2020-NCLF – Ethnic Studies in K-12 Schools: Education, not Indoctrination
2020-NCLF – Ethnic Studies in K-12 Schools: Education, not Indoctrination Session
Joy Guo: Session Chair. HGInnovation Ventures, Co-Founder. UCA board member.
Elina Kaplan: Co-Founder, Alliance for Constructive Ethnic Studies & Nonprofits Executive
William Reusch: High School Social Science Teacher; Cylinder Radio podcast
Sudha Kasamsetty: Engineering Leader, Candidate for Cupertino School District Board
Liang Chao: Co-Founder, Young American Policy Advocates & Cupertino City Councilmember
California is adopting a bill to make Ethnic Studies a high school graduation requirement. States throughout the US have announced plans to follow California’s lead – both in the requirement and the curriculum. But the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) draft released last summer in 2019 was widely criticized for fueling hatred, being divisive, and including historical inaccuracies. LA Times Editorial Board criticized it as ”awfully one-sided”, “an exercise in groupthink”, and “imposing predigested political views”. This satire video summarizes it well: “Ethnic Studies: Education or Indoctrination?” by America Uncovered (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSE12suK5lM)
Although toned down, the revised 2020 draft ESMC has retained the overall guiding principles and approach. The AAPI community does benefit from a well-balanced Ethnic Studies curriculum to prepare students ‘to be global citizens with an appreciation for the contributions of multiple cultures”, as intended by Assembly Bill 2016. This 90-minute session will discuss the ESMC, the implications of an ideologically driven Ethnic Studies curriculum, and the alternatives that ensure balance and critical thinking. We’ll also share how you can help ensure that Ethnic Studies is about education, not indoctrination.
REFERENCES:
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The 2020 draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) open for comment until Sep 30, 2020 (https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/esmc2ndfieldreview.asp)
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Ethnic Studies: Education or Indoctrination? By America Uncovered (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSE12suK5lM)
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“California to require ethnic studies to graduate high school under bill headed to Gov. Newsom”, Sep. 1, 2020, by John Fensterwald, EdSource (https://edsource.org/2020/california-to-require-ethnic-studies-to-graduate-high-school-under-bill-headed-to-gov-newsom/639432)
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“California Still Struggling to Get Ethnic Studies Right – Ideological indoctrination remains in revised curriculum guidelines” by Dan Walters, CalMatters, Aug 2020 (https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/09/walters-california-still-struggling-to-get-ethnic-studies-right/)
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‘Critical’ Ethnic Studies Returns to California – The State’s New Curriculum Prefers Victimization to Minority Achievement, and Marxism to Liberal Values,” by Williamson M. Evers, Ph.D., Aug 2020, Wall Street Journal (https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=13235)