-I think that there are many similarities between the students that attended SFSU in 1968 and the students that attend SFSU today. In 1968 the students that attended SFSU were protesting the rights of minority students due to the inequality that was shown throughout the campus and the question of wether or not "special programs" should continue to be funded or not. And unfortunately, although we as a society have come a long way in terms of racial discrimination but in a lot of cases minorities still struggle financially and with the ever rising tuition costs it is harder for students to attend, both for minorities and non-minorities. This maintains the struggle for social and economic equality. Now it is very rarely that you can succeed in the workplace with no college degree in hand, so students that cannot afford to do so because of economic struggles end up with minimum wage jobs causing a never ending cycle. I think that the CSU's and the state are doing a good job with giving financial aid and grants to those students that deserve it based on academic performance. But with rising costs in tuition the grants and financial aid do not cover all expenses leaving some families unable to pay. These are similar issues that the students in 1968 faced that we are still facing today.
- I agree with Monteiro when he says that traditional history classes would be outlawed under the HB 2281. In one of my US history courses during high school the curriculum was mainly focused around American (white history) and the events that happened with them rather than the history of the US as a whole, including all different ethnicities and their rise in the US. But the only reason I say it would be prohibited is that the four criteria set in HB 2281 are all things that are determined by the individual. In HB 2281 one of the criteria is that the class must not: "Promote resentment toward a race or class of people." but how are the instructors to know how a particular student will take to certain information? They cannot determine the reaction and influence that certain information will have on a student. All of the criteria can apply based on individual ideals. There is no way that these rules can be applied to a group and for all individuals to react the same to course materials.
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Hi Miyoko,
ReplyDeleteI am really impressed with the connection that you, and some of your classmates, have made between the 1968 strike and issues facing students today-especially students of color.In '68 these students were fighting for a relevant education,and today they are fighting to be able to access an education.
It is interesting that your high school history class would be prohibited under HB 2281. I also like the way you analyzed rule #4 ( i think) about promoting resentment- it is not the teacher's responsibility to control the reactions of their students. Why might the legislators think that the teachers can/want to control this?
--eas