Ethnic Studies

As you may know, Arizona's governor recently signed into law a bill that "prohibits public schools from including courses or classes, which promote the overthrow of the U.S. government or resentment towards a race or class of people, and specifies rules pertaining to pupil disciplinary proceedings are not to be based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry."1 Critics, including the United Nations, argue that this prohibits individuals from learning about their own culture and origins. 


At the same time, the state of Texas has been working to revise its social studies curriculum. Historians have blasted these proposed changes, and with the amount of impact Texas has on textbooks (which in turn impact other states education levels), I am inclined to agree. 


I have to be honest. In every history class I've taken since high school, there has been a topic covered that made me unhappy with the United States government. In college I took a class on Social Justice and learned about our governments preference for dictatorial, sometimes cruel leaders, as long as they weren't socialists. I read about the Iran-Contra Crisis, and wondered what actions today we are taking today. No, I have no desire to overthrow the government, other than the part where I consider it my civic duty to vote. Through that means, I do take a stand against those in power who I feel are not best representing our nation's interests. But I digress. 


My big question is: What is a museum to do? If you are a museum in either state, or in another where you believe there to be a problem with the education system, is it your museums responsibility to try to fill the void? Do Kansas science museums have a responsibility to present the evolution side of things? Will Arizona's history museums put up exhibits highlighting its ethnic groups, or the Mexican side of the Mexican-American War? I've been tossing this idea about museums and social responsibility a lot lately, as my thesis topic could have some overlap. Is it our job as museum professionals to effect change? To right wrongs? Or is that overstepping our role in the community? Are we instead better suited to teaching, preserving, and protecting? I'm really not sure. I think, for me personally, I'd like to do both.


Arizona State Senate, "Fact Sheet for Bill H.B.2281", Arizona State Legislature. (http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/2r/summary/s.2281ed_caucus-floor.doc.htm) (accessed May 25, 2010).