A recent article in the school newspaper that Canyon Crest Academy would soon begin offering ethnic studies classes caused confusion and alarm.
The article was headlined “Ethnic Studies” and stated that the course was just approved for the 2024-2025 school year at CCA, one of four high schools in the San Diego Union High School District. There is.
Marcia Sutton
(File photo)
“More accurately, this class would be called Ethnic Literature,” the article says, and will be offered as an English Department class taught by CCA teacher Milan Perisic.
According to the article, the class will explore diverse stories “including but not limited to Asian Americans, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Muslims, and Jewish Americans.” .
Brian Marcus, SDUHSD's assistant superintendent of educational services, said the article was “factually inaccurate.”
He said ethnic literature and ethnic studies are “totally different courses” and that the ethnic literature class is not an approved ethnic studies class. This is an elective course and does not meet the requirements for graduation.
“CCA announced this program saying they have teachers who would like to teach this course, but we don't know if it will happen and we probably won't know until closer to the summer.” said Marcus, explaining that it was similar to other courses. , a minimum number of students will be required to sign up.
some history
At the district's April 20, 2023, board meeting, five pilot classes, including ethnic literature, were approved by the school board. The vote was 4-1 with Trustee Juan Anderson dissenting.
She said it was premature to introduce ethnic literature classes without increasing transparency in what is being taught.
“I believe in ethnic studies,” Anderson told the meeting. [But] There is resistance to adopting something for which there is not enough information. ”
A pilot course is developed when there is sufficient interest from students and teachers willing to teach it. After two years, with board approval, the pilot class can become a regular course of study.
Marcus said CCA was the only school that expressed interest in the class.
The ethnic literature class was taught at San Dieguito Academy and had 20 students enrolled in the 2021-2022 school year and 32 students in the 2022-2023 school year.
It received enthusiastic support from two student committee members at the April 2023 board meeting, who said the class was a “very popular class” and that the overall enthusiasm for the course was “unparalleled.” Despite this, the class was not held this year, 2023-2024. Marcus said there is a lack of interest.
The course description for the pilot course offered at the April 2023 board meeting states that students will “develop understanding of self and others by exploring their own history, identity, and the history and identity of marginalized groups.” “deepening” and “promoting cultural understanding and empathy through systems analysis.” in the united states”
The class will focus on “the experiences of African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanx and Latinos, Native Americans, and other 'racialized' people,” according to the description. . [my quotes] These are people in the United States, such as Jewish Americans and Muslim Americans. ”
Although he ultimately voted to approve the course, Trustee Michael Allman also asked for more details, asking Marcus for the syllabus of the course being taught.
Marcus disputed that, saying the district is continuing to develop the class.
Allman again asked for a list of books, podcasts, short stories, and other materials used in class. “Is that public information?” he asked.
“It depends on how you request it,” Marcus replied.
“I want to see what is being taught in class,” Allman said. “Please do not allow board members to make public records requests.”
Marcus responded, “I'm not asking for a public records request to be filed.”
Marcus said teachers share the syllabus with students enrolled in classes and their parents, which can change from year to year. He said the syllabus is individualized for each class because teachers can teach the class in different ways.
Marcus confirmed that the students did indeed take pilot classes and followed the syllabus for two years at SDA. This lesson was offered to students in all four of her grades, from 9th grade to her 12th grade.
According to the syllabus used in SDA, five units were discussed: race, ethnicity, and identity. Intersectionality. Immigration, policy, and the American dream. power and society. and resistance to perversion.
Each unit lists 7-10 readings, articles, podcasts, movies, videos, talks, papers, poems, and other materials.
A short video titled “This is America” by Donald McKinley Glover Jr. (stage name Childish Gambino) is listed as one of the resources, and was brought to Mr. Allman's attention by a parent who objected to its content. I stayed. Readers are encouraged to check it out on YouTube.
controversial content
New programs may be trialled at SDUHSD school sites, but must be approved by the principal and assistant counselor. Before the introduction of educational services.
Once evaluated and approved, teachers can create class details, including a syllabus with course materials.
According to the district's presentation, several criteria are used to adopt appropriate materials. Among them –
— Objectively present diverse perspectives
— Affects a person negatively because of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, occupation, or any other characteristic listed in Article 220 of the Education Law, or is sectarian or sectarian. shall not contain any religious doctrine or propaganda.
— Contribute to a comprehensive and balanced curriculum
— Meet state standards
Regarding the Childish Gambino video, Marcus said:
“This is one area where we are continually improving, especially videos and movies for more mature audiences.”
He said the district “wants to make sure our internal and external communities understand what the purpose and materials this course provides.”
Marcus said there will be a course scope, which will provide a more detailed overview of the course, similar to a hybrid. This goes beyond the course title and description, but is not as specific as the course syllabus.
It is similar to a district catalog and describes courses, their relationship to state standards, and the textbooks, supplementary books, videos and other materials used, he said.
The district has posted instructions for questions about the curriculum. If you are not satisfied with the answer, first contact the teacher, then the school administrator, and finally the district's educational services department.
into the weeds
There is danger when school board members start getting into the weeds, encroaching on teachers' territory, and micromanaging them, such as by demanding a review of teachers' syllabus.
Directors should let their staff… do their jobs to a certain extent.
However, if a teacher tends to politicize one point of view over another, or to include content that is questionable or potentially offensive regarding an already controversial subject, the position of not intervening appears to endorse objectionable content and may reflect negatively on the school board or school district. .
By calling for more transparency about the materials for this ethnic literature class, Van Andersson took a step in the right direction with his veto.
Opinion columnist and education writer Marsha Sutton can be reached at suttonmarsha@gmail.com.
Marcia Sutton is a columnist and voices her opinion. She welcomes your feedback if you disagree or agree with her opinion.Email your comment to Editor@Del Mar Times Net.
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