By Brandon Nguyen
The California State Board of Education approved ethnic studies guidance for high schools that aims to propel racial equity and address “racial justice” on March 18. Whether school districts make ethnic studies mandatory is decided by their respective school boards. Debates at school board meetings over the implementation of ethnic studies are on-going all throughout Orange County and have gotten heated.
District demographics of the Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) for the 2020-2021 school year were 35.7% white, 28.1% Hispanic, 27.9% Asian and 8.3% other.
Ethnic studies courses are optional for HBUHSD students and are undergoing planning by the HBUHSD Ethnic Studies Course Development Committee. It is expected to comprise of four units and be ready for the 2021-2022 school year:
1. Identity, Indigeneity and Origins
2. Power and Oppression
3. Justice, Resistance and Liberation
4. Regeneration and Action
Some students appreciated the introduction of the course for the educational aspect and a way for schools to create stronger bonds among students.
“I approve of the introduction of ethnic studies in the HBUHSD district because I believe it would be a great way for schools to expand their social sciences and allow for ethnic studies to emerge as an academic class. Personally, I would consider taking this class because it fascinates and interests me,” sophomore Keith Bui said.
Other students believed that these courses could be a way to address what they consider “system racism” and racial disparities within America. Freshman Phoebe Do expressed adamant support and said it was an important generational change.
“I think [that] this course because upcoming generations will need to be educated on these harsh realities if there is any hope of changing laws that contribute to systemic racism. This new course is not teaching [Fountain Valley High School] (FVHS) [students] that a certain race or ethnicity is superior. It is simply educating students on the many ways the justice system is unfair to people of color,” Do said.
Junior Roger Nguyen agreed with Do that systemic racism was an issue in America and said the new ethnic studies courses would change the direction of American nationalism to include all ethnicities.
“The very idea that [these] courses are promoting diversity in education is ‘anti-American’ and ‘anti-white’ is a manifestation of the systemic racism in our country. In order to improve society, the issues of marginalized groups must be addressed,” Nguyen said. “American nationalism should not hinder progress; instead, it should uplift the different faces of America that have been concealed for so long.”
Freshman Gavin Yager approved of the ethnic studies courses so long as they remained neutral and taught history from all perspectives.
“I think that if they are unbiased and state the facts of all sides, this course is good. But all sides have to be represented and I don’t think this will affect students at FVHS because there aren’t many [racial oriented] problems in FVHS,” Yager said.
Sophomore Eric Nash expressed hesitations and concerns that these courses were political, while emphasizing racial equality should be standard all throughout life.
“I will start by saying I am a mixed white Mexican and Native American. Certain things can be perceived as white hating or as driven by equality, but I also believe Black Lives Matter supporters won’t change sides or political views just because a new group or class pops up,” Nash said. “I say that kids should be taught racial equality by high school and political standpoints by their parents. People at a younger age should be taught all races are equal, but not have it shoved down their throat.”
School boards across Orange County are taking time to listen to public comments at board meetings over ethnic studies.
The Fullerton Joint Union High school districts board meeting on May 11 heard speakers that advocated for ethnic studies, arguing history needed to be presented through the lens of marginalized communities.
On the other side of the argument, the Los Alamitos Unified School (LAUS) district heard pushback that the ethnic study courses “are filled with hate for America” and discriminated against white people.
The LAUS board unanimously voted to make ethnic studies mandatory for the next school year. This led to conflicts and debates throughout the community and forced the school board to conduct their meeting online instead of in-person, due to potential threats of violence.
“Los Alamitos Police Chief Eric Nunez said his department received a handful calls about people self-identifying as Antifa verbally harassing people and pouring ‘some sort of liquid’ on vehicles at a recent school board meeting,” the Voice of OC reported.
Police brutality has also been part of the discussion around the approval of ethnic studies and the relationship between the police and people of color. The Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education made ethnic studies a requirement after global demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd by police officer Derrick Chavuin.
The next HBUHSD school board meeting is on June 8 at 6 p.m. in the District Office board room.
