Ibarra 1 

Jazmine Ibarra 

Elena Jurado 

Government & Civics 

16 March 2021 

City Rising: Youth and Democracy 

Film Questions 

1. What California cities/regions are followed in the video? 

California cities/regions that are followed in the video: Fresno, Oakland, Los 

Angeles, Santa Ana, Orange County, Merced, Sacramento 

2. Who is Barbara Johns? What did she do for civil rights? 

Barbara Johns was a student and “Her school in Virginia was one of the five schools 

that was put into the case for Brown versus Board of Education. That was in 1951” 

(Turner III, 00:06:32-00:06:37). Johns organized a walkout at her school when she was 

fifteen years old to advocate for better funding for schools. The lack of funding resulted in 

terrible school facilities and being taught about school classes on school buses. This case, 

along with this protest Johns organized, led to more peaceful protests for more than just 

education, but also freedom.  

3. What was the effect of Proposition 13 of 1978*? *Correction: formerly 1960 

Proposition 13 was said to “...cut taxes in half, slash California’s state income by $7 

billion, and the brunt of the economies will be born by schools” (Unidentified man on TV, 
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00:08:25-00:08:34). The effect of Proposition 13 of 1978, formerly 1960, resulted in a 

gradual disinvestment in schools, their facilities, and access to utilities for education.  

4. In California how much does it take to fund an inmate in prison per year? How 

much to fund a student's education? (You can research this on your own.) 

In California, it takes $64,000 to fund an inmate in prison per year, whereas 

“..schools only get about $11,500 for each student” (Catacutan, 00:10:29-00:10:41). 

According to the video, California spends more on prisons than it does funding schools. 

5. Who is disproportionately affected by punitive discipline in public schools?  

Students are disproportionately affected by punitive discipline in public schools. 

Students are either arrested, sent to a different room for the smallest of things, and 

consequently fall behind in their schoolwork. Moreover, this leads to overcrowding in 

prisons and “...becomes a tool in support of overcriminalization of boys and men of 

color...in schools” (Hamm, 00:15:20-00:15:30). The video states that, “Between 

2014-2017, Los Angeles School Police Department made 7,395 youth arrests, citations, 

and diversions. 76% of these LASPD involvements were boys of color” 

(00:15:33-00:15:39).  

6. What was Prop 187 of 1994? What did it set the precedence for? 

Proposition 187 of 1994 “...would deny schooling and other social services to illegal 

immigrants, sparked student protests” (Unidentified man on TV, 00:19:45-00:19:52). This 

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set the precedence for criminalizing people from undocumented families and becoming an 

anti-immigrant state (Sanchez, 00:20:19-00:20:22). 

7. What is the SAC Kids First Fund? 

The SAC Kids First Fund is a children’s fund initiative “that looks to expand the 

city’s budget for youth services and have young people included when deciding where 

resources go” (City Rising: Youth & Democracy). More specifically, “Sac Kids First’s 

proposed Children’s Fund initiative would allocate 2.5% of the city’s revenue, about $12.5 

million, to programs designed for children and youth” (City Rising, Youth & Democracy, 

00:24:12). Within “six months, hundreds of student organizers from the SAC Kids First 

coalition collected over 38,000 validated signatures in support of the Children’s Fund. On 

November 5, 2019, they gathered at City Hall to get the initiative on the March 2020 

ballot ” (City Rising: Youth & Democracy, 00:24:48-00:24:53).  

8. How did Oakland students organize to fight for their education? What did they do? 

Oakland students, such as Johnathan Piper, alongside teachers, organized to fight 

for their education by leading protests, strikes, and walkouts to advocate for school 

funding. More specifically, they (students and teachers from Oakland) went on strike to 

protest adequate funding for their schools.  

9. Define Disinvestment of Youth.  

Disinvestment of Youth is when adults or people with higher power do not pay any 

mind to the youth’s opinions. Disinvestment of Youth is when money is taken from 
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programs supporting the youth and those who support the youth. It takes away from the 

education of the youth. 

10. Why was Measure G opposed in Sacramento? What reasons did the mayor give? 

Measure G was opposed in Sacramento because he feared it would get in the way 

of other priorities such as affordable housing. He also gave reasoning that the decision to 

spend the money, or rather, where the money goes to/funds, should be left in the hands of 

those who were entrusted with this responsibility by voters. 

11. In the end, how were Oakland students affected by the decision of the School 

board ? 

In the end, Oakland teachers did get a raise, with an 11% pay raise over the next 

four years and a 3% bonus when approved. However, all the extracurricular activities and 

programs in Oakland were cut because the teachers wanted a raise. Funding was also cut 

from school libraries, which negatively impacted the students, not having the access to 

resources they need for their education. 

12. How do punitive discipline measures differ from restorative justice practices? 

Punitive discipline measures differ from restorative justice practices in the way 

that students are nonviolent and allow for the student and adults to work out problems 

through discussion, rather than sending a student away and locking them up in detention. 

13. How did the School Climate Bill of Rights in LA Unified School District affect school 

suspensions ? 
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The School Climate Bill of Rights in LA Unified School District affected school 

suspensions because it “...aimed to end suspensions for disruption of school activities or 

willfully defying school authorities. In the place of suspensions, it would implement 

restorative justice programs and a system to file formal complaints regarding discipline.” 

(City Rising: Youth & Democracy, 00:44:50-00:44:54). It changed how students were 

treated by teachers and authorities. Because the LA Unified School District “adopted the 

School Climate Bill of Rights...students would no longer be suspended or expelled for a 

“willful defiance” offense” (City Rising: Youth & Democracy, 00:48.25).  

14. Did measure G pass in the 2020 election? 

Measure G did not pass in the 2020 election. 

15. Historically, social movements for change have been led largely by young people 

(Ages 16-25) despite facing tremendous opposition. Why do you think that is?  

I think that social movements for change have been led largely by young 

people despite facing tremendous opposition because we have a desire for change. We 

want for things to be better and for things to be better, things have to change. Activism, 

protests, strikes, community building, are all ways that we, as youth, can incite change 

within our communities and maybe even the world.