Don’t Let Ethnic Studies Be Hijacked By A Narrow Ideological Agenda
“This curriculum feels like it is more about imposing predigested political views on students than about widening their perspectives.”
“This is ugly stuff, a force-feeding to teenagers of anti-liberal theories.”
The Concern
A divisive curriculum that imposes a narrow ideology, polarizes students, sows bigotry, glorifies violent movements, and erroneously equates capitalism with racism.
The Solution
A constructive curriculum that builds understanding, inspires mutual respect, confronts racism, and celebrates ethnic accomplishments.
“I write this letter to you with great dismay, and great concern for the perversion of history that is being perpetrated… I write in a plea for moral reasoning and decency, and for a respect for truth and accuracy in teaching the history of transformative social movements to our students…”
— Dr. Clarence Jones, Speech Writer and Legal Counsel for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom about the initial draft of the ESMC - the basis of the current Liberated Ethnic Studies Curriculum.
What We Stand For
Ethnic Studies curricula should:
Empower students to dream big, overcome challenges, and be motivated, engaged community members
Build mutual respect, self-confidence, awareness, intergroup understanding and empathy
Elevate ethnic groups, their backgrounds, and contributions without denigrating others
Openly and honestly address racism and discriminatory treatment
Present a range of political perspectives and approaches to bringing about change, including strengths and weaknesses of each
Equip students with the skills to understand and analyze multiple points of view on relevant topics, so that they can develop their own opinions and present well-articulated, evidence-based arguments