There is a new effort in the New York City public schools to create a Latino studies curriculum. Though some are expressing frustration over the “piecemeal” approach to diversifying lessons and materials, many politicians, parents, and educators are pleased with the development. The City Council has made a $3 million investment in driving the program forward.
Councilmember Rita Joseph, who chairs the education committee, said, “We want students to see themselves in the curriculum. We study Hispanic History Month once a year…We want this to be all year round where students are seeing themselves, they’re studying, writing and reading about people before them, and current folks that are in our communities.”
The Largest Demographic in the NYC School System
The Latino student body is the largest demographic in the city’s diverse public school system. Students of Hispanic descent make up 42%. Black students are 20%, Asian 19%, white, 16%, and 1% Native American. White authors have dominated the school book lists despite those numbers for years.
A 2019 survey revealed that 83% of authors of books commonly used in schools were white. After that survey, the education department strove to make materials featuring authors, characters, and history that better reflect the student body’s makeup accessible. The effort has spanned two mayoral administrations, and some parents and educators say the process has been “messy.”
Two Mayoral Administrations Make Changes
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged $200 million in stimulus money to overhaul English and math curricula across all grades toward the end of his term when the city was flush with COVID-19 recovery funds. The overhaul focused on making materials more culturally responsive, and he called the effort Mosaic.
New books focused on the history and culture of Black, Asian, Latino, Jewish, and Indigenous communities were sent in boxes to schools. The boxes also included titles about the immigrant experience, gender, sexuality, and neurodiversity.
The Mosaic initiative stalled after Mayor Eric Adams and his administration took office. It would take months or years before the new books sent to the schools were taken out of storage and distributed.
Instead of developing the new Mosaic curriculum, Adams’ administration focused on changes to the math curriculum and a significant shift in reading instruction.
A social studies resource called “Hidden Voices” was added. These included Asian American studies, Black studies, and LGBTQ+ people. New lessons featuring Americans with Disabilities and Jewish and Muslim American communities were also planned. Education department officials welcome the council’s Latino studies initiative into the mix.
Spokesperson Nicole Brownstein said, “We are proud to have used some of the previous administration’s Mosaic funding to supply classrooms with culturally responsive books and materials and to develop new Hidden Voices curricular resources.”
Parents and Educators Say Efforts Are Incomplete
Many critics of the Adams administration’s changes feel the effort is “incomplete.”
East Harlem parent Kaliris Salas-Ramirez said, “One of the biggest critiques I have of this administration is the fact that they did away with the funding for the Mosaic curriculum.”
Salas-Ramirez argues that shifting funds from a broad overhaul of materials to diversifying the social studies curriculum was a “disservice” to students.
According to Martina Meijer, a Spanish dual language teacher at a Brooklyn elementary school, much of the coursework remains “whitewashed.”
However, she says the new social studies resources have been helpful and is eager for more.
“There is more representation … and it’s really exciting to share materials like the new Black studies curriculum and of course this upcoming Latino studies curriculum,” she said.
United Way of New York City, the Hispanic Federation, and Columbia University’s Teachers’ College have partnered with the City Council to develop Latino Studies. The curriculum is expected to launch in three years.
Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said, “As a Latina chancellor, I believe it’s crucial to have a curriculum centered on the Latine experience, reflecting the rich history, culture, and contributions of our community.”
