Dear Friend,
Recently, the California Department of Education released its third and final field review of the draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC). In spite of some window-dressing changes in an attempt to include balancing views, this draft is still deeply problematic as its foundation of critical ethnic studies continues to serve as a principle for sample lessons. This key component introduces and proselytizes radical political world views to California’s students. It’s divisive, discriminatory and detrimental for our children’s development. Please click here to voice your concern, and educators, please click here as well.
The ESMC continues to be based on critical ethnic studies, which:
-Divides students into victims and oppressors based on the color of their skin (i.e. “Guiding Values and Principles of Ethnic Studies” in Chapter 1 and “The Four I’s of Oppression” in Sample Lesson 12 in Appendix A pages 99-110).
-Undermines traditional American values of equal opportunity, merit, and individualism (i.e. Sample Lesson 5: “Introducing Dominant Narratives” in Appendix A pages 30-38).
-Promotes violent, revolutionary role models over inspirational leaders who improved our society via peaceful means (i.e. See a list of historical figures to cover in Appendix A pages 43-51).
Notably, the list of African-American inspirational leaders in the sample curriculum does not include Martin Luther King or John Lewis, but promotes a group of neo-Marxists and Black Panther revolutionary socialists such as Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, Bell Hooks, Fred Hampton, Mumia Abu-Jamal (Appendix A pages 44-46). Both Abu-Jamal and Shakur were convicted of first-degree murder of a police officer. Equally astounding is the fact that 35 out of 71 sources in the new draft’s Bibliography are related to critical race theory, aimed at challenging empire-building or post-colonial racism as ESMC’s guiding principles.
In the spirit of strategic collaboration to defend educational excellence and push back political indoctrination, Californians for Equal Rights (CFER) has entered a partnership with the Alliance for Constructive Ethnic Studies (ACES). We are also working with Educators for Excellence in Education to expose the divisive nature of critical ethnic studies. Together, we hope that we can effectively counteract critical ethnic studies in California’s K-12 education on various levels including: alliance building, policy engagement and grassroots organizing.
If you are concerned about ESMC’s far-reaching impacts on our students, we encourage you to submit a public comment to the State Board of Education and make your voice heard. The window for public comments will close on January 21, 2021.
You can email your comment to ethnicstudies@cde.ca.gov, call 916-319-0243 with your concerns, or mail the Board of Education at State Board of Education, c/o California Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division, 1430 N Street, Suite 3207 Sacramento, CA 95814.
Please submit an auto-generated email provided by CFER’s partners:
1. To express your concern regarding the curriculum’s promotion of critical ethnic studies, violent resistance, and victimhood, please click here. (provided by our partner ACES)
2. If you are an educator or curriculum developer, please also express your concern regarding teaching critical race theory by clicking here. (provided by our friend Educators for Excellence in Ethnic Studies)
You can also email your comment to ethnicstudies@cde.ca.gov, ldh@stanford.edu, and leg.unit@gov.ca.gov.
Best Regards,
Californians for Equal Rights
