by Victoria Garcia and Julian Munoz
Like many on this campus, I am a part of the Hispanic minority (though at Holmes being Hispanic is more so the majority). Ironically, I tend not to associate with being Hispanic because of how I was raised, which lacked a lot of Hispanic influence. When others in school would reference something from Hispanic culture that didn’t involve enchiladas to queso dip then most likely I would be lost. I find myself learning many different things from the strong Hispanic presence here in San Antonio but mainly from my classmates here at school. I learn different sayings and stories or tall tales from being around a very diverse campus which has helped me build a connection with my ethnic background in which I never had the chance to build before.
The same concerns I face now are very similar to the concerns faced by Tracey Sutherland, a student who attended Holmes in 1991, which is very interesting to think about as I often wondered the importance of my own ethnicity. For this first edition of Throwback Thursday, we dig back in the Gavel archives to 1991, and see what Sutherland has to say.
“I can relate to it in the sense that my ethnicity is not the only thing that makes me who I am and unique,” junior Mario Estrada said in response to the issues discussed in Sutherland’s article. “I understand where she is coming from and it should not be just that, I believe they should go a little bit further but not too personal on the questions. I agree with her that it is not only her race that makes her unique and they should ask more questions.”
The test makers who create the information questions on state tests were to ask more specific but not too personal of questions may be able to decide or get a better understanding of who is taking the test. From this better understanding they can be capable of gaining a better estimate of how much students individually can earn in possible scholarships.
Within our community, many students are from the same ethnicity. We all appreciate our culture or cultures at that. Many of us have questioned or doubted our culture due to many state tests or due to certain situations. The students find who they are instead of what they’re origins are, and this has apparently been going on in our community for decades.
Junior Caleb Miller was asked about his thoughts and opinions after reading Sutherland’s article.
“I relate to it by how I’ve been there during the STAAR, and which [race] do I really wanna choose,” Miller said about the article. “Does it matter? Would they look at it for the test score? She shouldn’t have to choose she should just be her own person.”
Miller is aware of the drastic change in demographics since 1991.
“I feel like other schools look at us differently because of how we are mostly made up of Hispanics,” Miller said. “I also feel they would look at us in a different light if we were white. However, it feels like home here and if I was placed in a school made up of mostly whites I wouldn’t feel so at home there.”
In the end, we still have to decide on what race to choose. However as time goes on and ideas evolve, maybe we can come up with better questions or ways to gain a better understanding of the students taking these state tests across the country. This could possibly help students broaden what scholarships and opportunities that may be accessible to them that they may not be aware of.