Ethnic Studies implementation
Students in Doyle's 5th period Ethnic Studies English class (Jasmine Arroyo, The Puma Prensa)
By Jasmine Arroyo, Business Manager
I found filling out course requests for the 2023-24 school year absolutely terrifying considering that it was only January and my senior year still seemed far away. Stuck in deciding between a couple classes I wanted to take, I surfed the English sections available to different grades. New Carrillo courses jumped out at me–I was curious. Senior selectives such as Identity & Pop Culture, Reality & Meaning, and Literature & Music Through the Decades are just some of the classes available for the 2023-2024 school year that appeal to seniors’ interests and allow them to customize their education. Despite the vast options, one class in particular got my attention, and that of Carrillo students--ethnic studies English.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 101 in October 2021, making California the first state to have ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement for the class of 2030, but our local school district requires such starting with the class of 2025. This means that Carrillo sophomores will serve as the first generation to test the waters of its implementation.
As ethnic studies continues to gain its footing in high school classrooms across California, it is important to answer frequently asked questions and clarify common misconceptions about these courses that often give them a bad reputation among certain politicians and parents.
Ethnic studies aims to study the history of different ethnicities, cultures, and racial groups in the United States, including associated topics of gender and sexuality. Many of these topics have been labeled as taboo in the past and have been as a result discouraged in an academic setting. But, could it be that the guided discussion of these topics is exactly what students need?
In 2023, current events on both a global and local scale reflect that the discussion of these topics is necessary among young people. Many teenagers, such as myself, have turned to social media to explore these topics with friends and strangers online. By giving these topics space in the classroom for discourse, students can refine their ideas and learn from their peers' perspectives. This promotes open-mindedness that is necessary for not only a safe and functional school environment, but for a collaborative, progressive world.
Similarly, the objective of Carrillo’s program is “to provide diverse and relevant content to students in addition to the English standards,” said teacher Madelyn Doyle. Whereas American literature is often taught from a Eurocentric and male dominated perspective, ethnic studies aims to highlight more diverse, but just as brilliant, BIPOC authors of different genders and sexualities. It is a chance for recognition for many talented authors and a bit of insight regarding traditionally marginalized groups in the United States.
With the 2022-23 school year being the first year that Carrillo offers ethnic studies English, Doyle has pioneered the way for social inclusion in the Carrillo curriculum as the only teacher teaching the course for now. Her two classes consist of about 80 students, where they tackle topics such as identity, migration, systems of power, and current social movements.
This implementation as a graduation requirement for the class of 2025 in the Santa Rosa School District has given students the opportunity to diversify their education, but has also caught some off guard.
Ethnic studies English is one of the four ethnic study oriented courses that Carrillo will offer for the 2023-24 school year. Academic United States History Ethnic studies, Social Justice Statistics, and Ethnic Studies Dance will be available for students. Next year juniors who choose to opt out of Ethnic studies English for AP Language and Composition will be required to complete one of the other three courses to fulfill the requirement. Students may also take an ethnic studies class equivalent at the Santa Rosa Junior College or elsewhere as a substitute . Some sophomores have expressed frustration with this new implementation, but like any new graduation requirement, it is expected that students show some resistance. Though these frustrated sophomores may feel like guinea pigs, it is important to consider that this implementation is a step in the right direction towards student inclusivity and representation on campus.
When asked about their own experiences, juniors have embraced the new curriculum for giving them a voice that would otherwise be silenced. They feel encouraged to speak on issues that matter to them, this makes ethnic studies a bridge between school and the outside world. “It's important to hold accountability and talk through topics that may seem inappropriate in other settings,” said Junior Allie Butler. Together, students are encouraged to take the lead on discussions that are most important to them, prompting both usually quiet and outspoken students to share their perspectives and beliefs.
Doyle also notices her students' motivation to discuss and participate in class stems from the content they cover. “I think they are more likely to read the text because they are newer and feel more relevant and engage in the content,” she said. Books that make up classic American literature often date decades back, if not nearly a century. Although these iconic works, such as The Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird, may have relevant themes, their outdated references to racism and other social issues do not carry over well to the younger audience in the 21st century.
Carrillo’s recent embracement of ethnic studies shows a positive shift in classroom curriculum towards social progress on campus. On the other side of the spectrum, though, ethnic studies has received its share of criticism and censorship for more than a decade.
In 2010, Arizona governor Jan Brewer banned Tucson's Mexican American studies program. Similar to our own program, the Mexican American studies program sought to highlight minority groups’ historical and cultural contributions to the United States. Paranoid Republican lawmakers claimed that the course sought to antagonize white people and label people of color as victims. Both race based rhetoric and alleged indoctrination through the discussion of critical race theory seemed to be the basis of the ban.
Although it has been 13 years since then, Republican lawmakers continue to take jabs at the concept. Regardless of these efforts, the movement to include ethnic studies has persevered in California.
The 2022-23 school year is the first of many more years of ethnic studies oriented curriculum. From these classes, teachers and students will continue to learn from each other's experiences in addition to what the curriculum offers. As more students enroll in ethnic studies in the following years, I hope that the values of inclusivity taught in class continue to reflect on campus and in our everyday lives.