Summary & Background

Summary:
The purpose of this lesson is to help students identify the historical context of the 1968 Edcouch-Elsa student walkout. The student will understand why the walkout happened and the events that lead to the walkout (before, during, and after the 1968 walkout). Also, the purpose of this lesson is to have students identify different points of view about an issue regarding walkouts or protests. Lastly, the purpose of this lesson is to have students express their ideas orally based on their research about walkout or protests.

Background:
On November 14, 1968 in Edcouch-Elsa, about 150 to 200 Mexican and Mexican-American Edcouch-Elsa high-school students walked out of their high-school at 10 a.m. to boycott the high school, teachers, administration, and the Edcouch-Elsa school board officials. The students’ reasons for walking out and boycotting was due to the segregation, racism, discrimination, and the unfair treatment they endured every day from their teachers, counselors, and school administration. For three days, following the walkout, these students protested for better education, end segregation, racism and discrimination against them, and to receive better treatment from the teachers, counselors, and school administration. (Deiner, 2008) & (Martinez, 2017)