual education must be considered a crucial issue for educators and policymakers at the state, national, and local levels. Professors Cafferty and Rivera-Martinez analyze bilingual education policies and programs, particularly as they affect the Puerto Rican child, and reach some startling conclusions. They find that these programs do not, despite the best intentions, offer the equal opportunity and social mobility that has been their purpose. While the authors attempt to neither examine nor define the general problem of bilingual education methodology, they do address the problem of educating the Puerto Rican child as one minority among many. They suggest alternatives for solving the problem and recommend specific policies for federal, state, and local governments attempting to integrate Spanish-speaking minorities into the educational process.

Comedy / 3m, 3f / Areas La Gringa is about a young woman's search for her identity. Maria Elena Garcia goes to visit her family in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays and arrives with plans to connect with her homeland. Although this is her first trip to Puerto Rico, she has had an intense love for the island and even majored in Puerto Rican Studies in college. Once Maria is in Puerto Rico, she realizes that Puerto Rico does not welcome her with open arms. The majority of the Puerto Ricans on the island consider her an American - a gringa -- and Maria considers this a betrayal. If she's a Puerto Rican in the United States and an American in Puerto Rico - Maria concludes that she is nobody everywhere. Her uncle, Manolo, spiritually teaches her that identity isn't based on superficial and external definitions, but rather is an essence that she has had all along in her heart. This play is published in a bilingual edition, if you are applying for licensing rights please state which version (English or Spanish) you wish to produce. "90 minutes of laughter...Carmen Rivera has captured the spirit of the Puerto Rican experience."- D.J.R. Bruckner, The New York Times "Carmen Rivera's deft playwriting delivers Maria from her personality crisis with spiritual transcendence."- Ed Morales, The Village Voice "Carmen Rivera has suceeded in giving voice to the cultural search of Puerto Ricans raised in the Tower of Babel."- Juan Mendez, El Diario - La Presa

Demographers predict that by the end of the century Spanish-speaking persons will constitute the largest minority group in the United States--in this context, bilingual education must be considered a crucial issue for educators and policymakers at the state, national, and local levels. Professors Cafferty and Rivera-Martinez analyze bilingual education policies and programs, particularly as they affect the Puerto Rican child, and reach some startling conclusions. They find that these programs do not, despite the best intentions, offer the equal opportunity and social mobility that has been their purpose. While the authors attempt to neither examine nor define the general problem of bilingual education methodology, they do address the problem of educating the Puerto Rican child as one minority among many. They suggest alternatives for solving the problem and recommend specific policies for federal, state, and local governments attempting to integrate Spanish-speaking minorities into the educational process.

Comedy / 3m, 3f / Areas La Gringa es la busqueda de identidad de una joven de origen puertorriqueno nacida en los Estados Unidos. Maria Elena decide visitar a su familia borinquena durante las navidades y llega a Puerto Rico con gran ilusion de conectarse con ellos y con la madre patria. Aunque es su primer viaje a Puerto Rico, ella siempre ha tenido un gran amor por la isla y hasta ha estudiado la historia del pais en la Universidad. Sin embargo a su llegada se da cuenta de que la isla no le da la bienvenida. La mayoria de los puertorriquenos la consideran americana - una gringa - y Maria Elena se siente traicionada por los suyos. Maria Elena llega a la conclusion de que si es puertorriquena en los Estados Unidos y americana en Puerto Rico, en realidad no es nadie a donde quiera que vaya. Su tio Manolo, le ensena que la identidad no esta basada en lo superficial o lo externo sino que es una esencia que ella ha llevado en su corazon toda su vida.

Elizabeth C. Ramirez and Catherine Casiano bring together a collection of plays and performance pieces by innovative Latina playwrights. Surveying Latina theatre in the United States from the 1980s to the twenty-first century, the editors present works displaying a variety of forms, themes, and genres, expanding the field of Latina theatre while situating it in the larger spectrum of American stage and performance studies. Ramirez and Casiano provide historical context and a production history for each work and a biography of, and artistic statement from, each playwright. Contributors: Yareli Arizmendi, Josefina Baez, The Colorado Sisters, Migdalia Cruz, Evelina Fernandez, Cherrie Moraga, Carmen Pelaez, Carmen Rivera, Celia H. Rodriguez, Diane Rodriguez, and Milcha Sanchez-Scott. The volume also includes commentary by Kathy Perkins and Caridad Svich.

TO CATCH THE LIGHTNING and THE DOWNFALL OF RAFAEL TRUJILLO - two plays by award-winning playwright Carmen Rivera - that chronicle with roaring energy, power and theatricality the lives of Dominican dictator Trujillo, and a family torn apart by forces beyond their control. With an introduction by scholar Jason Ramirez.