Cambodian Americans and Education: Understanding the Intersections Between Cultural Tradition and U.S. Schooling

Abstract

While Asian Americans are frequently thought to form a singular group, Cambodian Americans are associated with unique sociohistorical and political characteristics, and are often associated with academic underachievement. This article reviews and synthesizes the major existing Cambodian American-related works in the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, history, and education to provide a picture of Cambodian Americans as they relate to the American school systems. Through this review, a common thread of cultural mismatch is identified between traditional Cambodian values and their American counterparts, and its practical implications for effective practices are discussed.

Key words:

• Cambodian Americans
• Cambodians
• community programs
• cultural issues
• diversity
• governmental influence
• political aspects