Text by SASHA BOUDTCHENKO
Art by POLINA VAN HULSEN
PROVIDING PERSPECTIVE
ETHNIC STUDIES COURSE TO BE A REQUIREMENT
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ENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT nic Studies course to graduate. Mathew Signorello-Katz recalls a The Ethnic Studies course examines video he viewed on his first or sec- history from various untraditional perond day in his Ethnic Studies class. spectives and explores the controversy of “In this video that we were being diversity in the United States. Through a shown, they were talking about housing, discussion-based format, students examine specifically the impleglobal topics — such mentation of affordas cultural appropriaable housing, and how It’s [AB 101] a step in tion and its relation you have these people the right direction to socioeconomic who … say they’re profactors in the coungressive … but when after America ... has try — and other loit comes to changes in begun to realize the cal issues — such as their own town in makPalo Alto’s equity gap ing the town more ac- faults in the ways due to the movement cessible for others who America sees and exagainst affordable maybe don’t have such housing. high levels of income, amines its own histo“My goal is to that progressivism and ry.” offer perspective for that acceptance sudpeople to then come — MATHEW SIGNORELLO-KATZ, senior to their own condenly rids itself,” Signorello-Katz said. clusions on what’s Discussions on happening with our eye-opening topics such as these, and their country, what pieces are missing in history,” manifestations in our local c o m m u n i t y, Ethnic Studies teacher Justin Cronin said. are a major component of the one-semesThe course has been offered as a ter Ethnic Studies class at Palo Alto High one-semester social science elective at Paly School, which, in a few years, will be re- for many years, but only enough students quired for all California high school stu- sign up each year to fill, at maximum, one dents. class period each semester, according to Cronin. AB 101 Bill — What is it? Some current Ethnic Studies students, The October ratification of Assembly such as Signorello-Katz, view the new Bill No. 101 will stipulate students, be- bill as an improvement to the standard ginning with the Class of 2030 (current American education curriculum. fourth-graders), to take a one-semester Eth“It’s [AB 101] a step in the
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My goal is to offer perspective for people to then come to their own conclusions on what’s happening with our country, what pieces are missing in history.” — JUSTIN CRONIN, Ethnic Studies teacher
26 FEBRUARY 2022
right direction after America, having taught a history curriculum that focused mainly on American Exceptionalism, has begun to realize the faults in the ways America sees and examines its own history,” Signorello-Katz said. Senior Saam Mohsenian also expresses a positive view of the legislation, highlighting the recognition brought to the significance of Ethnic Studies. “It’s pretty interesting and cool in my opinion how they [California government] made it [Ethnic Studies] a requirement,” Mohsenian said. “It shows the versatility of the class and why they think it’s important for students to take.” Future of Ethnic Studies Students such as senior Eden Ball believe that requiring the Ethnic Studies class for graduation would benefit future students. “I absolutely think Ethnic studies should be a requirement,” Ball said. “It is extremely unique
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