Current school standards often overlook the history and experiences of many ethnic and racial groups. To ensure that all K-12 students in California understand the past and present struggles and contributions of Black, Asian, Latino, Indigenous, and other groups that have experienced racism and marginalization in America, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law mandating an Ethnic Studies course for high school students. This addition to the high school curriculum is what is best for students.

Poway High School already offers an Ethnic Studies course that can be taken as an elective. Similar to this existing elective taught by Karen Kawasaki Williams, the new mandated course will cover race, culture and identity, migration and immigration, power and oppression, and social movement and advocacy. Since it will be a semester course, there will be plenty of time to engage in a deep understanding of the outlined topics and state guidelines.

For the class of 2030 and beyond, Ethnic Studies will be taken by all Titans and California high school students as a graduation requirement.
This class will be a great addition to required coursework, ensuring that all California students are educated and aware of the injustices throughout history and in our world today.
According to the Washington Post, his mandate comes “amid a conservative movement to halt teachings even slightly related to critical race theory, a study of structural and systemic racism’s impact.”

Last year some Poway Unified School District parents protested both Ethnic Literature and Ethnic Studies at multiple school board meetings while schools were working to get them approved.
This discomfort is the exact reason why California schools are making it an education standard; to make sure the next generation is more educated than their parents.
Making Ethnic Studies a education standard and required course is just another step in the right direction for California.