Prayer to Aztec Gods Dropped from California's Ethnic Studies Curriculum
gvw_nancy_price
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 2 years ago on
January 19, 2022
Royalty-free stock photo ID: 1447518818 Mexico City, Mexico - April 30, 2017. Aztec dancers dancing in Zocalo square

Share

 

California’s ethnic studies model curriculum will no longer include Aztec and Ashe religious chants, according to attorneys representing Californians for Equal Rights Foundation and three San Diego parents who sued the state.

Attorneys for the foundation and parents had filed suit in September over the inclusion of the religious chants, alleging that they violated California’s Constitution.

The foundation said the Aztec prayer gives thanks to five deities, namely Tezcatlipoca (God of the Night Sky), Quetzalcoatl (God of the Morning and Evening Star), Huitzilopochtli (God of Sun and War), Xipe Totec (God of Spring), and Hunab Ku (God of the Universe), and was part of the curriculum being used by several California school districts, including the two largest, Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified.

The parents who were plaintiffs were from the San Diego area.

Curriculum To Be Removed from Website

The foundation and parents signed a settlement agreement on Thursday with the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and the state of California to drop the suit in exchange for the curriculum revision.

“We are encouraged by this important, hard-fought victory. Our state has simply gone too far in attempts to promote fringe ideologies and racial grievance policies, even those that disregard established constitutional principles. Endorsing religious chants in the state curriculum is one glaring example,” Frank Xu, the foundation’s president, said in a news release. “To improve California public education, we need more people to stand up against preferential treatment programs and racial spoils. At both the state and local levels, we must work together to re-focus on true education!”

According to the settlement agreement, the Aztec and West African Ashe affirmations are to be removed from the Education Department’s ethnic studies model curriculum on its website within five days of the agreement’s approval by the State Board of Education and being “fully executed” by all parties.

On Wednesday, the affirmations were still in “Chapter Five: Lesson Resources” on the website.

Settlement Agreement

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

DON'T MISS

Getting Paid to Go to School? California’s Community Colleges Try It Out

DON'T MISS

Clovis Medical School Students Celebrate First-Ever ‘Match Day’ for Residency Programs

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in Texas

DON'T MISS

If You Want to See the April Eclipse, Make Sure to Protect Your Eyes

DON'T MISS

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

DON'T MISS

16 SWAT Officers Hospitalized After Blast at Training Facility in Southern California

DON'T MISS

Steven Mnuchin Builds Investor Group to Acquire TikTok Amid Potential US Ban

No data was found
Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

8 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

bitwise /

8 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

environment /

10 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

11 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

11 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

11 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

12 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

news /

12 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

12 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

13 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

■Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. ■The Va...
Healthcare /

7 hours ago

3 days ago

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

3 days ago

Prosecutor Leaves Georgia Election Case Against Trump After Relationship With District Attorney

3 days ago

Rory McIlroy’s 65: 10 Birdies, 2 Tee Shots in the Water, 1 Testy Dispute

4 days ago

Aaron Donald Announces His Retirement After a Standout 10-Year Career With the Rams

4 days ago

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

4 days ago

Baseball Superstar Ohtani and His Wife Arrive in South Korea for Dodgers-Padres MLB Opener

4 days ago

India’s New Citizenship Law Excludes Muslims. Here’s What to Know

4 days ago

US, G-7 Allies Warn Iran to Back Off Deal to Provide Russia Ballistic Missiles or Face New Sanctions

Photo of San Francisco 49ers' Arik Armstead

4 days ago

Former 49ers DT Arik Armstead Agrees to a 3-Year, $51 Million Deal with the Jaguars, AP Source Says

4 days ago

Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media

Search