Some religious groups not happy with “Students’ Religious Liberties” bill
by David SafierAccording to an article in Jewish News of Greater Phoenix (and reprinted in Tucson's Arizona Jewish Post), some Jewish leaders are concerned about HB2357, which is supposed to protect students' freedom of religious expression in schools. Anti-Defamation League Regional Director Bill Straus said that the ADL is primarily concerned about the clause that … Read more
Comment on the Ethnic Studies issue
by David SafierI'm a relative newcomer to Arizona — about 5 years — so I don't have personal knowledge of politics that goes further back than that. Commenter Rex adds perspective to the issue of Horne's relentless attacks on ethnic studies. Horne needs to burnish his conservative credentials to gain support for his run for … Read more
The end of ethnic studies? Part II
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is back on his high horse again arguing for the elimination of the ethnic studies programs at Tucson Unified School District (TUSD). Bill aims to rid TUSD of ethnic studies: "Ethnic studies programs … are designed to promote ethnic chauvinism," state Superintendent of Public Instruction … Read more
The end of ethnic studies?
by David SafierI'm relieved I'm not pushing to end a program that's a proven success in raising students' academic achievement. The right wing would say I hate children, that I'm willing to further my own partisan liberal agenda at the expense of students' futures. Nope. They're the ones who want to end ethnic studies programs … Read more
Guns and the Ed Supe job?
by David SafierJust a thought. Will the issue of allowing guns in school become an issue in the race for Ed Supe?
Learning to the test
by David SafierNow this is a test driven student culture. Fourteen to 16 hours a day, he studied for the college entrance examination, which this year will determine the fate of more than 10 million Chinese students. He took one day off every three weeks. [snip] Families pull out all the stops to optimize their … Read more
Update: Bill to require nonpartisan elections in Tucson is a “do pass” in Senate
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: According to ALIS SB1123, the bill to to require Tucson to conduct nonpartisan elections, and elections by ward ward only, is a "do pass" in the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) today. It will now move over to the House. Earlier this week, the Arizona Daily Star weighed in on this … Read more
