Calif. parents slam 'divisive' ethnic studies curriculum: 'Riddled with critical race principles'

CARLSBAD, Calif. (CITC) — Parents in a California public school district are sounding the alarm that a new ethnic studies curriculum is a veiled extension of critical race theory.

The Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) is in the process of implementing its first course centered around ethnic studies. The officialannouncement of the high school-level class, which is titled "Film Academy Ethnic Studies," outlines the district's goal to teach students about "the histories, cultures, struggles and contributions" of "historically marginalized peoples" with an emphasis on Hollywood and the film industry.

The CUSD school board gave the class the green light Wednesday, but the final curriculum has yet to be written. The course is partly modeled after statewide guidelines for ethnic studies, which contain language instructing students to"challenge racist, bigoted, discriminatory and imperialist/colonial beliefs" and "build new possibilities for a post-racist, post-systemic-racism society."

The language drove dozens of parents and students to Wednesday's school board meeting, where a divide over the district's intentions with the course was evident.

"It is riddled with critical race principles throughout the curriculum," one mother said. "Instead of teaching divisive curriculum, why not teach American values like liberty? We are more alike than we are different."

Several parents called the course "dangerous," while arguing it discourages students from reflecting and forming their own opinions.

"In teaching them not to hate, you're actually teaching them to be hateful towards people, and it's very terrifying because we're indoctrinating children into something that the next generations coming forward are going to be totally brainwashed," another mother said. "They're going to feel like they are either oppressed or they're oppressing somebody else, and it's totally bogus because that's not something we should be teaching children."

However, the fears were not shared by all in attendance. Supporters of the course, which were largely CUSD students, said the course is crucial to expand the "insulated culture" of the district.

"I hope this course isn't about to get brutally watered down because we need to give these kids the comprehensive history they deserve," one student said. "It is wrong to imply that throughout history a set group of white people in the U.S. has faced anything parallel to the continued systemic discrimination imposed on people of color."

After some debate, the CUSD school board ultimately elected to approve the course. While the description still contains references to systemic racism, board members claim that it is solely to align with California guidelines and the course will not be taught using those references.

The course will be optional next academic year, but it will be made mandatory by 2025.

Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) reached out to CUSD for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication. This story will be updated if a response is received.