Response to the Proposed Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum for California

 This is in response to the  Ethnic Studies model curriculum draft posted for public review by the California State Board of Education. 

 

Response by Sacramento League of United Latin American Citizens, Lorenzo Patiño Council, 2862. Sacramento, California.

 

We offer the following critiques. 

 

Chapter 4. Bibliography

 

The proposed bibliography primarily includes theoretical pedagogical publications while lacking content specific materials.   While advocacy pedagogical literature certainly has value, teachers also  need background content.  The bibliography should be expanded to include some content specific recommendations on the history, sociology, and culture of  each of the major groups.  For example, for Mexican American/Latino readings should include Occupied America:  A History of Chicanos, 8^th edition or later by Rodolfo  F. Acuña,  From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in the Twentieth-century America, by Dr. Vicki Ruiz,   and Carlos Muñoz, Youth, Identity, Power: The Chicano Movement .  Sources providing basic historical background are missing from the bibliography.   Similar suggestions would improve the usefulness of the bibliography  as teachers cover several of the other  major ethnic  groups. 

 

Appendix A.  Sample lessons and topics

 

The first model lesson recommends  a lesson on immigration in current Los Angeles.  While this lesson has merit, the sample model lessons should begin with the  forced incorporation of the Mexican people living in the Southwest into the United States  via the Mexican American War of 1846-1848  and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Gadsden Purchase. 

 

Respectfully submitted by the Education Committee of Sacramento LULAC , Lorenzo Patiño Council.  2862.

Adopted by the Council on  Jan. 7,2021

 

Manuel Lares, President of LULAC 2862,

 

Dolores Delgado Campbell. Professor Emeritus. History, American River College, Sacramento, California.

 

Dr. Duane E. Campbell.  Professor Emeritus. Bilingual/Multicultural Education, California State University- Sacramento.  Education and Democracy Institute. 

 

Dr. Susan Nakaoka,  Professor, Division of Social Work,  California State University -Sacramento.