TE 818: Synthesis: Theme 3b: What Should Schools Teach? "Controversial" Curriculum

Even as a write this synthesis post, I feel that my blood is not boiling as it should be. I came across the following poem...

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/latinos/joaquin.htm

...and I could appreciate the sentiments, but I do not feel the bitterness and/or injustice that this poem conveys.

As I continue to think on it, and even after just having submitted my "brief" on Theme 3b, I think it may be because I honestly believe that I am a successful person. I do not feel oppressed. I do not feel that legislation could keep me from learning what I want to know about my culture and heritage.

Should schools teach it? Certainly. Heck, I try to inspire my students by EMPHASIZING Hispanic contributions to Texas' independence. National Hispanic Heritage Month is a big deal in my classroom. At the public school level, I think we're more likely to fall victim to the loss of Hispanic studies, and yet, I don't think it will be "felt" so much because there's a real hit-and-miss in public education. Some students may love and learn it, others are just going to go through the motions as is the case with any other subject. The college/university level is where I believe the loss will be detrimental. At this point, we have students, professors, and/or researchers who have a real passion for promoting and keeping alive our culture's contributions to the state, country, and inevitably, the world.

The initial interest and pride in Hispanic culture and heritage really does need to come from home. It is up to parents to dig deep and make the connections for our children so that they SENSE the absence of acknowledgement and take initiative to ask for educational courses to validate their (our) presence in this society.

I will go a step further and say that it is also necessary that the education about our advancements and changes as a culture come from the home also. We need to grow and emphasize changes for the better. Although not necessarily about Hispanics, the following link talks to gender roles, which are very prevalent in the traditional Hispanic culture.

http://www.science.tamu.edu/articles/1130/?utm_source=tamutimes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2013-10-22

So perhaps the point-of-view, or the basis for continued Hispanic studies should focus on our strength. "Don't leave me out" is so needy. "Where would you and where WILL you be without me?" That sounds like a better approach.