Arizona Legislative Latino Caucus: Delay vote on resolution

by David Safier

The Arizona Legislative Latino Caucus asked the TUSD Board to delay a vote on Mark Stegeman's resolution to make MAS history courses electives rather than core courses. Here's a great quote from Sen. Steve Gallardo:

 "You see school districts across the country who are struggling with dropouts and kids skipping classes – but here you have a group of students who are fighting to stay in class, fighting to learn an actual curriculum."

Think of it. Students are fighting for their courses, like they care about their educations. A month ago, they showed up downtown on a Thursday night to watch a documentary about the MAS program — over 1300 students and parents — on a night when UA was in the basketball playoffs. Like they care about their educations. When I mentioned that to someone who supports turning MAS history into electives, he responded, "Yes, their teachers told them to attend." My response was, "Man, I would have thought I had died and gone to Heaven if I told my students to go see a documentary downtown, and they all showed up and brought their parents with them!" I always thought it was a sign of success when students follow their teachers' suggestions.

The Arizona Legislative Latino Caucus members who participated in the news conference were Senators Linda Lopez and Steve Gallardo, and Representatives Sally Ann Gonzales, Richard Miranda, Macario Saldate and Bruce Wheeler.

Good for them. I know I don't carry any weight. I don't know, I may be one of those outside agitators TUSD Supe John Pedicone was warning us about in his Sunday op ed. But six respected, elected state legislators recommend you postpone a vote on the resolution. That should carry some weight.