CA Sikhs Reject New Draft of Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, Demand Inclusion
August 13, 2020 (Sacramento, California) — As one of several distinct groups disappointed and angered by their exclusion from the latest draft of California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, Sikhs across the state are prepared to make their voices heard in the virtual meeting of the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) starting at 10:00 AM today.
The Sikh community has already made their position on this issue very clear. In March, the Sikh Coalition and the Jakara Movement–two community-based civil rights organizations representing California’s Sikh community–submitted recommendations and examples to the California Department of Education (CDE) detailing how the Sikh community should be meaningfully included in the Model Curriculum. These recommendations, like those of several other minority communities, were completely ignored in the new draft, despite their endorsement by 52 gurdwaras (Sikh houses of worship) across the state and more than 1,200 petition signatories.
“We are extremely disappointed by the California Department of Education’s newly proposed edits and revisions to the draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum,” said Dr. Pritpal Kaur, Sikh Coalition Education Director. “In asking teachers to make the “difficult choices” about which communities should or shouldn’t be included in their Ethnic Studies lesson plans, the CDE is shirking a critical responsibility. If the inclusion of the Sikh community and other marginalized groups are not mandated in the curriculum now, this material will never trickle down and be taught at the classroom level.”
The single passing mention of the Sikh community in the Model Curriculum portrays Sikhs only as hate crime victims in the ugly backlash after September 11, 2001. While Sikh Americans have certainly experienced bias and bigotry, no community deserves to be defined by hate or trauma–especially to children in classrooms. Ethnic Studies should be an opportunity for students to explore the full histories of marginalized groups, rather than simply reinforcing reductionist and exclusionary stereotypes.
“We gave the CDE everything they asked for and more to meaningfully include the long-established and fast-growing Sikh community in the latest draft of the Model Curriculum,” said Naindeep Singh, Executive Director of the Jakara Movement. “If the drafting committee again chooses to erase Sikhs and our contributions to California despite the community’s repeated calls for representation, they will continue the exclusion that has long marginalized ours and other groups–particularly in the Central Valley–and squander a critical opportunity for this Model Curriculum to set a real standard for departments of education across the nation.”
To remind the CDE of the importance of the Sikh community’s inclusion in the Model Curriculum, approximately 20 Sikh Californians are prepared to provide public comment during the IQC’s meeting today.
“Like other minority groups, California’s Sikhs are not giving up in the fight to be included in this important curriculum,” said Nirvair Singh, a Sikh community member from Cuppertino who is set to speak at today’s meeting. “Our children and their peers deserve to learn from the rich, 125-year history of the Sikh community in our state. We plan to speak out today because it is our civic duty, and our obligation to our children, to do so.”
Following today’s activity, the Sikh Coalition and the Jakara Movement will continue to engage in the remaining review phases for the Ethnic Studies Model curriculum, including the second round of public comment during September.
Source: CA Sikhs Reject New Draft of Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, Demand Inclusion – Sikh Coalition