History Of The Trial Of East Los Angeles Walkouts

Trial of East Los Angeles Blowouts (Walkouts) 1968

Ashley Hernandez

Mr. Carmona

2nd period

May 7th, 2018

In the late 1960s, the school districts of East Los Angeles were entrenched with racism. Mexican American dropout rates were high and college entry rates were low compared to any other ethnicity. The Mexican American race was underestimated by school districts and teachers, so they did not offer them any guidance since counselors knew they would eventually drop out and either join the army or become a farm worker like their families. The students decided it was time for a change but teachers always avoided meeting to discuss their situation. Due to the ignorance they received, the students then realized that the only way they would

13, “students became disillusioned with their original demands”. Although change did not occur immediately in high schools, change (education reform) was more effective in college. The Board began to hire more Mexican American teachers and administrators in the district. Also, more Mexican American students were being recruited for college. “Although most of the [students] originals demands were not met, the walkouts unified and empowered the Chicano community, which in the process became a political

The walkouts became widely known as the first Chicano Movement which was specifically for equality in education (education reform). This movement was important to the students since their needs were not being reached. The students also wanted immediate change since they were not getting proper guidance, or any guidance at all, from their counselors on the pathway to college and being successful. Instead, teachers and administrators were giving the students prejudice and stereotype what their future would be depending on their ethnicity. Teachers and administrators believed Mexican American students did not need the guidance since they would say the students would follow in their family’s footsteps and become a high school dropout and work as a mechanic, farm worker, or join the army. The East Los Angeles Blowouts is significant to today due to the education reform that occurred and caused every school in every state to have equal rates of different ethnicities. Schools now have to give equal access to everything, such as resources, no matter what ethnicity or race a student is. This Chicano movement influenced the beginning of many more protests for education reform such as the Edcouch Elsa Walkouts of 1968, and other high schools surrounding and in the East Los Angeles area participating in the walkouts. Not only did the