Cultural Conflict and Struggle

The Author: Patricia Ruggiano Schmidt, an early childhood and reading teacher for twenty-five years, earned her doctorate in Reading and Language Arts from Syracuse University. Cultural Conflict and Struggle: Literacy Learning in a Kindergarten Program rooted from her dissertation, which received recognition from the International Reading Association in 1994. Dr. Schmidt is Assistant Professor in the Education Department at Le Moyne College, New York, where her research, teaching and service revolve around literacy and multicultural education. In 1996, Dr. Schmidt was honored with the Le Moyne College Matteo Ricci Award for her work and achievements related to campus diversity.

«A wonderful example of how qualitative research can ground such abstract concepts as multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion in the everyday lives of children and educators. Schmidt’s skillfully constructed ethnography of how a girl named Peley and a boy named Raji experience kindergarten is a must read for everyone concerned about a quality education for all.» (Robert Bogdan, Professor of Cultural Foundations of Education and Sociology, Syracuse University)«Patricia Schmidt has completed an important study of the struggles that young second-language learners face in becoming literate in school. The poignant story of Peley’s and Raji’s kindergarten year reminds us once again of the importance of cultural sensitivity and cultural responsiveness in literacy instruction.» (Kathryn H. Au, Professor of Literacy Instruction, University of Hawaii and 1997 President for the National Reading Conference)