#Ethnicstudies

Parents in San Francisco have voiced growing concerns following the school district’s decision to require all ninth-grade students to take a two-semester ethnic studies class, replacing what was previously an elective with a mandatory, yearlong course. The move by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), communicated to parents just days before the start of the 2024-25 academic year, has reignited debates on curriculum, ideology, and student choice, with lessons that may resonate in Thailand’s ongoing discussions over educational reforms and culturally responsive teaching CBS News San Francisco.

Parents in San Francisco are raising concerns after the school district made ninth grades take a two-semester ethnic studies course, replacing a prior elective with a yearlong requirement. The announcement came just days before the 2024-25 school year, reigniting discussions about curriculum choices, ideological balance, and student options. The case offers relevance for Thailand’s ongoing education reforms and the push for culturally responsive teaching.

A central issue is whether the ethnic studies curriculum emphasizes certain viewpoints over historical rigor, potentially displacing other subjects, such as world history. One parent said the course appears to teach a particular ideology rather than objective history, while still supporting the broader goals of ethnic studies. Another parent noted that ninth graders may have already completed similar coursework in middle school and question why they must retake it for another full year. The curriculum explores themes of racism, activism, and economic systems, including comparisons between capitalism and socialism, prompting questions about the line between social education and advocacy.