San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Unified School District's (SFUSD) ethnic studies curriculum, a mandatory course for 9th graders, continues to draw criticism, with recent allegations claiming that students are being labeled as "oppressors" based on race. A tweet from user @Liz4SF stated, "9th graders at sfusd are labeled as 'oppressors' for being White or White Adjacent eg Asians." The post further asserted that the curriculum teaches students to "hate America, despise capitalism & be racist."
The district formally adopted the "Voices: An Ethnic Studies Survey" curriculum in April 2026, making it a graduation requirement for all ninth graders starting in 2024. This decision followed years of debate and concerns from various parent groups and organizations like Parents Defending Education. Critics have consistently argued that the curriculum is ideologically driven and presents history through a binary "oppressor/oppressed" lens.
Previous versions of the SFUSD curriculum faced intense scrutiny, with some lesson plans reportedly including activities asking students to role-play as Israeli soldiers and slides comparing civil rights movements to Mao Zedong's Red Guards. While these specific examples were associated with the district's homegrown curriculum, which was later set aside, concerns about the underlying ideological approach persist. An SFUSD parent, speaking anonymously, previously noted the impact of such framing, stating, "No one is going to feel good about being called an oppressor. It doesn't help us. We all have to live together and take care of each other."
The "Voices" curriculum itself has been described by some as an improvement over prior iterations, yet it still faces pushback regarding its emphasis on power and oppression. Board member Supryia Ray, who voted against its adoption, questioned whether its roots in "liberated ethnic studies" could hinder students' critical thinking. Despite these concerns, many students and educators have voiced support for ethnic studies, citing its positive impact on academic outcomes and fostering a sense of belonging.
SFUSD officials have maintained their commitment to ethnic studies, with Superintendent Maria Su emphasizing the importance of providing an educational experience that honors students' lived experiences. The district aims to offer ethnic studies with "intention, quality, and shared purpose," while also acknowledging and addressing ongoing concerns from the community. The debate highlights the complex challenges in developing and implementing curricula that address historical injustices while fostering inclusive learning environments.
