by David Safier Once again, Republicans reveal their priorities, as if there were ever any questions. A bill giving a tax break to University of Phoenix passed the Senate and is heading to the house. This bill is so wrong-headed, Brewer vetoed it last session, saying the state couldn't afford to lose the tax money. … Read more
by David Safier Rich Crandall is upset. Why would anyone think, with all the cuts Republicans have made to schools and health care for children and state parks and — but why go on? — that his bill to make school lunches optional could possibly hurt children or schools? Why don't people forget about all … Read more
by David Safier
Raúl Grijalva has joined the MAS fight with more than words. He sent a letter to the assistant secretary of education for civil rights "urging an investigation of whether an Arizona state law violates federal standards by targeting Tucson Unified School District’s successful Mexican-American Studies (MAS) program."
The press release is below (Half of it is below the fold). You can read the letter here.
Grijalva Leads Hispanic Caucus Letter to Dept. of Education Calling for Mexican-American Studies Support, Civil Rights Investigation
Tuesday January 24, 2012
Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) education task force, sent a letter yesterday to top federal education officials urging an investigation of whether an Arizona state law violates federal standards by targeting Tucson Unified School District’s successful Mexican-American Studies (MAS) program. The letter, sent to assistant secretary of education for civil rights Russlynn Ali and other Department of Education and Department of Justice officials and co-signed by CHC Chairman Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas), calls Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 15-122 “bad public policy and fundamentally flawed,” especially as it has been applied in targeting and shutting down the MAS program.
ARS 15-122 forbids schools to encourage “overthrow of the U.S. government” or prioritize ethnic identity over teaching students as individuals. Despite a 2011 audit of the MAS program finding “no observable evidence [. . .] to suggest that any classroom within Tucson Unified School District is in direct violation of the law,” Arizona schools chief John Huppenthal deemed the program illegal last June. Schools in the area have subsequently canceled related classes.
by David Safier It looks like TUSD students aren't planning to let the banning of MAS courses go quietly. As the nation watches the Tucson Unified School District’s spiral into disarray, hundreds of students have walked out of their Tucson schools today in a coordinated protest against the banishment of the district’s acclaimed Mexican American … Read more
by David Safier
Mark Stegeman sent a letter to constituents discussing his views on what has been called by many, including me, a "book ban" at TUSD. You can read the entire letter after the jump.
A few things in the letter jumped out at me. One is the statement,
When the TUSD board voted (4-1) to end the Mexican-American Studies (MAS) curriculum, ending use of the books had to be part of that package.
No, ending the use of the books did not have to be part of that package. Is Stegeman unaware TUSD's communication director said the books were still OK'd for use by teachers who had not formerly taught MAS courses? For those teachers, some of the 7 books can still be used in the same courses where they are forbidden for use by former MAS teachers. It is not a course-specific ban. It is a teacher-specific ban. That makes a huge difference, and it contradicts what Stegeman wrote.
Then, after Stegeman lists the books, he writes this:
I am not aware of any other school district in Arizona which has approved these books for use in instruction. If anyone knows of such approvals, then I would be interested to hear about them.
The key word in the statement is "other," because it looks like one district approved 3 of the books: TUSD. According to a June 12, 20078, document posted on Three Sonorans, TUSD approved the use of "Critical Race Theory," "Occupied America" and "Pedagogy of the Oppressed."
The document looks legit, so I'll assume it is unless someone from TUSD says otherwise. If Stegeman knows the three texts had TUSD approval, he should have made that clear in his letter, then said he believes TUSD is the only district to approve the texts. Possibly he isn't aware of the prior approvals.
Read Mark Stegeman's constituent letter after the jump.