News Update

Only proponent of ethnic studies drops out of Orange County forum

The sole advocate for ethnic studies has dropped out of a forum on the subject organized by the Orange County Board of Education one day ahead of the 3-hour event Tuesday evening event, leaving only critics and skeptics as panelists.

Theresa Montaño, a professor of Chicana/Chicano Studies professor at Cal State Northridge, said in a press release that an unbalanced panel would not lead to an open dialogue. “Not a single person on this panel is a dedicated expert in, nor in my judgement thoroughly knowledgeable about, Ethnic Studies curriculum. In fact, my research reveals that all the panelists are vehemently opposed to Ethnic Studies and have made their positions on the topic clear,” she said in a statement.

Montaño is co-author two years ago of the first draft of the state’s model ethnic studies curriculum, which was substantially rewritten over four drafts before the State Board of Education passed it in March. She and the other writers of the original draft complained that the adopted version watered down the content and have disavowed it. She is a proponent of the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum.

“I’m disappointed we’re hearing the day before that she’s not going to participate. I think the credentials of the other panelists speak for themselves,” Tim Shaw, a trustee on the board, told the Voice of Orange County.

The forum, the first of two on ethnic studies and on critical race theory, a much-debated approach of viewing racism ingrained in law and government institutions, will run from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Panelists will include:

The event will be streamed live on YouTube.