by David Safier
As usual, the cause-effect scenario in the Ethnic Studies battle is only being presented with a conservative spin on it. Horne and Huppenthal are saying, if TUSD doesn't get its act together and change or eliminate Ethnic Studies, it's in danger of losing $15 million. From that viewpoint, it sounds like the district is just being pigheaded and foolish.
But what's really happening is, Horne, Huppenthal and Republican legislators have targeted the single most successful program in the state for raising the achievement and enthusiasm of Hispanic students and said, if you don't stop doing what's working educationally, we're going to take away $15 million.
And they say Delores Huerta was wrong when she said, "Republicans hate Latinos"!
Huppenthal said yesterday,
"As Superintendent of Public Instruction, I won't rest until every child, regardless of race, ethnic background or socio-economic status, receives the excellent education he or she deserves."
So why, Superintendent Huppenthal, do you want to destroy what may be the state's best model for educating students of one ethnic background?