Re: Support AB 1750 (Alejo)
Dear Assemblyman Alejo:
As Director of the Democracy and Education Institute, I
write in support of AB 1750 –Ethnic Studies, and to offer assistance in this
work.
Given California’s increasing diversity, it is vitally
important that students receive knowledge of the various ethnic groups in our
state and that they learn to work together toward building our democracy.
The Democracy and Education Institute has been working on
this issue since 2009, and I have been working on the issue since 1986.
As a part of the effort to include Ethnic Studies I
encourage you to concentrate on expanding Ethnic Studies in the History/Social Science
Framework for California public schools.
This state document determines what is taught in our schools and what is
included in the textbooks. There is
almost no Mexican American history in the document. There is a 9th grade elective
course that could be offered. Your bill
should assist in that the CDE should report on the number and the nature of
Ethnic Studies offerings.
