What’s the goal of the Ethnic Studies Campaign?
Our goal is for the Lake Oswego School District to require one semester of Ethnic Studies for all high school students.
What Is Ethnic Studies?
Ethnic Studies tells the stories and histories of marginalized groups from their perspective. It empowers students to question dominant narratives and white supremacy, as well as embrace their cultural and ethnic backgrounds with pride.
Why should Ethnic Studies be mandatory?
It teaches the histories that are usually sidelined and ignored.
Ethnic Studies has been shown to improve critical thinking capabilities, as well as produce better academic outcomes among marginalized students. It allows those students to feel heard and accepted, and also gives white students the opportunity to unlearn harmful stereotypes and myths that encourage white supremacist ideology.
Support the campaign by submitting public testimony
You can …
- Submit a written letter to the Lake Oswego School Board.
- Deliver in-person testimony at an LOSD School Board meeting.
How to submit testimony
For written testimony, you can start with this template: Sample letter for Ethnic Studies Campaign
Copy, paste and personalize this into an email to the school board. Send the letter to: losdschoolboard@loswego.k12.or.us
For in-person testimony, follow their instructions for providing testimony on the Lake Oswego School District website.
Other ways to get involved
- Tell your friends & family!
- Attend a volunteer info session on October 11, 1-3pm at Lake Oswego United Church of Christ. This will be held during the Direct Action Committee Meeting.
- If you would like to be more directly involved with the campaign, please contact respondtoracisminlo@gmail.com.
Sources
- Pires, Fernanda. “Study Looks at Impact of Ethnic Studies on High School Students”, The University Record, Umich.edu, 2023
- University, Stanford, et al. “Stanford GSE Study Suggests Academic Benefits to Ethnic Studies Courses.” Stanford Graduate School of Education, 11 Jan. 2016,
- Gina Starfield, Why ethnic studies matters, Yale University
- Cassie Darrow, White people need ethnic studies, Yale University
- HB2845 2017 Regular Session – Oregon Legislative Information System
- LOHS Alum Anna Nakano-Baker Shares Story About Problematic Japanese History Lesson, Life After the Bubble series, YouTube
- Life After the Bubble Preview Compilation, Life After the Bubble Series, YouTube
- Farbodd Ganjifard (Full Interview) | Life After the Bubble, Life After the Bubble Series, YouTube