SAN BENITO — The San Benito school district is looking into the possibility of opening up a Mexican American studies course.
After years of being denied, a Mexican American studies course was passed by the Texas State Board of Education recently, opening up possibilities for school districts across Texas.
Originally presented as Mexican American Studies, Ethnic Studies: An Overview of Americans of Mexican Descent could become available for use in Texas classrooms in the 2019-2020 school year.
Theresa Servellon, who works as the secondary instruction and implementation director for San Benito CISD, said the district is looking into possibly offering a course on ethnic studies and are talking to counselors about how to integrate the class into the history program.
“I think the interest would be there,” Servellon said. “I’m not 100 percent sure but I think the interest would be there from our students and also our community.”
According to the Texas Education Agency, some school districts are offering the course using a curriculum submitted by Houston ISD which will serve as the starting point for state standards.
An innovative version of the course was approved in 2015 but did not have a structured curriculum or a state-approved textbook, making it difficult for smaller districts to offer the course.
Currently, San Benito CISD offers three upper-level history courses including World History, European History and U.S. History.
San Benito history teacher Hector De la Garza said he has already been asked by his senior students about the possibility of such courses.
“It’s always an advantage to have more opportunities,” De la Garza said. “This would be a great opportunity for them to learn more about their background.”
De la Garza’s classes are structured closely to state standards needed to prepare students for the STAAR test.
While the history of Mexican-Americans makes a small appearance in the curriculum, De la Garza said that is when he sees more student participation.
“They have a little more interaction,” De la Garza said. “Some of them do have stories but they don’t get to tell them until we get to this topic. That’s when they begin to be really interested because that’s when it connects to them.”
De la Garza said his students are able to make connections to their own family history when they reach chapters involving the Mexican Revolution and the migrant workers movement.
“I don’t get much into detail because we don’t have the time, but I try to expose them,” De la Garza said.
Counselor Lora Garza said she sees the appeal the class would have to students.
If the district decides to green light the course for the 2019-2020 school year, Garza said it would most likely begin as an elective course.
Benefits of Mexican American Studies
• Higher high school graduation rates
• Higher rates of retention
• Higher overall academic achievement
