Porterville College’s Cultural Historical Awareness Program (C.H.A.P.) will begin its fall schedule on September 17 (Constitution Day) with “Does Treating Students Equally Mean Treating Them the Same?” with Kern Community College District Chancellor Sandra V. Serrano. The talk will take place from 11:30am to 12:30pm in the PC Theater. The event is open to the public and free to attend. (Contact the front desk upon your arrival for a free temporary parking permit.)
In observance of Constitution Day, Serrano will review and comment on the landmark court case, Brown v. Board of Education (1954). In that decision, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that “separate but equal” has no place in the field of education. In light of the current condition of public education and its compulsory status in the United States, does treating students equally mean treating them the same? Has the promise of Brown been fulfilled?
On Friday, September 19, there will be a talk titled “Intervention: The U.S. Military Attempts to Shape Mexico’s Revolution, 1914 and 1916,” by PC History Professor Jay Hargis, from 7 to 8pm in the PC Theater. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Parking permits will not be required for the event.
A century ago the U.S. initiated diplomatic and military action in Mexico to try to control the forces unleashed by the ten-year Mexican Revolution. Not unlike our intervention in Middle East conflicts today, the U.S. did not fully understand the issues, personalities, ideologies and history involved, and we were not successful then, and may be even less successful today.
The Porterville College C.H.A.P. was organized in 2002 to enhance students’ awareness of certain important aspects of our society to which they may previously have had little or no exposure. A theme is chosen by C.H.A.P. members each school year, and faculty members across the campus are encouraged to integrate elements of that theme into their coursework. Additionally, a variety of field trips, guest speakers, panel discussions and videos are presented throughout the year and are all open to the public. For more information about C.H.A.P. call Richard Osborne at 791-2298.
Porterville College is located at 100 E. College Ave. in Porterville. For more information, visit www.portervillecollege.edu or call 791-2200.