In the year 1968 Chicano/ students in East L.a. were facing an educational crisis. The dropout rate? Almost 60 percent. Only four out of every ten Chicano/a students were graduating. Students were placed in classrooms that contained over 40 students. There were limited teachers, administrators, and only one counselor for every 4,000 students. Curricular materials were outdated.
A group of students decided to take a stand. The “East LA 13” as they were later named along with one of their social studies teachers organized a series of peaceful walkouts and protests. The organizers were arrested on conspiracy charges and the teacher was fired but their courage inspired other students across the country to join in the movement. The students were able to organize their concerns and demands and present them to the school board to inspire change.
Use the infographic & probing question below to engage your students!
For suggestions on how to incorporate this resource in your classroom check out our blog post. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for even more FREE resources to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
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