Question

Chicano - Taking Back the Schools

1. Why was the Vietnam war significant for chicanos?
2. Why were the lives of Chicano school children threatened in 1968?
3. What is the "pushout rate"? Why was this happening?
4. Describe some of the discrimination that kids experienced in school.
5. Describe Mendes vs Westminster School District.

Answer 1

1. The Vietnam War was significant for Chicanos because it disproportionately affected them. Chicanos made up a large percentage of the soldiers drafted to fight in the war, and they were often sent to the front lines. Many Chicanos were also from low-income families and saw the military as a way to escape poverty, which made them more likely to be drafted.

2. The lives of Chicano school children were threatened in 1968 because they were protesting against the poor conditions and discrimination they faced in their schools. The police responded to the protests with violence, and many Chicano students were beaten and arrested.

3. The "pushout rate" refers to the high number of Chicano students who were expelled or dropped out of school. This was happening because many schools were not providing adequate resources or support for Chicano students, and they were often subjected to discrimination and racism.

4. Chicano students experienced discrimination in many forms, including being forced to speak English instead of Spanish, being placed in lower-level classes, and being subjected to racist comments and attitudes from teachers and other students.

5. Mendez v. Westminster School District was a landmark case in the fight for desegregation in the United States. In 1947, a group of Mexican-American parents filed a lawsuit against the Westminster School District in California, arguing that their children were being discriminated against because they were forced to attend separate "Mexican schools" that were inferior to the white schools. The case went all the way to the federal court of appeals, which ruled that the segregation of Mexican-American students was unconstitutional. This decision paved the way for the more famous Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954, which declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Answer 2

Here are the answers to your questions about Chicanos and the school system:

1. The Vietnam war was significant for Chicanos because many Chicanos saw it as an unjust war that primarily impacted poor and working class Americans, including many Chicanos. The high death rates of Chicanos in the war led to growing disillusionment with the U.S. government and system. This contributed to the rise of Chicano activism and protests in the late 1960s.

2. In 1968, the lives of Chicano school children were threatened due to widespread discrimination, poor education, and high dropout rates in majority-Chicano school districts. Chicanos faced neglect, lack of bilingual education, poor facilities, and inferior resources and curriculum. This prompted Chicano student walkouts and protests demanding educational reform.

3. The "pushout rate" refers to the high rates at which Chicano students were being suspended, expelled or dropping out of school. Estimates put the pushout rate at over 50% in some areas. This was happening due to the pervasive discrimination and failure of the system to provide Chicano children with a quality education and support their needs.

4. Chicano students faced various forms of discrimination including:

- Lack of bilingual education and ESL programs, despite needing them.

- Teachers with low expectations who provided inferior education.

- Segregated and inferior facilities, with poor conditions, lack of books/supplies.

- Racial slurs, insults and harassment from teachers and administrators.

- Higher rates of suspension, expulsion and juvenile detention for minor infractions.

5. Mendes vs Westminster School District was a landmark lawsuit filed in 1970 over the inferior Education provided to Chicano students in Orange County, CA schools. The case ruled that the district's provision of inferior schools, disproportionate funding, lack of bilingual programs and high Chicano dropout rates amounted to unjust segregation and discrimination. It set an important precedent in addressing the educational inequities faced by Chicanos.

In summary, Chicanos faced systemic discrimination, neglect, poor education and injustice in California's school system in the 1960s-70s which led to protests, walkouts, activism and legal challenges to demand equal and quality education for Chicano children.