BERKELEY -- Student leaders who asked the district to dump what they called divisive ethnic studies courses at Berkeley High School lost their battle this week when the school board approved a plan to continue the classes this fall.

Students, including school board student representative Bradley Johnson, who is African American, submitted a proposal to cut the classes because they have caused feelings of victimization and oppression, plus the villainization of white students, according to the Student Senate's proposal to drop the course and replace it with one semester of health, nutrition and introductory chemistry.

Critics also argued some teachers have used the class to advocate their "personal ideologies and engage in activities bordering on political indoctrination." They said teachers commonly show meaningless movies, allow students to slack off and assign "busy work."

"It actually foments racial tension," said school board Director Shirley Issel, who along with Johnson cast votes against a plan to continue the classes. "We know how to do better in the Berkeley Unified School District."

But others see the class differently.

Hasmig Minassian, who has taught identity ethnic studies at Berkeley High for three years, said the class has been put under a microscope because of its sensitive material.

"It's a vulnerable course because it's not required by the state and it's radical and political by nature," she said.

"There is no course that you can go into without getting a sense of your teacher's philosophies. Some kids call that political indoctrination, and others would call that teaching."

Minassian said Berkeley would be doing its students a disservice to eliminate the course.

"(Opponents) are right that the course raises issues around race and ethnicity in American society, and those discussions are often messy," Minassian said. "But we believe that not having those discussions is more detrimental to student relationships. Kids are thinking about these issues and if we don't talk about them, they don't go away by themselves."

Although the class will continue, it will undergo changes.

With its 4-1 vote Wednesday, the board changed the name from "identity ethnic studies" to "freshman seminar." Board members said the school will work toward a more unified curriculum, additional staff development and a tougher writing component. Teachers with a background in teaching ethnic studies will be hired down the line. School board Director Joaquin Rivera said he voted to continue the course with its new name but would like to see the school evaluate its potential future.

"The problem is the last few years the school has lacked stable leadership, and there have been so many issues that have taken precedence over looking at this course," he said. "For me, this course is on life support. I want to give (Principal Jim Slemp) a vote of confidence to deal with this issue to see if his ideas can bring this course off life support or if it's time to pull the plug."

Slemp was not available for comment.

Berkeley High School is about 40 percent white, 30 percent African American, 10 percent Latino, 10 percent Asian and about 5 percent mixed race, according to 2000 school data.

Since the mid-1980s, the board has required Berkeley High freshman to take an ethnic studies class, which was renamed identity ethnic studies, and retooled about three years ago. It is not a course required by the state.

"Although identity ethnic studies is supposed to be a culturally educational experience, I, along with many other of my peers, believe that is very divisive, as it creates tension between students of different races and between teachers and students," wrote Jake Kaizer-Salk in a letter to the district.

Students also proposed dropping ethnic studies to save electives such as dance and drama, which face cuts during the next few years as the district phases in additional required classes but adds no new teachers.

"I found that my ethnic studies experience (as a freshman) was not useful at all," said senior Alice Alpert, a member of the student senate. "I feel that maybe if the course was completely renovated it could be a useful class. I think the idea is very noble ... and I completely agree that it's important to be aware of other cultures, but it's not serving its purpose right now."