Sacramento Bee columnist Marcos Breton is correct in saying
on Feb 25, that low Latino voter turnout
is a major issue. And, he is on target
in saying the issues include poverty, lack of job opportunities, and in asking
why young Latinos are “ so disconnected?”
Student political
apathy 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 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.
Then they will participate and vote.
No comments:
Post a Comment