June 28, 2017
Page 5
Terence Keller
A full Service Realtor
• List & Sell your House
• Find your New Home
• Help you Invest
• Find you the Best Loan
• Help with Pre-Sale Prep
• Hold Open House to sell your home
Oregon students led the passage of a bill creating ethnic studies in the state’s K-12 schools.
(APANO photo)
Ethnic Studies Bill Passes
Measure meant
to make schools
more inclusive
e riC t egethoff
Students and racial-justice
groups in the state are among
those applauding a bill now on the
governor’s desk that should make
Oregon schools feel more inclu-
sive for students of color.
Under House Bill 2845, the
Oregon Department of Education
will adopt ethnic studies standards
in social studies classes for K-12
schools statewide.
Zahir Janmohamed, the poli-
cy director of the Asian Pacific
American Network of Oregon,
one of the groups that backed the
bill, says Oregon students are the
ones who pushed for it.
“It didn’t come about from aca-
by
demics, it didn’t come about from
sort of policy groups, it came
about from youth,” he says. “So,
this is really their victory today.”
California is the only other
state to establish ethnic studies
standards. The new standards will
focus on the histories of commu-
nities of color, as well as Jewish
and LGBTQ communities, and
gender groups.
Lamar Wise, the legislative di-
rector of the Oregon Student As-
sociation says students of color in
Oregon have been concerned for
a long time about the lack of rep-
resentation in textbooks and the
curriculum.
Wise says the problem has even
contributed to higher absenteeism.
However, he says the recent rise
in hate crimes, such as a racial-
ly-motivated stabbing on a Port-
land train, heightened the urgency
of this bill.
5010 NE 9th Ave
Portland, Or 97211
Phone: 503 284-2989
We specialize in a variety of cuts for men and
women, hot towel razor shaves, braiding, hair
extension, Shampoo, blow dryer and Platinum fade.
Call Today or Walk in !!!
“The frustration from students
has come to a point where it’s
climaxed, and there’s been an
upswell of students and organiza-
tions who wanted to address it,”
he explains. “And I think legisla-
tors also felt that same way, which
is why they passed the bill.”
After Gov. Kate Brown signs
the bill, Wise says his group and
others will be watching as the
Oregon Department of Education
develops rules and assembles an
advisory committee. For now, he
commends the students’ grass-
roots movement that helped get
this bill passed.
“There was a lot of planning
that went into it, and students did a
great job in making sure that they
were leading the effort and that
their stories were at the forefront,”
Wise adds.
Eric Tegethoff is a reporter for
Oregon News Service.
Portland is my Town
Call Terence Keller
503 839-6126
Liberty Group Realtors Inc.
terencekellersr@gmail.com • Oregon License 200306037
Spring
Special
Sweet Street Food Cart
Located at 15th and Alberta
call 503-995-6150 to place order
Mon. - Fri., 11:00am - 7:00pm • Sat. - Sun., 11:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday Special: 3 Wings $2.00
Friday Special: Rib Sandwich, Beef or Pork, $4.00