Pedagogical and curricular lessons from bilingual education activism in New Mexico: Serna v. Portales (1974) 50 years later

Abstract

ABSTRACT This articles presents a chronology of events of the Serna v. Portales Municipal Schools (1974) court case decided by the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on its 50th anniversary. Serna protected and codified bilingual education for New Mexican children. Four lessons learned from those involved in the struggle for language rights are included. (1) Contextualize pedagogy within place and history; (2) Highlight the collaborative efforts of diverse groups toward change; (3) Design student-centered curriculum responding to community’s needs and strengths; (4) Connect to the larger purpose/soulfulness of our work. The lessons highlight the pedagogical relevance of the case.