Graduation Date
Spring 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Education
Committee Chair Name
Marisol Ruiz
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Ramona Bell
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Tristan Gleason
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Ethnic studies, Latinx students, Counterstories, High school students
Subject Categories
Education
Abstract
Latinx students have historically encountered a traditional education system that often neglects their perspectives, histories, and epistemologies through curricula and pedagogical practices that favor hegemonic narratives. This marginalization has led to the obscuration of significant aspects of the histories of non-dominant racial and ethnic groups, effectively diminishing students’ ability to engage with both their local and global realities critically. Ethnic Studies, as an academic field, proposes an interdisciplinary educational approach that challenges the colonizing methods inherent in the Western educational paradigm by centering the narratives and experiences of People of Color. This ethnographic study investigates the experiences of Latinx high school students within conventional educational frameworks in rural northern California, particularly examining the impact of a three-week Ethnic Studies course designed to produce and publish their counter-stories. The research identifies the factors that positively contribute to their academic and personal development. It employs qualitative interviews and thematic analysis to illuminate how Ethnic Studies pedagogy and curriculum can improve educational outcomes for Latinx students in these contexts. The findings suggest that a Eurocentric curriculum significantly influences the experiences of Latinx high school students within traditional educational settings, while also presenting challenges associated with navigating a hostile academic environment characterized by racial discrimination and essentialist attitudes. Furthermore, the research underscores that Ethnic Studies pedagogies and literacy practices foster solidarity among students, enhance engagement and motivation in their educational pursuits, facilitate the cultivation of critical consciousness, and positively transform their academic identities.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Salvarrey, Georgina C., "Exploring the influence of ethnic studies on Latinx students in rural Northern California" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2290.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2290