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?

  • Nathaniel Stocker
    signed 2024-02-02 23:32:16 -0800
    Born and raised in Compton

    The Hub City
  • Rachel Briscoe
    signed 2024-01-20 00:58:42 -0800
    I’m a product of Compton. My children are in a district where they make up less than 7%. I see the importance of knowing and learning about all the contributions that were made in and for this country. Diverse communities need more than a little portion of the history taught. Our children shouldn’t have to wait to go to College to learn about their history. I know I felt cheated.
  • Martina Avitia
    signed 2024-01-19 12:56:42 -0800
  • Issa Abdul Rahman
    signed 2023-12-27 19:04:10 -0800
  • Blanche Richardson
    signed 2023-08-16 10:01:44 -0700
  • John Do
    signed 2022-10-19 17:25:08 -0700
  • Maria Casique Leon
    signed 2020-08-03 21:24:53 -0700
  • Debora Lopez
    signed 2020-02-11 12:58:55 -0800
  • Melissa Zarasua
    signed 2020-02-11 08:53:49 -0800
  • brianna urena
    signed 2019-08-16 22:04:23 -0700
  • Saul Moreno
    signed 2019-08-16 17:11:29 -0700
  • Leda Ramos
    signed 2018-09-02 00:17:15 -0700
  • Christian Rosa
    signed 2018-07-16 16:57:20 -0700
  • claudia Rodriguez
    signed 2018-01-17 18:00:26 -0800
    claudia L Rodriguez
  • Laura Villegas
    signed via 2017-12-20 23:47:50 -0800
    Laura Villegas
  • Raul Gonzalez
    signed 2017-12-20 21:55:06 -0800
  • Paola Gonzalez
    signed 2017-12-20 21:41:46 -0800
  • Emmanuel Pérez
    signed 2017-12-20 20:56:56 -0800
    Emmanuel González Pérez
  • John Morales
    posted about this on Facebook 2017-12-20 16:28:26 -0800
    Sign the petition: Compton ESN
  • John Morales
    signed via 2017-12-20 16:28:04 -0800
  • William Ney
    signed 2017-12-20 11:34:21 -0800
  • Karrie Melendrez
    signed 2017-12-20 11:34:10 -0800
  • Kristen Kent
    signed 2017-12-20 10:56:19 -0800
  • Bruce Boyden
    signed 2017-12-20 08:19:34 -0800
  • Ron Dowell
    signed 2017-12-19 23:40:03 -0800
    Ron Dowell
  • Joyce Kelly
    signed 2017-12-19 23:10:26 -0800
  • Jonathan Gonzalez
    signed 2017-12-19 20:26:51 -0800
  • John Cabrera
    posted about this on Facebook 2017-12-19 20:07:48 -0800
    Sign the petition: Compton ESN
  • John Cabrera
    signed via 2017-12-19 20:07:38 -0800
  • Johanna Figueroa
    signed 2017-12-19 20:06:44 -0800

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