Crossing Cultural Borders (1991) examines the day-to-day interaction of immigrant children with adults, siblings and peers in the home, school and community at large as these families demonstrate their skill in using their culture to survive in a new society. Children of Mexican and Central American immigrant families in Secoya crossed a national border, and continue to cross linguistic, social and cultural borders that separate the home, school and outside world.

This volume combines data obtained by a values projective technique over a period of more than 30 years, data obtained from census records, and ethnographic data obtained by the authors in fieldwork in several different places in the USA. Special attention is paid to schooling as a means of cultural transmission. The concept of "hinterland" (the great areas of the United States in between the metropolitan sectors) is developed and contrasted to metropolitan culture. The purpose of the book is to deal with a process in which all Americans, old and new, and of all ethnic groups and minorities, are caught up - the American cultural dialogue. This dialogue, centering on values such as individuality, freedom, community, equality and success transcends class and region.