Samia Shoman, a district administrator from California responsible for the implementation of curriculum, has suggested that “White voices of privilege” should no longer be taken into consideration when discussing a highly progressive ethnic studies curriculum.
Shoman is responsible for managing the English Learners and Academic Support Programs in the San Mateo Union High School district. An email from March 2021, which was obtained through a public records request from Zachor Legal, confirms this.
Back in March 2021, Shoman reached out to the California state superintendent Tony Thurmond with a powerful message; she asserted that white voices should have no role in influencing the curriculum. In her words, “We urge the [state board of education] not to give in to the pressures and influences of political lobbyists, racist & privileged white voices, and individuals.” Another issue that was brought up by Shoman, concerning the proposed ethnic studies curriculum, was the idea of “multiple perspectives.”
Shoman argued that the proposed revisions to the curriculum give too much weight to terms such as “multiple perspectives,” “diversity,” “all students,” and “broad range of groups,” in turn neglecting to give the necessary focus on the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities that make up more than 80% of California’s student population.
She further proposed an even stronger version of the Black Lives Matter curriculum lesson, noting that even in this lesson, which is designed to oppose white supremacy, racism and systemic oppression are not adequately addressed.
Samia Shoman, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, strongly condemned a planned amendment to the curriculum that would include Jewish-American studies. She expressed her disapproval by stating that the inclusion of Jews in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) umbrella was “grossly inaccurate” and had no historical basis.
Marc Greendorfer of Zachor Legal further conveyed his opinion to Fox News by saying, “The stance taken by Samia Shoman and others to see Jews, the long-standing inhabitants of the land of Israel, as ‘white’ settlers and intruders is totally contrary to facts and history.”
Greendorfer pointed out that California’s ethnic studies curriculum is not truly educational, but rather a form of indoctrination. He stated, “We are in favor of students being informed about the history of different cultures, however, what we have seen is that these programs are more about the political persuasion of extremists, who wish to impose racism and discrimination into the education system.”