Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1487796
W H E N A L M A G A L A P O N was growing up in Sali- nas, Asian American history was rarely covered in school. The few references in textbooks were "cold and dehumanizing," she recalls. The Filipina daughter of immigrant farmworkers wondered why people like her were excluded — and observed that even family members were reluctant to discuss the past. "My family experienced a lot of hurt and trauma and didn't want to call attention to what they had been through," recalls Galapon, a fourth-grade teacher at Carroll Elementary School in Elk Grove. "But our history is important because it is American history. My family worked in the fields and made enormous sacrifices to succeed, like thousands of other families from the Philippines. I don't think we should hide our history or be ashamed of our stories. I think we should learn, accept and recognize just how hard it was, to inspire our students." The Elk Grove Education Association member is helping students do just that through focusing on Larry Itliong, a Filipino American labor leader. "By the time students reach fourth grade, they have heard about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, but not Larry Itliong," she explains. "He organized West Coast farmworkers, starting in the 1930s. He became well-known in the '60s for spearheading the Delano grape strike." Galapon's project for students, Journey for Justice with Larry Itliong: Problem Solving, Taking Action & Revolution, was funded by a grant and building things together on computers or in the Maker- space area with 3-D printers and robotics. "In my classroom they are not constrained by adult thinking, so they do think outside the box. Instead of asking 'why can't we do this?' they just go and do." "Ms. Garcia's class is a great environment for learning. Her curriculum is fun, engaging and ultimately allows us to test to our highest potential," says Ellie Le, a 7th grader. "I really like this type of class because it helps me learn new things in a fun way," says Sai Vernekar, an 8th grader. " The things we do are interesting because there is always some kind of twist or activity that makes me enjoy the class." Garcia Serrato was born and raised in Mexico City and learned to speak English as a toddler. Her father is a lawyer in Mexico and her late mother was the only woman in her law school's graduating class. She moved to California in 1998 with her then-husband. "I was a stay-at-home mom, although I graduated from La Salle University in Mexico City with degrees in science and biochemistry," she recalls. "I began volunteering at my kids' school and saw there was a lack of science in education, because at that time, students were only tested on math and English. "I would ask the principal, 'Why don't we have science here?' And the principal said, 'Why don't you become a teacher?' So, I went back to school and got my credential at San Jose State University and have been teaching for 15 years." When she was a student, a teacher in Mexico encouraged her to pursue science, and she emulates his teaching style in her own classroom. "In his eyes, everybody had the ability and wherewithal to succeed in any area. He told students, ' You are not leaving this class until you understand this material.' I don't think I would have gone into science without his encouragement. And I'm so glad I did. To me, science literacy can be used to combat misinformation. It invites students to wonder about the world around them. It encourages them to use their knowledge to make the world a better place." In one assignment, students "rescue" famous scientists by giving correct answers to a set of STEM questions. " I don't think we should hide our history or be ashamed of our stories. We should learn, accept and recognize just how hard it was, to inspire our students." ALMA GALAPON Elk Grove Education Association 23 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 Empowering Asian American history lessons