This is the beginning of a multi year project. We encourage participation by others. Contact the institute at campd22702@gmail.com
Mexican American/Chicano history is substantially absent from public school textbooks and curriculum in California- and it has been since 1986. This year we have an opportunity to change that.
California has the largest student population of any state, with more than 6,236,000 students in school in 2013. Students who are Mexican American of Latino heritage make up over 53% of the total school population.
Latino student political non participation and disconnectedness is significantly caused by Latino absence from the K-12 textbooks and curriculum.
Children and young adults need to see themselves in the curriculum. Students, have low levels of attachment to California and U.S. civics engagement in significant part because the government institution they encounter the most- the schools- ignore the students’ own history, cultures and experiences.
California state textbooks currently largely ignore the roles of Mexican Americans and Latinos in building this state. Students need to learn civic engagement – it is not automatic. Students need to learn that they belong , that they are a part of the community and its history.
California schools and history teachers should lead the way in preparing young people for civic life in our pluralist society. They are not. Incomplete and inaccurate history, along with incomplete and inaccurate economics harms not only Latinos and Asians, but the Anglo students as well. When Anglo students are taught an inaccurate view of Latino /Mexicano history in the state, they fail to accurately understand the major demographic shift presently occurring and this lack of knowledge contributes to fear, misunderstanding and conflict such as that promoted in the current anti immigrant campaigns.
We can change this. The content of the k-12 textbooks and the curriculum is directed by a state document- the History/Social Science Framework for California’s public schools. The current 1987 framework is outdated. State law requires that the frameworks be updated each 7 years. There was no significant change from 1987 until 2009. ( In 2001 the publishers added a photo of Cesar Chavez.)
In 2008/2009 a committee was appointed and worked toward revision of the framework. I and others testified on the need to improve the coverage of the Mexican American history. Others testified on the need to improve coverage of Sikhs, Armenians, Arabs and others. A drafting committee wrote a draft revision of the framework, however the process was halted by the economic crisis. All funds were withdrawn.
Now, in response to legislation, a new drafting committee is at work. An initial draft was prepared and sent out for comment with little notification to the public. The draft is substantially inadequate. I can provide details. It is urgent that community members and scholars participate in this drafting process. Hearings are scheduled for May 5/6, and adoption currently is scheduled for Sept.2015.
We invite you individually and in appropriate organizations to join together in a campaign to open up the process and to gain substantive input and revision of the California History/Social Science framework. Organizational participation will be helpful.
As a professor of history/social studies methods of teaching and of bilingual multicultural education at CSU-Sacramento for over 35 years, I am informed in the processes we may use. Additional allies will provide material for a realistic and accurate history of Mexican Americans / Latinos in California.
We need your participation to develop an effective strategy for gaining this important objective. Key dates include May 6/7 for hearings in Sacramento and Sept. 2015 for hearings in front of the State Board of Education. This planning has just begun. March, 2015.
The proposed framework. http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/cf/hssfwforfieldreview.asp
We encourage analysis. Please send your analysis to campd22702@gmail.com
See following pages for background information and draft letter suggestions.