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Nicole Osorio signed AB 331 Petition 2019-03-05 19:50:45 -0800I am an immigrant Filipinx woman. I arrived to the US when I was about 14. Even so, there are many aspects of my people’s history that I did not know until I came to college. One simple example is Larry Itliong. I did not know that he was one of the leaders of the 1965 Delano Grape Strike and co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez. Not too long ago, I learned that his leadership helped sparked the farmworkers movement which is considered one of the most important social justice movements of the 20th century. You know where I learned this from? From a Filipino Student Leadership Retreat back in Spring 2018. I am now about to take a Filipino Ethnic Studies course this spring.
But I believe that is a fact that one doesn’t need to be in college first to know about. That is why I support a high school ethnic studies course.AB 331 Petition
I support AB 331 which will add a course of ethnic studies to be a high school graduation requirement beginning the school year of 2023-2024.
California has one of the largest and most diverse student populations in the nation. Ethnic minorities account for over 71 percent of the student population, with more than 90 languages spoken in District schools.
Given California’s annual increase in diversity, it is important that students build knowledge of the various racial and ethnic groups in our state. Incorporating ethnic studies courses into standard high school curriculum is a means to accomplish this. Ethnic studies, promotes respect and understanding among races, supports student success and teaches critical thinking skills. Additionally the course provides students with the opportunity to learn about their respective culture in the context of California’s history.
Requiring ethnic studies to be taught in high schools is an integral part of cultivating a classroom environment that is accepting of diversity. It is vital for young people to learn about their history, it is also important for them to feel like they can contribute to their communities in positive ways. AB 331 will help close the achievement gap by reducing student truancy and student enrollment, reduce drop-out rates, and better prepare Californian youth to be college prepared and career ready.
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