"There is indeed a third-generation decline in educational attainment. The third-generation decline phenomenon among Asian students and adults is in part associated with what I call blind-assimiliation into the prevailing norm and value of educational achievement in America. That is, third- or higher-generation Asians often accept the American norm that as long as they try, it will be acceptable even if they do not reach a higher level of education, whereas many Asians who grow up in an immigrant family believe that if they try harder, they can do better."

********books.google.com/books?id=5PSYZMs8TzEC&pg=PA298&lpg=PA298&dq=%22thi rd+generation+decline%22&source=bl&ots=IZGyUTmNtg& sig=jeDBkZ0bCB-ieBmkZCQUP2MAf3U&hl=en&ei=s1OiS6zGH4X7lwfd_cyGCQ&s a=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBAQ6AE wAw#v=onepage&q=%22third%20generation%20decline%22 &f=true