AP Photo/Noah Berger
AP Photo/Noah BergerThe California Department of Education released a more readable and tempered draft of an “ethnic studies model curriculum” on Friday, 11 months after intense criticism of the first draft forced state officials to order a rewrite.
Its release will start eight months of review and revision, beginning with an Aug. 13 meeting of a curriculum commission reporting to the State Board of Education, then a one-month public comment period and more review. The process will culminate in adoption by the state board in March.
The model curriculum will serve as a guide, not a mandated curriculum, for the several hundred high schools that already offer ethnic studies courses. The author of a bill to make a course in ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement withdrew it last fall amid the furor over the initial draft, but Assemblyman José Medina, D-Riverside, has said he would re-introduce Assembly Bill 331 next year. Last month, California State University trustees voted to make ethnic studies a graduation requirement, and the Legislature is poised to pass an alternate version.
The extensive revision includes chapters on the background of ethnic studies, guidance to districts on how to teach it and sample lesson plans. Gone from the new draft are a glossary full of jargon and academic language and a section on Arab-American history with references to Israeli oppression of Palestinians. The department of education reported receiving 21,000 comments on the initial draft, primarily critical, in the summer of 2019; 18,000 of those asserted the section was one-sided or prejudiced.
The language of the new document is more moderate and inclusive, encouraging classroom discussion of all students’ ethnicities and family backgrounds. But its focus has not changed. Like the original draft, the document is “true to the fidelity of the ethnic studies movement,” the California Department of Education said in a press release Friday. It will concentrate on the four ethnic and racial groups that have been the focus of ethnic studies in higher education since its inception in the late 1960s: African American, Chicano and Latino, Native American and Indigenous people, and Asian Americans.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who has overseen the revision, announced in February that the four groups would be the focus. Since then, the Black Lives Matter movement, galvanized by the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police, has drawn attention to racism and the need to understand its roots and continuing impact.
In the press release, Thurmond implied that the activism of the past six months reaffirmed his decision.
“Our schools have not always been a place where students can gain a full understanding of the contributions of people of color and the many ways throughout history — and present day — that our country has exploited, marginalized and oppressed them,” he stated. “At a time when people across the nation are calling for a fairer, more just society, we must empower and equip students and educators to have these courageous conversations in the classroom.”
In comments last summer, Sikh, Korean and Jewish Americans and other ethnic groups called for inclusion of their heritage and immigrant stories. That, in turn, led to a backlash from an ethnic studies coalition and others who warned against watering down the curriculum. Ethnic studies is not civics, they said; it is about Americans whose stories and struggles have been missing from history courses and the traditional curriculum, they said.
The revised draft states that ethnic studies “should emphasize educational equity by being inclusive of all students, regardless of their backgrounds.” An ethnic studies course should encourage students to examine and share their own family histories and experiences, it says. Through ethnic studies, “students will gain a deeper understanding of their own identities, ancestral roots and knowledge of self.”
But, it adds “time constraints” that will force districts and teachers to make “difficult choices.”
“While ethnic studies should address ethnicity in the broadest sense, it should devote special emphasis to the foundational disciplines while making connections to the varying experiences of all students,” it states.
Sample lesson plans introducing ethnic studies recommend that students conduct oral histories and study the civil rights movement. African American studies might include lessons on historic housing segregation such as redlining with a reading from the play Raisin in the Sun. Lessons on the Black Lives Matter movement would start with a classroom discussion of a local or national incident of police brutality.
“Students will also begin to think about how they would respond if an incident took place in their community. Students will have the opportunity, via the social change projects, to describe what tools and/or tactics of resistance they would use,” it says.
A group of high school ethnic studies teachers and college professors largely wrote the first draft in the spring of 2019. California Department of Education staff wrote the revision, after reviewing public comments, consulting ethnic studies experts and meeting with students.
Characterizing the revision as “more of a reformat than a rewrite,” R. Tolteka Cuauhtin, a Los Angeles teacher and co-chair of the advisory committee that created the original draft curriculum, said Saturday he was pleased that it incorporates key elements of the original draft.
But he also said there are “some significant omissions” in the new document and concerns that will be fleshed out in coming days. In responding to the critics last year, the revision “now further caters to whiteness and the status quo attacks in significant ways,” he said.
The first edition continues to have widespread support among ethnic studies educators and communities of color, he said.
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Anne Johnson 2 years ago2 years ago
We need to focus more on our culture and history, thanks for this post.
