The inspiration for my final project stemmed from my high school experience in history and Spanish classes. During the very first day of class, each of us was asked why we were interested in “Introduction to Latinx Studies.” When it was my turn to share my interest, I mentioned that one of my favorite parts of my high school history and Spanish classes was having the opportunity to learn more about Latinx history and culture– it was always one of my favorite topics. After sharing my interest, however, I quickly learned that many of my peers in this class did not have the same opportunities that I did in high school. Becoming curious, I decided to investigate how much Latinx history is actually taught in education curriculums. After performing a quick Google search, I found that, on average, only 13% of Latinx history is taught in United States education curriculums. After performing a little bit of a deeper search, I found that even less of this content is taught with any depth, most being mentioned in fewer than five sentences. Knowing all of this information, I decided to write an article exploring the critical importance of incorporating Latinx history and culture into U.S. education curriculum using a study by UnidosUS and Johns Hopkins Institution for Education Policy, as well as interviewing my high school Spanish teacher.
One of the key themes that we discussed during class, especially at the beginning of the semester, was the idea that much of United States history is told through the “white man’s eye.” So many of the historical events that are considered significant by United States history textbooks are only told from one perspective, when in fact, there were several other (perhaps even more important) perspectives involved. Limited coverage of Latinx history in textbooks and other educational materials has a profound effect on student perspectives and learning experiences. I truly think my high school Spanish teacher put it best when he said, “what we read shapes who we are– books and all reading materials can act as ‘mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors’ (Sims Bishop) that allow us to observe, reflect on, and immerse ourselves in other cultures and perspectives.” When history textbooks leave out several historical perspectives, students miss out on the opportunity to learn about other cultures. Without representation in education curriculum, the contributions, challenges, and history of Latinx communities are often overlooked and misunderstood.
One of the other reasons why incorporating Latinx history into education curriculums is of the utmost importance is because of the growing Latinx population in the United States. Recent studies have shown that students often learn best when they can see themselves reflected in educational materials (Unidos). Furthermore, students of all different backgrounds benefit from learning and understanding the experiences of diverse groups of people. As the Latinx population continues to grow and diversity in the United States, understanding and acknowledging the historical contributions and experiences is essential for promoting inclusivity, cultural awareness, and social cohesion.
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