Rethinking the Culture of Power

 Title and Author: Sleeter, The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies

Annotation on the text:

Carlos is a man who successfully graduated high school despite his lack of enjoyment in traditional schooling. After high school he joined the military. He completed one tour then found a minimum wage job. At this time he was introduced to Chicano studies by a friend. Finally, he found a curriculum where he could thrive and he went on to complete his bachelors degree in Spanish. Traditional schooling has been more geared towards white people, so it is not uncommon for people of color to thrive in a curriculum that acknowledges cultural biases. 

There Talking Points:

1) Differences in perspective: white people often describe the U. S. as an equal opportunity for all where the American dream can be manifested regardless of color, while black children can sense oppression from an early age. Is America truly an equal opportunity for all? 

2) More privileged people seem to go further in education. Does this mean those who create curriculum are most likely privileged due to cultural biases and discrimination? 

3) Does our current curriculum leave out the perspective of the oppressed? 

Argument statement: 

This author argues that ethnic studies work towards the goal of balancing curriculum by recognizing the inaccuracies brought to curriculum from Euro-Americans. "Because of this bias, mainstream curricula contribute to the academic disengagement of students of color" (Sleeter, nd).