Dear Editor,
I read the March 3 Event-News Enterprise newspaper and was astounded to find so much praise for the new “ethnic studies” course approved by the Los Alamitos Unified School Board. But let’s start with your misleading headline: Los Al Unified Adopts First-Ever Ethnic Studies Course.
Those like me who grew up when public schools offered American History & Civic courses already received “ethnic studies.”
In those original “ethnics studies” courses known as American History & Civics, students learned how millions of people from all over the world from many different ethnicities came to America to be part of our nation’s wonderful melting pot. Those born here and legal immigrants savored their ethnic backgrounds, but together we were proud Americans who shared a patriotic love for the United States of America.
The studies included issues that showed how the country made horrible mistakes (slavery, treatment of Native Americans, internment of Japanese Americans, etc.). As many have said and written, the United States of America strives to be a perfect nation. But the goal of the American History & Civics course was to teach our nation’s united history while recognizing the contributions of many ethnic groups.
How about Los Alamitos Unified School District offering the original “ethnics studies” course known as American History & Civics?
Sincerely,
Gayle Posner
Rossmoor
