by David Safier K12 Inc., the for profit, publicly traded online education corporation — the biggest in the nation — has been subject to all kinds of bad press. Here's the latest: Overworked and Underpaid? Teacher Staffing at Colorado Virtual Academy Student/teacher ratios are as high as 250-to-one. Almost 80% of the $30 million in … Read more
by David Safier Last week I wrote about author Matt de la Peña's visit to TUSD and his appearance at a Save Ethnic Studies fundraiser. I promised a story about de la Peña's visit in today's NY Times. Right on schedule, here's the NY Times article, Racial Lens Used to Cull Curriculum in Arizona. Quite … Read more
by David Safier Here is a collection of one liners from last night's Librotraficante Literary Showcase: Dagoberto Gilb, author of The Magic of Blood and other works: (Talking before the event about the effectiveness of the MAS courses in stimulating student interest and raising achievement.) "I think that's what they call AP, when they're not … Read more
by David Safier
Kudos to Alexis Huicochea of the Star for today's story about the Librotraficante Caravan, Ethnic studies support rolls in. My favorite line is from author and caravan organizer Tony Diaz about why he plans to have a taco truck distribute books in Tucson.
"Tacos are delicious and it's great to have books in the taco truck," he said. "It's like food for thought – people can have their barbacoa tacos and their contraband books."
The Weekly's Mari Herreras also has a good post on The Range, The Wet Books Are Coming! The Wet Books Are Coming! It links to an interview she did with Diaz a few weeks ago with lots of good background information.
Both reporters talk about the group Diaz helped found, Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say. The group's purpose is to promote interest in Latino literature and reading in general, featuring reading showcases and book giveaways. The group also does television broadcasts and a radio show. According to my interview yesterday with Lianna Lopez, the term "Librotraficante" was coined awhile ago when they were loading books into a van after and event and someone commented, "Hey, we're Librotraficantes!"
When I mentioned to Lopez what a fine piece of political theater this whole caravan is, filled with spot-on imagery and a flair for the dramatic — part of a long, proud tradition — she said the group is an active participant in the international conferences on Pedagogy & Theater of the Oppressed and will be presenting a workshop on the subject this afternoon during the Ultimate Lit Teach-In starting at 1pm (Flier of events below the fold).
Don't forget: If you want to hear some premier authors reading from their works, attend tonight's Literary Showcase, 7pm, UA Social Sciences Building, Rm. 100, 1145 E. South Campus.
by David Safier
I went to the John Valenzuela Youth Center this afternoon to attend the Librotraficante Caravan press conference. It turns out they were delayed — something about problems with Border Control as they crossed from New Mexico into Arizona. . . . OK, I made the Border Control part up, but the caravan still had a long way to go before it made it to Tucson. Probable time of arrival: 5:30pm.
I called the bus and talked to Lianna Lopez (don't know if I spelled that right). She told me about great crowds they've had for their evening readings. In El Paso, 350 people bought dinners at an event and another hundred attended as well. In Albuquerque last night, the 400 seat auditorium was packed and caravan members had to stand in the back.
The numbers are no surprise if you see the names of some of the authors who are reading and speaking at the events: Sandra Cisneros (House on Mango Street), Luis Alberto Urrea (The Devil's Highway) and others. You can see the list below the fold.
The readings will be at 7pm, UA Social Sciences, Room 100, 1145 E South Campus.