Dawn Addis: This bill ensures ethnic studies will combat all forms of hate
I was a public school teacher for more than two decades, so I know how important it is that students see themselves reflected in their school curriculum. When certain histories or cultures are left out or misrepresented, students can be left feeling isolated or excluded. And that is exactly what appears to be happening in California's own ethnic studies curriculum.
At a time when the federal government is trying to rewrite American history by banning diversity initiatives, California must persist in elevating the lived experiences of everyone in this country. This mission is one that all Californians should enthusiastically support.
Ethnic studies, which the state of California moved toward making a high school requirement in 2021, is about understanding, embracing and uplifting the many stories that shape California, and teaching our students about the experiences of marginalized communities.
Opinion
However, ethnic studies was initially introduced without statewide curriculum standards, leaving it open to broad and sometimes ahistorical interpretation. Unfortunately — and especially since the horrific attack on Israel in October of 2023 and the resulting Israel-Hamas war — this guidance gap has sown confusion and allowed some ethnic studies courses to be manipulated into pushing political agendas that glorify Hamas, perpetuate antisemitic tropes and denigrate Jewish people.
Consequently, many in the Jewish community are rightfully skeptical of whether our students will feel comfortable and welcome in their ethnic studies classes. We cannot let this situation continue. For ethnic studies to fulfill its promise, our state must show that California takes this responsibility seriously, and that starts with supporting educators in the classroom by outlining clear standards for appropriate content and instruction.
To make this change, I jointly authored Assembly Bill 1468 with Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Los Angeles, and State Senator Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park. The legislation would require California's Department of Education to create curriculum standards and oversee ethnic studies instruction, better ensuring historical accuracy, preventing political views from entering the classroom and making sure students are welcomed and affirmed at school.
AB 1468 will send the signal that California takes ethnic studies as seriously as it takes every other high school class. A true commitment to ethnic studies requires that the state develop curriculum standards, as well as aligned materials and instruction, just as it has for English, math, science, health, physical education, history and other disciplines. Strong, clear standards will ensure that ethnic studies creates mutual understanding and compassion among students, teachers, parents and administrators. They will also free us from biases that are corrosive to a strong, multicultural democracy.
Under this new bill, Jewish students — and all students — in our public schools will be assured that their teachers have clear guidance on what students should learn in ethnic studies. The bill will also ensure that students come away from their course with more knowledge of California's richly multicultural population, deepening their empathy for their fellow students and becoming more aware of the world around them.
I recognize that there are voices in the state calling for ethnic studies to be abolished because some have abused their positions by bringing their political opinions into schools. Those incidents are completely unacceptable. This bill will strengthen the original intent of ethnic studies by ensuring that teachers have the tools they need to fulfill it. The legislation will also anchor California as a leader in the fight against efforts to roll back the clock in our schools.
Some opponents of AB 1468 have said it will stifle the true teaching of history. But continuing ethnic studies without safeguards is absolutely not viable. When complex issues arise, it is essential that they are taught in thoughtful ways without promoting harmful stereotypes or debasing other cultures. This bill will ensure that ethnic studies is taught in a way that combats all forms of hate, including antisemitism.
The goal of ethnic studies is to tell important stories of the people of California. When curriculum is based on clear standards, ethnic studies courses will tell these stories in ways that promote empathy and belonging — not just within our classrooms, but across our communities. Ethnic studies must encourage critical thinking, while ensuring that the classroom experience reflects California's values of multiculturalism, unity and mutual respect.
Assemblymember Dawn Addis represents California Assembly District 30, which includes portions of Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz Counties.
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