Preface to the African/African-American Baseline Essays
The Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education is committed to quality education for all students. Our School District is staffed by individuals who are committed to excellence in education. The African-American Baseline Essays are but one part of a larger product to be developed to fulfill the Board of Education’s goal:
…to develop in all students a better understanding and appreciation of the history, culture, and contributions to society of different ethnic groups and cultures.
The Baseline Essays provide information about the history, culture, and contributions of Africans and African-Americans in the disciplines of Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Music and should be used by teachers and other District staff as a reference and resource just as adopted textbooks and other resources are used.
Dr. Asa G. Hilliard, lll (an educator and psychologist) who has gained national and international recognition for his work with large urban school districts in the areas of student achievement, special education, and psychological development, has been primary consultant to the African-American Baseline Essay project. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, and Association of Black Psychologists, and currently holds the Fuller E. Calloway Chair at Georgia State University.
Each of the Baseline Essays has been authored by an individual who is both knowledgeable about the specific discipline and recognized as an expert on African and African-American history. In addition, the essays have been circulated and reviewed by many individuals and groups (i.e., the Desegregation Monitoring Advisory Committee, the Multicultural/Multiethnic Education Task Force, Curriculum Department Subject Matter Specialists, and the African-American Curriculum Consultants).
The Curriculum Department, through its Multicultural/Multiethnic Education Office and the Curriculum Department and Services Unit, will support the inservicing of the African-American Baseline Essays with:
- staff inservice sessions
- lesson plans
- video tape presentations by the authors of the Baseline Essays
As Superintendent of the Portland Public School District, I commend the Curriculum Department and the African-American community for working together to finalize the African-American Baseline Essays. Special thanks are due to Ms. Carolyn M. Leonard, our Coordinator of Multicultural/Multiethnic Education, for her professional dedication to the effort. These essays have already gained recognition in other school districts and I am confident that our staff will use the information to work toward full implementation of the Board of Education goal.
Portland Public Schools
African-American Baseline Essays
This series was released in 1987. View the Preface to the African/African-American Baseline Essays.
The individual essay titles are as follows:
- African-American Art Traditions and Developments by Michael D. Harris
- African and African-American Traditions in Language Arts by Joyce Braden Harris
- African and African-American Contributions to Mathematics by Beatrice Lumpkin
- African and African-American Contributions to Science and Technology by Hunter Havelin Adams III
- Social Science African-American Baseline Essay by John Henrik Clarke
- African and African-American Contributions to World Music by Charshee Lawrence-McIntyre, Ph.D.
American Indian Baseline Essays
This series was first released in 1993. View the Preface to the American Indian Essays.
The individual essay titles are as follows:
- American Indian Art Traditions and Contributions by Chris R. Landon
- American Indian Language Arts Traditions and Contributions by Chris R. Landon
- American Indian Math Traditions and Contributions by Chris R. Landon
- American Indian Contributions to Science and Technology by Chris R. Landon
- American Indian Civilizations and the Social Sciences by Chris R. Landon
- American Indian Music Traditions and Contributions by Gary S. Fields
- American Indian Physical Education and Health Traditions and Contributions by Chris R. Landon
Hispanic-American baseline Essays
This series was first developed in 1993. American Indian Physical Education and Health Traditions and Contributions.
The individual essay titles are as follows:
- Social Science: Toward an Understanding of Hispanic History by Dr. Erasmo Gamboa
- Language Arts: Toward an Understanding of Hispanic Literature with a Special Emphasis in the Literature of Hispanics in the U by Nicolas Kanellos, Ph.D. with Companion Essays by Alma Flor Eda and Isabel Schon
- Latinos and Mathematics by Dr. Luis Ortiz-Franco
- Latino Music: A View of Its Diversity and Strength by Dr. Robert Garfias
Asian-American Baseline Essays
The Asian Baseline Essay Series was released in late spring/early summer of 2001. View the Preface to the Asian Essays.
The individual essay titles are as follows:
- The Asian Baseline Essay in Art by William Lillys with an epilogue by Dr. Pratipaditya Pal
- Asian and Asian-American Traditions in Language Arts by professor Shawn Wong and Dr. Naseem A. Hines
- Asian Contributions to Mathematics by Dr. Ramesh Gangolli
- Asian and Asian-American Music by Dr. Hiromi Lorraine Sakata
- Contributions of Asians and Asian-Americans to Science by Dr. Khalid H. Khan and Dr. A.K. Gupta (On Hold pending response by the authors to Asian Reviewers)
- Asian-American Baseline Essay: Social Science by Dr. Mounir A. Farah and Aseel Nasir Dyck