Megan Smith 3 years ago3 years ago
This is brainwash for people who are uneducated. How could any higher educated adult think that taking out the Jewish peoples history and Israel’s history is giving students a better education? It will only further antisemitism in this country and it really shows how little people care about Jews when insane ideas like this curriculum is suddenly socially accepted. I’m honestly so upset reading this article and how blind people are to the hate … Read More
This is brainwash for people who are uneducated. How could any higher educated adult think that taking out the Jewish peoples history and Israel’s history is giving students a better education? It will only further antisemitism in this country and it really shows how little people care about Jews when insane ideas like this curriculum is suddenly socially accepted.
I’m honestly so upset reading this article and how blind people are to the hate that they are about to commit. No Jews should feel safe in this country if something like this ethnic studies revision is passed.
Sheryl Williams 3 years ago3 years ago
“Our schools have not always been a place where students can gain a full understanding of the contributions of people of color and the many ways throughout history — and present day — that our country has exploited, marginalized and oppressed them,” he stated. “At a time when people across the nation are calling for a fairer, more just society, we must empower and equip students and educators to have these courageous conversations in the … Read More
“Our schools have not always been a place where students can gain a full understanding of the contributions of people of color and the many ways throughout history — and present day — that our country has exploited, marginalized and oppressed them,” he stated. “At a time when people across the nation are calling for a fairer, more just society, we must empower and equip students and educators to have these courageous conversations in the classroom.”
The problem is that this does not allow for discussion, debate or courageous conversations. This vilifies people of any color who has had success in their lives. It further magnifies differences and creates resentment where it is nonexistent. It further categorizes people rather than look at how differences and uniqueness have contributed to creating the America we know. It’s indoctrination that does not foster critical thinking skills but conformity.
Gail Stetson 3 years ago3 years ago
I find this very troubling. For example, asking students what tools they would use for resistance should an incident occur is implying that resistance is the proper response when perhaps fact-finding and meetings to look at, for example, police policies and procedures would be more productive and reduce the possibility of reoccurrence. Also, requiring students to discourse on their ethnicity has backfired in some places making a student feel more "other." in addition, … Read More
I find this very troubling. For example, asking students what tools they would use for resistance should an incident occur is implying that resistance is the proper response when perhaps fact-finding and meetings to look at, for example, police policies and procedures would be more productive and reduce the possibility of reoccurrence.
Also, requiring students to discourse on their ethnicity has backfired in some places making a student feel more “other.” in addition, in our multicultural, multi-ethnic society, there are many students who have more than one ethnic background which is challenging and confusing in itself. Focussing on a person’s color or background is not what this country is about. When was the last time it was even okay to tell a Polack joke? And we are still not facing issues like inner-city violence, poverty, gang activities.
This is a big step backwards.
Joshua Cotsenmoyer 3 years ago3 years ago
It seems to me that our focus on racial and cultural issues which is much more complex than grammar school age children will be able to understand is more of an attempt to brainwash a generation of children rather than give them the tools to be successful in society. How about teaching kids, personal responsibility, hard work, honesty, perseverance, and the list goes on. Why are these virtues along with our founding documents … Read More
It seems to me that our focus on racial and cultural issues which is much more complex than grammar school age children will be able to understand is more of an attempt to brainwash a generation of children rather than give them the tools to be successful in society. How about teaching kids, personal responsibility, hard work, honesty, perseverance, and the list goes on. Why are these virtues along with our founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, and our Constitution not at the front of our children’s education?
I can tell you why. There is a far left Marxist movement in this country that wants to change America into a Communist country and it works slowly but methodically. It’s not so slow anymore and if you care about this country and your children or grand children you better wake up to this movement and stand against it. Eventually it will come for you and there will be no one left to save you.
Elias Serna 3 years ago3 years ago
This article is disingenuous and biased against Ethnic Studies scholarship. What is most disturbing and apparently "overlooked" by a "seasoned" journalist is the outright corruption and influence of the Jewish Caucus. I looked at the revision, particularly the Public Comment: there were over 18,000 comments solely on inclusion of Jewish Americans into the curriculum. The rest of the comment sections were in the tens or a few hundred. If one question drew 18,000 comments, does … Read More
This article is disingenuous and biased against Ethnic Studies scholarship. What is most disturbing and apparently “overlooked” by a “seasoned” journalist is the outright corruption and influence of the Jewish Caucus. I looked at the revision, particularly the Public Comment: there were over 18,000 comments solely on inclusion of Jewish Americans into the curriculum. The rest of the comment sections were in the tens or a few hundred. If one question drew 18,000 comments, does that not point to explicit rigging and influence? We can’t even have an authentic discussion on race, racism and Ethnic Studies when the politicians in charge are playing dirty tricks behind everyone’s back.
