This week reading "The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies" By Christine E. Sleeter

The author, Christine E. Sleeter, argues that ethnic studies are important because they provide a different perspective from the usual school curriculum, which mostly focuses on white, Euro-American history. She explains that traditional education often ignores or misrepresents the experiences of people of color, making students from these backgrounds feel left out. Textbooks mostly highlight white historical figures while showing people of color in limited or stereotypical ways. As a result, many students of color feel disconnected from what they are learning. Ethnic studies help by including their histories and struggles, making education more meaningful and empowering. Studies show that adding ethnic studies to school programs improves student engagement, critical thinking, and overall success by giving a more complete and fair view of history. This is similar to the critique in "A Short History of Public Schooling," which explains how the modern education system was designed to create obedience rather than independent thought. The film describes how Horace Mann pushed for the Prussian school model, which prioritized discipline and conformity over creativity.

"Mainstream curricula contribute to the academic disengagement of students of color."When schools don’t include diverse perspectives, it sends the message that some histories and experiences matter more than others. As a student, it’s frustrating to sit in a classroom and not see your background or community reflected in what you're learning. Ethnic studies help fix this by making education feel more inclusive and personally meaningful.

"Ethnic studies, by allowing for multiple voices to enter dialog constructing the narrative of this country, is critical to the development of a democracy that actually includes everyone."A democracy should include everyone, but if schools only teach one side of history, it gives a false idea of who shaped this country. Learning different perspectives helps all students understand our society better. A more inclusive curriculum helps students think critically and be part of positive change.

"White adults generally do not recognize the extent to which traditional mainstream curricula marginalize perspectives of communities of color and teach students of color to distrust or not take school knowledge seriously."
Many people who grow up with the standard curriculum don’t realize what’s missing because they’ve never had to question it. But for students of color, it’s obvious when your history is barely mentioned or only shown in a negative light. When education fails to reflect real diversity, it can make students feel like their experiences don’t matter, which makes it harder to engage and trust what they’re being taught. Learning about different cultures and perspectives in school helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. It also challenges the idea that one group’s history is more important than others, encouraging a more fair and truthful view of the past.