Redwood’s Own Discuss Ethnic Studies Textbook Controversy

By: Abigail Miller

In the early weeks of January 2021, three articles were published by local news sources discussing a community member’s concern with the Ethnic Studies textbook used at Redwood.

Jerry Jenson, a Visalia resident, claims that the textbook teaches all “non-white students to believe they are victims.”

Mr. Huerta, who teaches the Ethnic studies class at Redwood, says, “the following is part of the Ethnic Studies course description: By studying the histories of race, ethnicity, nationality, and culture, students will develop respect and empathy for individuals and groups of people locally, nationally, and globally to build self-awareness and foster social engagement.”

Huerta says that this is what he is trying to achieve while teaching his students. “The book, A Different Mirror, is just a part of the curriculum that I’m using. To some people, the book may be controversial, but I believe it is not.”

Huerta says that this course “fits in well within the social studies curriculum” at Redwood. He says they dig deeper into the topics already being covered in other Redwood history classes.

As far as how Huerta is addressing the criticism his class is facing, he feels community concern “lies [within] the book and not the class or my teaching, which is comforting.” He says that Redwood’s Administration has assured him that “they have not received one complaint from a student or parent.” But, he understands that “there could be people in the community who do not believe Ethnic Studies should be taught in VUSD.”

After speaking with his classes, he has realized that this is a course “students wanted to take. After having meaningful dialogue with the Seniors, one of my biggest takeaways is they appreciate and will miss the diversity that Redwood High School offers.”

Huerta says that his students want “to remove the stereotypes or misconceptions that they may have about one another. They want to be able to empathize and understand someone who may be different from them.” This class is just a surface view of how students can begin to understand how to achieve these things

“Ethnic Studies needs to continue because once we truly understand that even though we may have different ethnicities, languages, appearances, religious beliefs etc; we all have a lot more similarities than differences.”

Mr. Huerta

Mia Trevino (’22) is currently a student enrolled in the Ethnic studies course. Trevino has not heard about this community concern, “but [does] know that [the book] is a different perspective from what we have been taught in previous history classes.” She says it allows students to see different culture’s “side of the story and what they actually went through, without any sugar-coating.”

According to Trevino, the main goal of the class “is to allow students to be exposed to different cultures and races that are around us …We are able to learn about how [different groups] came to America, their hardships, and the way they were treated” without leaving out any critical information.

In a regular history course, Trevino says she would not have been exposed to the hardships endured by these people. “This class can help students appreciate everyone they come across and [to] be less judgemental towards a certain person’s race, ethnicity, culture, or religion.”

“There is no room for sugar-coating and leaving things out. We must have access to all information in order to get the full story. That is exactly what this [course] does.”

Mia Trevino (’22)

Mia Angulo (’23) says that her “class hasn’t read [the textbook] yet. But, we are going to in the next unit.” Despite this, she feels that “I’ve been able to learn so much about many different minority groups. By learning about these different groups I am able to see things from their perspective and how they view society. It makes me angry to see all the hate they face because of their race and religious beliefs.”

Angulo says that Ethnic Studies is not taught “only to learn about different races and minority groups, it’s meant to help us understand how these groups are impacted in society. It helps to learn about their history and their culture.”

Neftaly Gonzalez (’21) says that “as a student in the ethnic studies class, I’m disappointed in the inaccurate information that has been shared to the public about the course” along with the “incorrect claim of how the textbook is being used.” Gonzalez and her classmates have had no problems with the book, “as we see this as a resource to provide a historical perspective to the ethnic group we may be studying.”

Gonzalez says that this class has impacted her personal life. ” I have increased my awareness of the struggles, achievements, and contributions of ethnicities different from my own.”

In regards to public concerns, Gonzalez wants the community to know that “this class does not have a main focus on the negative reality” of our country’s past. “Instead, this course expands to the contributions of persons of color in our society as well as the history in their own countries.”

I’m amazed at how much I’ve learned in these last few months and would recommend all students to take this elective course.”

Neftaly Gonzalez (’21)

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