CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Por el Barrio: El primer Mexicoamericano en la Junta de Educación de Los Ángeles (For the Neighborhood: The First Mexican-American in the Los Angeles School Board of Education) A graduate project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Arts In History By Pedro Enrique Puentes May 2021 Copyright by Pedro Enrique Puentes 2021 ii The graduate project of Pedro Enrique Puentes is approved: ___________________________________ _____________________ Dr. Thomas Devine Date ____________________________________ _____________________ Dr. John Paul Nuño Date ____________________________________ ____________________ Dr. Clementine Oliver Date California State University, Northridge iii Table of Contents Copyright . ii Signature Page . iii Abstract . .. v iv Abstract Por el Barrio: El primer Mexicoamericano en la Junta de Educación de Los Ángeles (For the Neighborhood: The First Mexican-American in the Los Angeles School Board of Education) By Pedro Enrique Puentes Master of Arts in History In accordance with university regulations, the following is an abstract of my culminating experience project, which serves as the final requirement towards the completion of a Masters of Arts Degree in History. While the following abstract summarizes my project’s scholarly contribution, research questions, methods, and conclusions, the final project is archived in the Department of History at California State University, Northridge. v This essay examines the efforts by the first Mexican American to serve on the Los Angeles School Board of Education, Dr. Julian Nava, to implement a bilingual education program within the Los Angeles Unified School District. Nava and other bilingual advocates fought to advocate for Mexican American students who were unable to comprehend the English language curriculum, struggled academically, and dropped out of school in increasing numbers. Nava and other proponents of bilingualism were opposed by those who believed that the children of Mexican immigrants should become more “American” and move away from their cultural heritage and language. Many in the city of Los Angeles continued to be hostile to the notion of Mexican American youth accessing educational opportunities through public schools alongside Anglo students. Such sentiments had a long history in the city. During the 1940s many schools had relocated Mexican American students into other classrooms and buildings away from their fellow Anglo students, resulting in an increasing number of what became known as “Mexican Schools.” In 1947, the United States Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in Mendez v Westminster that segregating Mexican American children was unconstitutional and encouraged schools in California to integrate these students into the mainstream population. Julian Nava’s role on the school board offers deeper insight into the 1960s Chicano movement and the challenges LAUSD faced during a period of significant change. Nava’s presence on the Los Angeles School Board of Education sparked social and political awareness within the Mexican American community, which then fought to establish a bilingual program in public schools. vi .