To: A Message To All Kailua High School Students and Parents
From: Kailua High School Social Studies Department
Re: Required Ethnic Studies/Philosophy Course
Background Information. The Ethnic Studies/Philosophy course has been a requirement for Kailua High School students since 2007. The research-based curricula was developed in 2004 by two Kailua High faculty in collaboration with University of Hawai’i-Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Violence Prevention Center (APIYVPC). The course evolved over time using feedback from the UH-APIYVPC research, teacher action research, and collaboration with community organizations and student feedback. The curricula incorporates learning Ethnic Studies terminology; minorities’ histories; learning about themselves through the lens of Ethnic Studies and exposure to life situations, which deal with violence; and, engaging in discussions on how to deal with these situations. This course was developed as a violence prevention course with six major units of study and a civic action unit that requires a community-service project. The course is subject to continued review and research on its effectiveness in collaboration with the UH-APIYVPC.
Throughout the course, we will be viewing documentaries, news clips, and movies. Some of the material will be R rated, every selection is directly relevant to the course curriculum. The course requires your child to read the local novel The Tattoo by Chris McKinney. The novel has violence, bad language, racism and sexual innuendo. We have incorporated this novel in the curriculum because we feel the students easily relate to the local characters and their local language. Under the close supervision and direction of the teacher, students will analyze the characters’ behavior and what they would’ve done differently to have a positive outcome.
We understand that these concepts and the content materials require a certain level of maturity. If you feel that your child is not socially and emotionally mature enough to handle this material, you have the option of delaying their taking of the class till their Sophomore year. You may also decide that your child should not read The Tattoo. We will have your child read Native Son or The Outsiders instead. If you have any questions, please call 266-7900 and ask for Raylene Peters (Social Studies Department Head)
From: Kailua High School Social Studies Department
Re: Required Ethnic Studies/Philosophy Course
Background Information. The Ethnic Studies/Philosophy course has been a requirement for Kailua High School students since 2007. The research-based curricula was developed in 2004 by two Kailua High faculty in collaboration with University of Hawai’i-Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Violence Prevention Center (APIYVPC). The course evolved over time using feedback from the UH-APIYVPC research, teacher action research, and collaboration with community organizations and student feedback. The curricula incorporates learning Ethnic Studies terminology; minorities’ histories; learning about themselves through the lens of Ethnic Studies and exposure to life situations, which deal with violence; and, engaging in discussions on how to deal with these situations. This course was developed as a violence prevention course with six major units of study and a civic action unit that requires a community-service project. The course is subject to continued review and research on its effectiveness in collaboration with the UH-APIYVPC.
Throughout the course, we will be viewing documentaries, news clips, and movies. Some of the material will be R rated, every selection is directly relevant to the course curriculum. The course requires your child to read the local novel The Tattoo by Chris McKinney. The novel has violence, bad language, racism and sexual innuendo. We have incorporated this novel in the curriculum because we feel the students easily relate to the local characters and their local language. Under the close supervision and direction of the teacher, students will analyze the characters’ behavior and what they would’ve done differently to have a positive outcome.
We understand that these concepts and the content materials require a certain level of maturity. If you feel that your child is not socially and emotionally mature enough to handle this material, you have the option of delaying their taking of the class till their Sophomore year. You may also decide that your child should not read The Tattoo. We will have your child read Native Son or The Outsiders instead. If you have any questions, please call 266-7900 and ask for Raylene Peters (Social Studies Department Head)