Compton ESN

Ethnic Studies NOW Petition - Compton 

We, the undersigned, support the creation of an A-G approved Ethnic Studies course as a high school graduation requirement in each of the high schools in Compton, CA.

Using demographic data provided by the California Department of Education for the 2014-15 K-12 academic school year, our students are 79 % Hispanic/Latino, 19 % African American, .1% American Indian/Alaskan Native, .05 % Asian, .68 % Pacific Islander, .06 % Filipino, and .33 % White. The time is NOW for our ethnically diverse youth to see their hi/stories as worthy of study and inquiry. We believe in the power of a curriculum that can present a genealogy of common struggles and successes. The best education includes narratives often missing from a Euro-centric curriculum that marginalizes diverse histories, cultures, and perspectives. Ethnic Studies recognizes that our students are valuable and worthy of an education that teaches them a complex, well-rounded, and critical history of the United States.

Currently recorded in the US Census Bureau for the years 2010-2014, the high school graduation rate for the city of Compton is a mere 60.1%. Furthermore, only 6.4% of our population, between the same time period, obtained a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Research demonstrates that Ethnic Studies curriculums can help close the achievement gap, reduce student truancy, increase student enrollment, reduce “drop-out” rates, and increase graduation rates. Ethnic Studies requires and prompts students to be critical thinkers in not only identifying complex social problems, but also to collaborate in real world problem solving and solution posing. Ethnic Studies allows our students the opportunity to become active agents of social change in their community by promoting civic engagement and leadership.

Currently, there are no formally established Ethnic Studies programs, in which all students have access, in any of our Compton high school’s. Further, we advocate for the establishment of Ethnic Studies curriculums at all levels of education: elementary, middle, and high schools. It is time that all Compton students have access to Ethnic Studies courses that, not only, make their K-12 education culturally relevant and embraces their lived experiences of being a part of a diversely rich community, but, also, motivates young people to connect in meaningful ways that lead to self-actualization.

Several neighboring school districts and throughout the state are actively implementing Ethnic Studies programs into their high school curriculum, including the largest district in the state of California, Los Angeles Unified School District. Compton has the opportunity to be at the forefront of this state-wide educational movement and join districts such as El Rancho Unified, Montebello Unified, San Francisco Unified, Sacramento Unified, San Diego Unified, Coachella Valley Unified, among many more.

Upon the passage of this resolution, we support the effort to establish a mandatory Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee that would aid in the development and implementation of this curriculum.

We demand that this committee to be a representative body that is inclusive of all stakeholders: parents, students, residents, teachers, workers- regardless of legal status, language, sexuality and/or any other identities that could or may be seen as a barrier for participation.

At the end of it all, this initiative is about self-love and dismantling the legacy of white supremacy that continues to perpetuate violence against ourselves, each other, and our community. We believe that when students begin to think critically about their own race, gender, ethnicity and location- students will be empowered to become agents of social justice.

By transforming our education, we are transforming our lives, and in effect transforming our city.

Who's signing

291 SIGNATURES
250 signatures

Will you sign?

  • Yvette Meza-Vega
    signed 2017-08-15 14:44:29 -0700
  • Roxanne Romero
    signed 2017-08-15 13:55:36 -0700
  • Delenia Garcia
    signed 2017-08-15 13:01:34 -0700
  • Christopher Cantu
    signed 2017-08-15 13:01:05 -0700
  • Ron Gochez
    posted about this on Facebook 2017-08-15 12:26:00 -0700
    Sign the petition: Compton ESN
  • Philip Sanabria
    signed 2017-08-15 12:05:45 -0700
    100% in full support!
  • Ruth Diaz
    signed 2017-08-15 11:57:01 -0700
  • Deborah Gonzalez
    signed 2017-08-15 11:38:06 -0700
  • Monica Peralta
    posted about this on Facebook 2017-08-15 10:30:59 -0700
    Sign the petition: Compton ESN
  • Monica Peralta
    signed 2017-08-15 10:30:24 -0700
    my son attends the compton school district and I would love for him to have the opportunity to take ethnic studies in high school. I was unfortunately not aware of what ethnic studies was until I stumbled upon Chicano Latino studies at Long Beach State. I was completely blown away when I took CHLS for the first time. The content inspired me so much that I double majored and became poltitcally conscious. I am aware of what and why history is repeating itself. I am now at a stage in life where I feel I have a duty to give back to my community. I am quite amazed that Compton school district does not have Ethnic studies implemented into their high schools. Studies have shown that Ethnic studies helps motiviate students to do better in school and pursue higher education. Take the initiative Compton! Lets give our children the education they deserve.
  • Erick Moran
    signed 2017-04-18 11:25:02 -0700
  • Alexis Martinez
    signed 2017-04-17 19:32:54 -0700
  • Dedric Kennedy
    signed 2017-04-16 13:28:48 -0700
  • kevin perdomo
    signed 2017-04-11 18:49:44 -0700
  • Mike Herman
    signed 2017-02-06 17:18:41 -0800
  • Jerecho Washington
    signed 2016-11-04 19:40:13 -0700
    Make it happen.
  • Stephanie Flores
    signed 2016-10-16 21:58:28 -0700
  • Maria Rosales
    signed 2016-09-14 22:36:56 -0700
  • Sandra Friedman
    signed 2016-08-30 09:46:06 -0700
  • Deborah Ortiz
    signed 2016-08-26 13:11:27 -0700
  • Michael Melendez
    signed via 2016-08-24 19:14:49 -0700
  • Kimberly Carrasco
    signed via 2016-08-24 16:42:10 -0700
  • Estefani Munive
    signed via 2016-08-24 16:40:29 -0700
  • Carmen Gutierrez
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-08-24 16:16:25 -0700
    Sign the petition: Compton ESN
  • Carmen Gutierrez
    signed 2016-08-24 16:13:50 -0700
  • Carina Reyes
    signed 2016-08-08 19:12:21 -0700
  • jay hewlett
    signed via 2016-07-18 12:14:20 -0700
  • Gabriela De La Cruz
    signed 2016-07-17 16:35:30 -0700
  • Niccolette Portillo
    signed 2016-07-16 16:48:04 -0700
  • Rosie Arévalo
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-07-11 14:02:47 -0700
    Sign the petition: Compton ESN

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