Pre-reading/Pre-thinking response for week Sept. 3

Honestly, I don’t exactly know what ethnic studies are, but from what I’ve heard it’s like a group or a class that teaches you about your heritage and culture. Basically, your background history, what your rituals are, what you believe in and don’t believe in, etc. I don’t think ethnic studies is the same as sociology or anthropology because both of them deal with like the human society while as ethnic studies deals with individual groups like Mexicans, Chinese, Filipinos, etc. On the other hand though, I believe political science has a lot to do with ethnic studies because political science deals with our government and from just watching that video about banning ethnic studies in Arizona, our government is trying to get rid of them, while one teacher from Sunnyside High school is trying to keep his Mexican American Ethnic Study class. I feel like the main reason why there is a debate over why ethnic studies should be taught in high school is because some teachers, parents, other people, and our government, believe that students should focus more on their academic learning rather than their own heritage. I feel like they believe that learning a class about your heritage is not that important when you can just ask your parents or relatives at home instead. In other words, they probably don’t think learning about your heritage will help you in the future as suppose to learning math, english, or any other subjects that can get you a job. Just from watching that video, I feel like the white people will not like having Ethnic groups be taught in school. For example, thousands of white students from the Tuscan Unified School District left because they felt uncomfortable with some of the ethnic studies classes. Majority, I feel like the Mexicans would most definitely be in favor of having ethnic studies be taught because just like that video, when the teacher set an apple on their desk, one student said “he sees his family working hard on the field all day.” Not only does it show that Mexicans come from a hard working class, but it also can change some peoples perspective about Mexicans. I feel like the main reason why Arizona, and some other states and school district is considering banning ethnic studies is because they think that by having those classes, they will be able to overthrow the government. Not only do I find that statement ridicules, but I believe that banning ethnic studies is completely unfair. Everyone should have the right to know their heritage and be proud of it, just like that student Jose from the Arizona video. I believe that everyone equally will benefit from having ethnic study courses. Because like I said, everyone has the right to know who they are and where they come from. They have the right to be comfortable with their heritage and not be judged for who and what they are.

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