Ethnic Studies Framework
Operating Principles/Pedagogy
(Developed with OUSD Teachers & Dr. Jose Cuellar's Xicano/Latino Ethnic Studies Paradigm)
How do we teach Ethnic Studies?
1. Critique the dominant individuals/institutions/ideologies
2. Divert needed resources to the community, ensure needs of the community are being met
3. Incorporate multi-disciplinary/holistic methods, series, models, perspectives, approaches
4. Foster reflexivity and negotiate outsider/insiderness
5. Celebrate communal and individual assets
6. Build community and promote healing
When we critique the dominant individuals, institutions, and ideologies we:
Critique in positive/constructive ways that can build a foundation for change, but that is also honest and transparent, recognizes existing power structures and how to work around/change them
Provide opportunities for students to examine counter-narratives that challenge dominant paradigms
Encourage students to come up with their own questions, ideas, and critiques
Provide students with choice
Critique power dynamics in the classroom/school
Counter the deficit-oriented, low expectation narrative of students of color by being a “warm demander”
When we divert needed resources to the community and ensure needs of the community are being met we:
Reflect our communities within our curriculum
Consider, “How can needs be identified and addressed sufficiently to move forward in a proactive manner without being usurped by the demands of outside stakeholders?”
Create opportunities for students to participate and take ownership in the identification process of needs and solutions within their own communities
Engage with members of the community to avoid assumptions and a deficit mentality
Empower students to take action
When we incorporate multi-disciplinary/holistic methods, series, models, perspectives, and approaches we:
Use a “triangulation” approach - examine a topic through at least 3 disciplinary lenses
Consider whose perspectives you will present to students, with the understanding that others’ perspectives will be left out
Encourage students to question whose perspectives are included and whose are missing
Include inter-generational perspectives
Include lenses of feminist, queer, and critical race studies
When we foster reflexivity and negotiate outsider/insiderness we:
Question the value of remaining “objective”
Provide opportunities for student to practice “switching hats”
Include reflections from “insider’s” perspective when examining a topic
Provide opportunities for students to engage in self-reflection and story-telling about their own “insider” identities before they consider others
Provide frequent opportunities for metacognition and self-reflection should be a regular part of the learning process for students
Engage teachers in self-reflection alongside students
Recognize that reflexivity fosters humility
When we celebrate communal and individual assets we:
Have an asset-based approach to students, students as peer mentors and leaders, celebrating and building students’ resiliency
Bring joy, celebration, and connection to the classroom
Bring the assets of the community & students’ families into the classroom to be honored, celebrated, deeply understood
Honor each student for the unique skills & gifts they bring to the school community (avoid generalizing/blanketing by labels)
Build student self-determination/leadership/agency to help them develop their academic identity
When we build community and promote healing we:
Examine the impact of historical, societal, and personal trauma
Create a safe/healthy/trusting classroom environment, building relationships, routines & rituals
Provide opportunities for connections/solidarity across groups
Build classroom communities that reflect our hopes for the broader community
Encourage healing through listening, oral tradition, and storytelling
Engage in contemplative & joyful practices