Octagon 2018-19 Issue 4

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THE

OCTAGON

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1668

@scdsoctagon

VOL.42 NO.4 • Sacramento Country Day School • 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento • January 15, 2019

Junior proposals on open campus, press freedom dropped BY HÉLOÏSE SCHEP

DECISION TIME History teacher Sue Nellis displays a copy of “Mexican Americans/American Mexicans: From Conquistadors to Chicanos” by Matt. S. Meier and Feliciano Ribera during a Sept. 10 meeting concerning senior Gabi Alvarado’s proposal. Also shown are high school English department chair Jason Hinojosa and Alvarado. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

Clubs continue to push for ethnic studies course; faculty says materials in classes already diverse BY ALLISON ZHANG

“Something I noticed while I them a specific ethnic studies was studying at Country Day was course would not be created. that some people were in the bub“They said they had other plans s a junior in her AP ble of Country Day,” he said. and felt their curriculum was alEnglish Language and “I would notice when students ready on the right track,” Ledesma Composition class last would say racist phrases or mock said. year, senior Gabi Alminorities. Those Alvarado also varado wrote a proposal about cretypes of little things ating an ethnic studies course to said that Wells told — that would usureplace Country Day’s sophomore her the curriculum It’s invalually come out of noWorld Cultures course. at Country Day was able to where — made me Alvarado perceived a lack of fair already diverse and realize that some have students who that an ethnic studrepresentation of minorities in the students aren’t very care about what curriculum — especially in history ies course was not informed about classes. “one of their priorimaterial they’re how the world is “But the disparity happens in ties,” Alvarado said. looking at in going on; it’s not a every class,” Alvarado said. “VidAccording to bad thing, but they class.” eos we watch in science classrooms Wells, staffing and should not disre—Tucker Foehl logistical problems are always all white, all male. And spect something when you get to higher-level classprevented the crethey don’t know es and want to be in that field, if ation of a dedicated about.” you’re seeing a movie where you’re class for ethnic studies this year. Kaeleigh Valverde, ’17, added not represented, then it’s anothKuipers added that replacing that Country Day’s diversity neceser nail in the coffin, showing you the sophomore World Cultures sitates accurate representation in again that people who look like course would be difficult. Rather, classes. you don’t make it — people who he felt Alvarado’s proposal out“It’s important for students to be are white and male make it. educated about different minori- lined a sociology course instead. “And just pointing that out, just “The course they’re envisioning ties, and the next step forward in for teachers to say, ‘Think about it,’ would be a really valuable addimost schools has been to promote is important.” tion, but at this moment, the ondiversity and acceptance of other But high school science chair going conversation is about where people,” she said. Kellie Whited disagreed with AlBut these students aren’t alone that would best fit,” Kuipers said. varado. Sophomore World Cultures in their support of an ethnic stud“While I don’t show many vidteacher Bill Crabb agreed, adding ies class, as Foehl also commendeos in my classes, much progress ed the proposal and the push to that he would like to see more sohas been made to ensure that improve Country cial science classes at Country Day. classroom videos in“Right now, it’s just history,” Day. clude a diverse group he said. “An ethnic studies class “It’s invaluable to It’s important for students to be edof actors,” Whited have students who would be perfect, but we would ucated about different minorities.” said. “It is not a fair care about what ma- need student support. The stuor factual statement —Kaeleigh Valverde terial they’re looking dents need to be interested and to say that they are all at in class and are sign up for it.” white and all male.” On the other hand, Kuipers and invested in our proAlvarado shared support for the proposal; in a May grams,” Foehl said. “I think it’s Alvarado suggested that the course her proposal paper with head of 3 poll of high school students sent great that students are asking for would be made a requirement. school Lee Thomsen, head of high out by Bruce-Romo, 67 percent of a deeper look at race and ethnicity “My hope is maybe there’s a school and English teacher Brooke respondents said Country Day’s in their classes.” way to adjust the daily schedule to Wells, assistant head of school history classes didn’t cover enough Later in September, most of the open up spaces for ethnic studies and history teacher Tucker Foehl, material on ethnic minorities. same students and faculty recon- where it’s a required course but middle and high school history Many alumni, such as Jesus vened to discuss the proposal. something that’s not a full, yeardepartment chair Chris Kuipers, Galindo, ’17, also supported adding According to Ledesma, Wells history teachers Sue Nellis and an ethnic studies class. and other administrators told STUDIES page 6 >>

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Liz Leavy, high school English department chair Jason Hinojosa and third-grade teacher Kristi Mathisen. Then on May 25, representatives from ChicanX-LatinX Student Union (CLSU), the Chinese Club and the LGBTQA+ Club met with some of those teachers and administrators. During that meeting, Alvarado and others explained the proposal and answered questions about the “nitty-gritty things,” according to senior Yanele Ledesma, a member of CLSU. However, Ledesma and Alvarado said many of the questions asked had already been answered in the proposal, and the meeting did not go as smoothly as they had wished. “It wasn’t really productive for any of us,” Ledesma said. “We could tell none of them had read the proposal.” Wells said he was under the impression that the agenda of the meeting was to present the proposal. But Esme Bruce-Romo, ’18, who was also a member of CLSU, added that she felt “we basically just went around in circles the entire time.” There was significant student

For over 10 years, juniors in former English teacher Patricia Fels’ AP Language and Composition class wrote proposal essays in which they argued for a change in their communities. Fels said that while many essays in past years focused on topics outside Country Day, such as the administration of a charity league or sports club, last year more essays focused on school issues. Fels encouraged students to give their essays to someone in charge of the program they were writing about. “In the real world, nobody would go write a proposal just for the sake of writing,” she said. “You write a proposal to get to effect change.” And last year, some students followed her advice. Seniors Gabi Alvarado, Jack Christian and Mehdi Lacombe brought their papers to school administrators. Fels said that, although rare, this wasn’t the first time a proposal essay was discussed with school administrators; a few years ago, the Board of Trustees discussed a proposal essay suggesting the addition of a crosswalk with automatic pedestrian lights at the intersection of Munroe Street and Latham Drive. However, according to Fels, the city lacked the funds to add the pedestrian lights, and it wasn’t a priority. Alvarado wrote about adding an ethnic studies course to the high school curriculum (see pages one, six and seven). Lacombe’s proposal, which would apply only to juniors and seniors, would allow students to go off campus and either eat at a nearby restaurant or bring food back to campus if they had a free period before or after lunch. (A similar policy was in place 25 years ago, before the school expanded its acreage.) Students would still be prohibited from driving their peers off campus, a violation of Country Day’s handbook. To avoid possible lawsuits, a waiver would have to be signed by the parents of these students. Under Lacombe’s proposal, classrooms would be less crowded during bad weather, and the staff would have to provide fewer lunches. However, head of high school Brooke Wells said he was concerned about students crossing Munroe Street and their safety in general.

PROPOSALS page 6 >>

INSIDE News....................................1-3 Sports...................................4-5 Centerpoint........................6-7 Editorial..................................8 A & E..............................................9 Feature ..................................10-11 Backpage ..................................12


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