How to teach Ethnic Studies without going off the deep end

Local parents are up in arms about extremist, doctrinaire Critical Race Theory curricula being forced upon their children by local school districts and county governments. But at the same time, many of these parents welcome a fair-minded, even-handed approach to teaching students about how racism fits into American history. The Alliance For Constructive Ethnic Studies explores that kind of thoughtful alternative, in the excerpt that follows.

From the ACES website:

There are different ways to teach Ethnic Studies (ES). Constructive Ethnic Studies focuses on educating and building understanding, while tackling challenging issues through an analytic lens. Students are taught civic responsibility, exposed to multiple political perspectives, and encouraged to develop opinions based on inquiry. Its guiding principles specifically guard against political indoctrination and are based on the History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools.

In contrast, Critical/Liberated Ethnic Studies imposes a narrow political ideology, promotes a militant, anti-Western agenda, polarizes students, and views history and civics entirely through a racial lens. It divides students into powerful oppressors and disempowered victims, categorizing them based on inborn color-based identity, not individual characteristics, and frames ideas and groups in all-or-nothing terms. This pits students against each other based on ideology or skin color. Critical/Liberated ES also forces students to accept predetermined answers, rather than inviting inquiry.

While both approaches aim to address racism, Constructive Ethnic Studies leads to critical analysis of multiple perspectives, informed decision making, and respectful dialogue. On the other hand, Critical Ethnic Studies leads to doctrine regurgitation, closed-mindedness, and bullying of those expressing different opinions.

This article originally appeared in the Alliance for Constructive Ethnic Studies website. Read the whole thing here.

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