THE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC CAREER OF MARIA L. URQUIDES: A CASE STUDY OF A MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LEADER.

Abstract

The purpose of this life history is to describe and evaluate the public career of Dr. Maria L. Urquides, a Mexican American woman who has held a number of distinguished offices in local, state, and national education organizations, and who has distinguished herself as a productive citizen of her community for over half a century. To describe and evaluate Dr. Urquides' public career, I traced her intellectual development and ascertained the extent to which her development reflected the dominant social and intellectual climate of the past sixty years. The investigation proceeded on the basis of a three-part theoretical framework drawn from the literature of history, anthropology, and psychology. The theory included the following: (1) review of biographical studies, (2) review of cultural pluralism ideologies; and (3) interpersonal perceptual approaches to behavior. The material for the subsequent chapters which treat Maria Urquides' life come from twenty sources: (1) ten interviews I held with her in 1984-85, (2) twenty interviews held with her family, friends, and colleagues; (3) historical documents and newspaper articles, and (4) personal memorabilia. Dr. Urquides' developmental years are treated in Chapter Four, a section which contains family history and background, as well as her years of education through college. Chapter Five provides the reader with a look at Dr. Urquides as a young teacher and social advocate. Chapter Six covers the local, state, and national recognition received in part to her efforts in the passage of the Bilingual Education Act. The seventh chapter follows the untiring efforts of her continued community involvement. Among the key conclusions which emerged from this study are these: (1) that Maria had a strong "mentorship" system through her parents as well as through elementary and high school teachers; (2) that Maria retained strong cultural ties with her Hispanic background; (3) she was a truly bicultural person; (4) Maria exhibited strong coping skills. Many criticized her methods of coping, but not her results; (5) Maria maintained a positive attitude in life, always turning obstacles into challenges; (6) Maria gained leadership skills through her involvement and participation.