He has a point. The matter is very complicated.

He puts it best with the word dysfuctional.

Training kids to divide themselves perpetuates not only prejudice but false class consciousness.

Multiculturalism is such a thin-ice skating-lake... The question is: What classes are replacing the "ethnic" classes? Multicultural classes? No classes? (There also comes to mind that now many teachers there could lose their job or part of their income, or that the whole thing could be just to save money.)

I really sympathize with what he's saying, I feel the same way about our local education system (Israeli), it only serves to create vengeful adults who have learned nothing from past mistakes except how to avoid being victims in the future (in ways that are not dissimilar to what their ancestors were subjected to in the first place).

Context context context

The reason these studies are warranted is because the default is teaching and emphasizing white culture and white history. The reason this law is passed is because of the backlash of some Arizonan whites against 'losing their country'; people like this guy have never liked any ideas that deviated from the default, and now they plain can't even tolerate non-white notions and ideas.

The examples he cites about the la raza kids highlights the problem I have. He wants a bunch of kids who will be compliant and act like supplicants to white and right wing ideas. He thinks that the fact that they stood up, turned their backs and walked out is uncivil. I think it was highly civil; no violence at all, just strong and principled disagreement. Those kids are aware enough to recognize a republican cypher with a latino face. That type of self-awareness is intolerable to suit-and-tie white supremacists like this guy.

He has to outright eliminate ethnic studies because his own lessons and ideas are too weak to compete in an intellectual marketplace.

I have to admit that I might be a convert about this. I mean, the reason I'm an atheist is because of the artificial tribalism and division that it creates. Biologically we are all the same species, so I wonder if people would be so obsessed with race if we called it what we do in the rest of the animal kingdom - breeds. That term carries a far less glamorous connotation. Cultures and civilizations might be significant, but race is not.

I'm a jaded bastard, so it's hard for me to completely believe that this wasn't enacted for racist purposes, but if good things happen for bad reasons then it's still good, isn't it? The key is that teaching history needs to include everyone's history. Specialized studies are great electives, but if we are teaching kids world history, then it should actually include the entire world, not just the white parts. I know I never learned shit about Mexican history growing up except how we took the West from them. And I may as well have not known that Africa and South America even existed, for as much as we were taught about them.

Now, whether that inclusion is ever going to happen...? I mean, they are taking Jefferson out of text books, for Christ's sake (Ha! Double entendre)! People have a bad track record for doing the right thing.

Bingo. If the core social studies and history curriculum accurately included the multi-ethnic history and culture of the US and the world, then I would have less of a problem with the law.

>> ^Sketch:

The key is that teaching history needs to include everyone's history. Specialized studies are great electives, but if we are teaching kids world history, then it should actually include the entire world, not just the white parts.

@longde

When have you ever gotten good history in public schools, any cultures history? See the Texas School Board on history books to understand what I mean. These are people who aren't even Historians making decisions on what should be in History books.



I didn't know other ideas of the cause of WWI until I saw a comedian talk about the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand; or the idea that Oil played a role in WWI. I also did not know the real reason behind the "blowback" in Iran (which we are still seeing take place to this day); which was caused by what is now British Petroleum and the CIA (Which was known as the Office of Strategic Services) see Mosaddegh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

The US cannot have effective history classes unless the truth is told. Truth be told half of our international (And Domestic. Don't forget about The Gulf Spill) problems are because of the need for Oil, but that is beside the point. My main argument is that teaching multiculturalism has the same problems as teaching true history.

What we are seeing in this Ethnic Studies law is the exact same shit we are seeing in Aron Ra's video above. Politicians should not be making decisions about what history should be taught. I would differ to Historians with PHDs from Major Universities.

I sympathize with your POV, but while I have not always had the best textbooks in school, I have actually had a few outstanding history teachers that went way beyond the textbooks. So I can say I have had good history classes in grade school.

I agree that politicians should not make decisions about this type of curricula, but for as long as I can remember, this has been the case. And not only politicians, but most ignorant politicians of the lot -- locally elected, fundamentallist, Harper Valley PTA-like politicians.

The way I see it education is a heavily political domain, since many see its purpose as indoctrination.

>> ^NordlichReiter:

@<a rel="nofollow" href="http://videosift.com/member/longde" title="member since April 8th, 2009" class="profilelink">longde
When have you ever gotten good history in public schools, any cultures history? See the Texas School Board on history books to understand what I mean. These are people who aren't even Historians making decisions on what should be in History books.

I didn't know other ideas of the cause of WWI until I saw a comedian talk about the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand; or the idea that Oil played a role in WWI. I also did not know the real reason behind the "blowback" in Iran (which we are still seeing take place to this day); which was caused by what is now British Petroleum and the CIA (Which was known as the Office of Strategic Services) see Mosaddegh.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat
The US cannot have effective history classes unless the truth is told. Truth be told half of our international (And Domestic. Don't forget about The Gulf Spill) problems are because of the need for Oil, but that is beside the point. My main argument is that teaching multiculturalism has the same problems as teaching true history.
What we are seeing in this Ethnic Studies law is the exact same shit we are seeing in Aron Ra's video above. Politicians should not be making decisions about what history should be taught. I would differ to Historians with PHDs from Major Universities.