Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Bruce Brydges
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
acculturation, adjustment, African youth, ethnic organizations, focus groups, Francophone African youth, immigrants, multicultural education, school partnerships, social integration, student adjustment, teachers, youth, youth health, youth stressors
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to gain better understanding of the adjustment process among Francophone African youth and to discuss ways in which this process may be improved.
The methodology that was used included dialogue with Francophone African youths, focus group discussions, workshops with youths and schoolteachers, conference calls, personal meetings, and comments on evaluation sheets. The findings confirmed the findings in the reviewed literature that immigrant youths experience a great many stresses that threaten their health and adjustment.
Generalization of the findings to other African populations must be done with caution because of the limitations of the study: small sample and the restriction of the population to available Francophone students. Nonetheless, the findings illustrate the importance of strengthening the links between ethnic organizations and the school system. Specifically, they underscore the value of having ethnic organizations become partners with teachers in efforts to improve the adjustment process of African Francophone youth.