By Nadra Nittle, Long Beach Press Telegram ~ March 29, 2015
LONG BEACH >> A Chicano studies professor wants local youth to have the same exposure to ethnic studies courses that their college counterparts do.
Armando Vazquez-Ramos of Cal State Long Beach is campaigning for the Long Beach Unified School District to make the teaching of ethnic studies courses a requirement in schools.
“I think it should be incorporated, especially for the black and Latino males that are so underachieving,” he said. “There’s nothing better than to give them a strong sense of self.”
Ethnic studies courses focus on the history, culture and achievements of communities of color, such as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Some local high schools do offer black and Latino studies classes, said Chris Eftychiou, Long Beach Unified spokesman.
“Also, the Common Core State Standards address the understanding of other cultures, requiring students to demonstrate that understanding through reading and writing,” he said.
Meanwhile, other courses, such as psychology, sociology, government, history and English, incorporate aspects of ethnic studies, Etfychiou said.
But Vazquez-Ramos would like the LBUSD school board to adopt a formal ethnic studies resolution. He pointed out that some school districts, including Los Angeles, San Francisco. Montebello and El Rancho unifieds, have already adopted ethnic studies resolutions.
“Here we are, a majority-minority school district and we still don’t have classes that teach about the history, culture and contributions of people of color,” Vazquez-Ramos said.
He hopes that Long Beach Unified will contract with Cal State Long Beach to allow high school students to take ethnic studies courses for college credit. Vazquez-Ramos has already been involved with teaching such courses to students in Pico Rivera and Carson.
Long Beach Unified isn’t ruling out the possibility of implementing an ethnic studies curriculum, Etfychiou said.
“Our school district would review any new coursework proposed by the university,” Eftychiou said. “We have a long and proud history of collaborating with the university on curriculum and instruction.”
Jordan High senior Fernando Barraza believes an ethnic studies curriculum would benefit students. As a participant in Jordan’s Male Academy, which aims to improve the graduation rate of students from underrepresented groups, Fernando had the opportunity to study the history of Latinos, Asian-Pacific Islanders and African Americans.
For more information about the Long Beach Ethnic Studies Program, visit the Long Beach Schools website.
