* "Kids have brains like a sponge. I think the earlier you intervene and teach kids, there is more opportunity for them to succeed later in life. By giving minority children the same resources, we are opening them up to a world of opportunities. I guess this goes with the philosophy of second language learners...we start children learning foreign languages much earlier because they learn it much easier than an adult. If we cut down the obstacles minority students have in front of them (prejudice, isolation, alienation), they will be just as successful at the majority." [ER]

* "I believe that a minority child gradually becomes more successful as he/she grows because the child can then be exposed to more enviroment." [SK]

* "Being a minority I don't think plays a part in success. It is more about the knowledge of the English language. If they need to learn more English to be successful, the earlier the better. But it always helps to be knowledgeable in your native language first, because then it is just a matter of learning the English language." [SRe]

* "I haven't taught really young ones but my guess would be that the younger they get started the more successful they will be." [FS]

* "I would hope that the longer minority students are in school, the more successful they become. It would be tragic if the other were true." [MP]

* "Perhaps it's more of a developmental thing. If minorities are in a positive environment where they're valued and respected for "the content of their character" and their special talents and abilities, this builds their self-esteem at an early age. If this can continue, it leads to success for the student." [SL]

* "That is a difficult question to answer. I think it is a process that involves growing up, becoming comfortable with who they are (that's for students), and following their dreams. This may not happen until they are older so I really can't give you a definitive answer to that question." [NK]

* "Since my main experience lies at the intermediate and middle level of education, I would say the students are more successful when they are younger. I believe this because I saw a difference between 5th and 6th grade students' attitudes toward school compared to the 8th grade students. The older students were starting to break more into ethnic groups, and be more influenced by older peers and learned ideas." [CA]

* "I don't know. . there are so many factors that affect their success (family dynamics, background experiences, health issues, etc.)" [JKu]

* " think that might depend on the child and his/her background and support from home and school. Children may be more successful when they're young because they may not be as concerned about what their peers think as later in life(not that they don't care when they're younger). Then again, it could be the other way around. Perhaps a child has been through some difficult situations because of being a minority and will do everything to "prove" himself. I am a firm believer that most children, minority or not, will be successful with the love, interest, support and encouragement from home and school." [DR]

* "I think that children with minorities have the opportunity to be successful both at younger and older ages. I think that it all depends on the kind of guidance, as well as encouragement, that they get from their teachers and parents. If we are able to instill good work ethic and problem solving skills in them while they are young, and are able to build on that and encourage them as they grow, they have to opportunity, as well as the skills to have continued success." [KP]

* "Younger, when they are more impressionable" [HH]

* "I would have to say that as the children grow older they tend to gain more experience. They will experience many more situations during their education as they grow older." [KW]

* "I truly believe that is all in the way a child is brought up. There earlier years in school are going to prepare them for what is to come in the future. What they learn about diversity in grade school with help them significantly in high school and beyond." [JKe]

* "I would say when they are older, just because they have more experience in life." [NS]

* "Younger for the most part. Like I said before every student is different. I believe that students absorb more when they are younger and they create their opinions of people at the younger ages. It also depends on the parents they were raised by." [SRo]