Bakari 3 years ago3 years ago
Great to see that ethnic studies will become a secondary course requirement, but removing the glossary from the original proposal seems to indicate that the revised ethnic studies curriculum might well be watered down, and void of the liberatory education that would raise the consciousness of students and help them understand the ideological forces that have impacted the four ethnic study groups. I also doubt that the curriculum will point to the type of ideological … Read More
Great to see that ethnic studies will become a secondary course requirement, but removing the glossary from the original proposal seems to indicate that the revised ethnic studies curriculum might well be watered down, and void of the liberatory education that would raise the consciousness of students and help them understand the ideological forces that have impacted the four ethnic study groups. I also doubt that the curriculum will point to the type of ideological lens that will encourage students to explore progressive and revolutionary ideologies that liberate people from traditional oppressive systems of rule, starting with a strong, positive sense of cultural and gender identity.
Hopefully conscious teachers will not allow themselves to be held back by state curriculum if it appears to be watered down. I suggest teachers, educators, students, and parents get a copy of “Rethinking Ethnic Studies”, edited by R. Tolteka Chauhtin, Miguel Zavala, Christine Sleeter, and Wayne Au.
I also hope that some districts will see that trying to cover four ethnic groups in one course can be a challenge, and that offering individual courses which focus on one specific ethnic group will provide teachers and students an opportunity to do a deeper and wider study of a particular group.
William Barnes 3 years ago3 years ago
I've been a voracious reader of the books by Tony Hillerman, famous for his Navajo Tribal Police murder mysteries which featured his famous detectives, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. In his autobiography, "Seldom Disappointed", he writes about the belief of the Indian tribes of which names to use when addressing each other. The first name they prefer is the tribal name. If that name is unknown, then they preferred to be called … Read More
I’ve been a voracious reader of the books by Tony Hillerman, famous for his Navajo Tribal Police murder mysteries which featured his famous detectives, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. In his autobiography, “Seldom Disappointed”, he writes about the belief of the Indian tribes of which names to use when addressing each other. The first name they prefer is the tribal name. If that name is unknown, then they preferred to be called American Indians. They’re not particularly fond of “Native Americans” as they lived in this part of the world before an Italian cartographer, Amerigo Vespucci, charted the lands and seas of this side of the planet. They think the term, “Native Americans” as a white man’s label. The indigenous peoples who lived here were known as the American Indians when the American Holocaust took place. Now that should be taught in your new ethnic studies classes.
Theresa Montaño 3 years ago3 years ago
I would agree that for the most part the curriculum has been reformatted, not rewritten. However, the significant omissions and rewriting decenter the voices and perspectives of ethnic studies practitioners and experts. The tone and tenor of the rewrite appear to be written from multicultural, history and social science lens. The rewrites appear to be written so that the teaching of ethnic studies is more palatable to the majoritarian perspective. I hope that omissions, inclusions … Read More
I would agree that for the most part the curriculum has been reformatted, not rewritten. However, the significant omissions and rewriting decenter the voices and perspectives of ethnic studies practitioners and experts. The tone and tenor of the rewrite appear to be written from multicultural, history and social science lens. The rewrites appear to be written so that the teaching of ethnic studies is more palatable to the majoritarian perspective.
I hope that omissions, inclusions and reduction of lesson plan academic rigor, most missing their critical edge were not made to satisfy naysayers. A number of ethnic studies practitioners and faculty are taking a closer look and will be responding soon.
Dr. Bill Conrad 3 years ago3 years ago
The State Board of Education is doing a magnificent job of signalling their cultural ethnic virtues! While doing almost nothing to address the real crisis within K-12 education which is the inability to provide the curricula, professional practices, and assessments to ensue that all students achieve academic success especially our children of color - the real mission of K-12 education. Only half of third graders in California can actually read based on state test data. Only 38% … Read More
The State Board of Education is doing a magnificent job of signalling their cultural ethnic virtues!
While doing almost nothing to address the real crisis within K-12 education which is the inability to provide the curricula, professional practices, and assessments to ensue that all students achieve academic success especially our children of color – the real mission of K-12 education.
Only half of third graders in California can actually read based on state test data. Only 38% of Hispanic 3rd grade students can read. Only 14% of Black eleventh graders meet math standards.
Let’s hope that the students take agency and use the course as a catalyst to address the blatant racism that still goes on within California school districts including the allocation of quality human and material resources to the white kids leaving the dregs for the students of color in segregated schools sanctimoniously named Martin Luther King.
Rise up children. Take agency. All the adults can offer you is more pablum and platitudes.
Bo Loney 3 years ago3 years ago
It might be good to add a genealogical research component. Have the kids do their family tree. Maybe partner with Ancestry. It is so easy to find your actual family history and ancestors now. It’s quite a enlightening journey too.