What’s the big deal about Ethnic Studies? Oppressed versus Oppressor
“The San Mateo Union High School District recently held a series of “study sessions” on ethnic studies. It was alarming that only one worksheet references the contributions and accomplishments of ethnic groups — the key stated intent of ethnic studies. However, in stark contrast, the overwhelming majority of the content focuses on oppression, colonization, resistance and hegemony. This reinforces the concerns of parents that there is a significant void between the stated intent (the what) of the curriculum and how it’s being implemented,” wrote Dan Torunian in a letter to the editor of the San Mateo Daily Journal on April 19.
We emailed the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) Board on April 23, “As parents of 3 M-A teenagers, we’re very concerned about Ethnic Studies Curriculum teaching our kids U.S. history through the lens of oppressed versus oppressor, which divides our communities rather than celebrating the journeys of immigrants who have overcome discrimination.
Unit 1 examines both dominant and counter-narratives. Last year, our youngest son as a Freshman was in the Israel-Gaza lesson, controversial among M-A families due to its one-sided presentation of the conflict to teach the “Counter-narrative” of the Palestinians, and taught our son that Israel and the U.S. are oppressors. District and State policy is for both sides to be taught on controversial issues. How will the Board and our Community be assured this policy is followed in this ethnic studies curriculum?”
In November 2023, we were appalled after downloading the one-sided Israel-Gaza war slides, as it didn’t mention Hamas is a terrorist organization nor Iran’s role as the Middle East’s bully, both intent on the destruction of Israel. The slides went viral among families resulting in a lawsuit against the SUHSD over antisemitism.
Ethnic studies: Clarifying the debate
Dan Torunian wrote, “As with every nation, our nation’s history is complex. The intention of high school ethnic studies would seem to support that premise as one cannot excuse history, but one cannot erase it either. What we can do, is learn from history and apply those learnings in our aspiration “to create a more perfect union.
We wrote to the SUHSD, “There no mention on this slide of the Civil War, Emancipation Proclamation and 14th Amendment, Brown vs BOE, Civil Rights Act, and efforts by this country to correct its slavery past.
There’s no mention of the strategies utilized by other ethnic groups - Asians, Jews, Irish and Italians when first arriving in America to overcome discrimination. My father was forced into the Manzanar internment camp during WWII, and like other Japanese-Americans proved their loyalty by joining the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Service (MIS).
We want our kids to be taught HOW to think, not WHAT to think.”
What’s the Consequences?
On January 23, Palo Alto Unified School District Board member Rowena Chiu was attacked for her concern Ethnic Studies will teach divisive controversial concepts. The teachers union asked the San Mateo Union High School District to censure Trustee Jennifer Jacobson for her comments made at on Ethnic Studies forum hosted by the Israeli-American Civic Action Network on February 26.
Protestors in Los Angeles recently carried not only Mexican but also Palestinian flags, while throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at ICE, Waymo cars, and burning the American flag. Pro-Palestinian protests shut down major universities across the country in 2024, and protestors chanted “From the River to the Sea” or “Globalize the Intifada” not knowing those slogans call for the extermination of Israel. Some who consider themselves Oppressed (called appropriated racial oppression) justify violence against those they perceive as Oppressors:
Luigi Mangione, a UPenn grad, murdered the United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Elias Rodriguez from Chicago killed 2 Israeli embassy employees - a couple about to be engaged - shouting “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza!”
What can you do?
Download your kids’ Ethnic Studies curriculum - Ethnic Studies is required for all California high school students starting 2026.
Join a non-PTA parents group, such as SUHSD Students First.
Lobby your state representatives to change the CA Model Curriculum for Ethnic Studies.
Run for school board.
On Memorial Day, I took my kids to my father and uncle’s gravesites at the National Cemetery in San Bruno who served in the U.S. Army in WWII and put my flag up. We must remember the “greatest” generation defending our country during World War II and Korea, Baby Boomers in Vietnam, and our soldiers of all colors who fought in the post-9/11 War on Terror.
