ENCINITAS — Leaders in the San Dieguito Union High School District officially approved adding several new courses to the student catalog last week, including an ethnic literature elective course that prompted discussion from students, teachers, and community members.
The ethnic literature class was offered as a pilot program at San Dieguito Academy in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. After being initially approved by the board last spring, the course was brought back on April 24 for the approval of its curriculum scope.
Teacher Ruth Magnusen, who created the ethnic literature course with fellow teacher Yoshiye LeaVesseur, said her class read personal narratives, short stories and poetry by authors representing Native American, African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Arab American identities, among many others.
Titles covered include the novels “Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley, “Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo, graphic novels “Maus” by Art Spiegelman and “Persepolis” by Marjene Satrapi, and other supplemental materials, according to the course scope.
“I wish all of you could see my students engaged in discussion,” Magnusen said. “For many of my students of color, ethnic literature was the first time they saw themselves reflected in the curriculum in a meaningful way.”
Not enough students signed up for ethnic literature for it to be offered at San Dieguito Academy or Canyon Crest Academy in the upcoming school year, according to Superintendent Anna Staffieri, and courses that do not run for two years become inactive and need to go through the pilot process again to be offered.
“Our hope for Ethnic Lit moving forward is that we have more signups so that the course can run in the future,” LeaVesseaur told The Coast News.
The ethnic literature course has been the target of scrutiny over the past year, mainly by those opposed to the teaching of broader ethnic studies and critical race theory and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) topics. While some community members spoke against the course at the board’s April 24 meeting, several students shared about its positive impacts.
CCA junior Michi Synn, who led the school’s student initiative supporting ethnic literature, said the course helps promote acceptance, understanding and cultural awareness.
“Having the option of taking ethnic literature is important to students, as it allows us to understand the experience of people who, like me, have parents and grandparents who are immigrants and whose voices are shaped by those experiences. Ethnic literature can help create a sense of belonging, and bring our diverse student population together,” Synn said.
Other students and alumni said the class was a “transformative experience” that provides perspectives not taught in other classes and allows more students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum.
“Knowing that these perspectives are being taught provides a safer and more comfortable environment, where students of color are able to learn more about their own shared experiences,” said SDA senior Pilar Gonzalez. “Many of my required courses have not given a spotlight to perspectives of marginalized communities that are not White.”
The board approved the course’s adoption in a 4-1 vote. Trustee Phan Anderson, who voted against the approval, criticized the course for including graphic novels, for not including literature by White authors, and for being “divisive.”
Trustee Michael Allman also claimed that the district did not follow its usual course approval process regarding ethnic literature, stating that community members should have had a chance to review the course materials.
Marcus said the district followed its standard process when reviewing ethnic literature and clarified that elective and core subject materials have different protocols. He also noted that no concerns were raised about the other approved courses, including rock music, screen printing 2, and math support, which went through the same process.
“I think it’s very important that we look at all of these courses with the same lens that we look at all of our courses,” Marcus said.
District officials also explained that ethnic literature differs greatly from the larger umbrella of ethnic studies required under Assembly Bill 101.
Under the 2021 state law, high schools must offer ethnic studies courses beginning in the 2025-26 school year. The class of 2030 will be the first group of students required to take at least one semester of ethnic studies in order to graduate.
Marcus said he looks forward to updating the board on the district’s implementation of ethnic studies.
“We are in the process of looking at, reviewing, exploring, meeting teachers, and allowing them to be creative and look at AB 101,” Marcus said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify that courses that do not run for two years will go “dormant” and need to go through the pilot process again to be offered. The Coast News is continuing to wait for further clarification from the San Dieguito Union High School District regarding whether Ethnic Literature could potentially be offered in the 2025-26 school year at any schools.
