 |
| Cesar Chavez and Duane Campbell 1972 |
History /Social Science Framework Committee (Sample letter)
Re: Inclusion of
Mexican American/ Latino history in draft Framework
I am a professor (emeritus) of Education at CSU Sacramento. For thirty-five years I prepared new teachers
for California schools. One of my
particular emphasis was preparing future teachers to teach history and social
studies. You can find a record of this
in my most recent book, Choosing Democracy: a practical guide to multicultural
education. Allyn and Bacon (4th
edit. 2010)
Based upon this experience I strongly urge you to revise the
current draft of the History Framework to include a more adequate recording of
the history of California and the nation by including the significant
contributions of Mexicans and Mexican Americans to this history. You really can’t have a fair and balanced
history without extending more information on this topic. Latinos comprise nearly 39% of the state
population, and descendants of Mexican Americans and Latinos now constitute
over 52% of the students in our schools.
As I have argued in my
writings, and in testimony to the drafting committee during the 2009 attempt to
revise the framework, children and
young adults need to see themselves in the curriculum. Students,
particularly students of color, have low levels of attachment to California and
U.S. civics messages in significant part because the government
institution they encounter the most- the schools- too often ignore the students own history,
cultures and experiences.
A fundamental way to engage students in civic culture is to engage them
in their own schools and communities. That is where the students most
encounter civic opportunities.
The 1987/2001 California History Social Science Framework still in use today
to guide the selection of California textbooks expanded
African American, Native American, and women’s history coverage but remains
totally inadequate in the coverage of Latinos and Asians. When the 52% % of students who are
Latino , and the 9 % who are Asian do not see themselves as part of
history, for many their sense of self is
marginalized. Marginalization negatively impacts their
connections with school and their success at school. It contributes
to an up to the high drop out rate for Latinos and some Asian
students. A more accurate, more complete history would
provide some students with a a sense of self, of
direction, of purpose, even a sense that they should stay in
school and learn more. History and social science classes
should help young people acquire and learn to use the civics skills,
knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible
citizens throughout their lives.
I have read the draft document and I propose the following additions:
On page 351, Line 2014, amend
this to include additional material on the 1990’s and the current era such as:
From 1994 on, political campaigns initiated in California pursued a
series of anti immigrant propositions,
laws and regulations ( California Prop. 187, 227). While all but one of the
provisions of Proposition 187 were blocked by the federal courts as
unconstitutional, the campaigns led to
the 1996 Immigration Reform Act by the U.S. Congress mandating severe benefit
cuts and increased border enforcement.
From 2003 political controversy
over immigration became national issues along with the issues of low
quality public schools and lack of employment opportunities. The rapidly growing Latino community became
increasingly politically active, increasing their voter registration and
participation. This changed the
political make up and partisan divisions first in the California legislature
and then in the federal congress.
Latinos became the largest ethnic group in California in 2010, a
plurality of all residents, and Latino children constituted more than 51% of
all public school students.
I propose that you include this in a revised framework. Thank you for your consideration.
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.
Sincerely,
Dr. Duane E. Campbell
Director Mexican American Digital History Project.
Democracy and Education Institute
Why you should write a letter. How to write a letter.
We have a unique
opportunity to change the history books in California K-12 to include
Chicano/Mexican American history- but we must act now. Time is passing.
Mexican American/ Chicano
history is currently substantially absent from public school textbooks and
curriculum in California- and it has been since 1986. Latino student
political non participation and alienation from school is significantly caused
by Latino absence from the K-12 textbooks and curriculum.
On behalf of the Mexican
American Digital History project, we ask that you write a letter to
the review committee for the revision of the History/Social Science
framework. Now is a good time to get this done (a guide to writing such a
letter is here
We ask you to
1. Write a
letter to the Framework Committee encouraging the inclusion of
Mexican American/Latino history in the revised framework. It is most
effective to make specific recommendations of material to include- see samples.
To be effective your letter should arrive by May 1, 2015.
2. Send your
letter to hssframework@cde.ca.gov
3. Send a copy to
the Mexican American Digital History project at campd22702@gmail.com
information is available
at the site above.
No comments:
Post a Comment