Pima Dems: No compromise or capitulation on Ethnic Studies

by David Safier

The Pima County Democratic Party has restated its support for TUSD's Mexican American Studies program in a Media Release. Not only do the Pima Dems condemn the idea of "capitulation or compromise," they say the program should be "expanded to include more ethnicities and cultures in every school throughout Arizona who want to enhance the academic, personal and social development of their students."

I read this as a clear statement to TUSD Board members and Superintendent John Pedicone not to preemptively weaken the Mexican American Studies program by taking the courses out of the core curriculum and turning them into electives. (See my earlier post on the topic.) As the media release states, "Capitulation and compromise will not deter Horne and Huppenthal's thinly disguised racist attacks on minorities just like Russell Pearce cannot be dissuaded from his attempts to marginalize immigrants and minorities. The only way to defeat bullies is to stand up against them."

You can read the entire Media Release after the jump.

Pima County Democratic Party
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Rogers
Chair, Pima County Democratic Party
March 30, 2011
Cell: (520) 360-0924
Office: (520) 624-4700
jrogers@pimadems.org
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TUSD Ethnic Studies: Now is Not the Time for Capitulation or Compromise
 
The Pima County Democratic Party today reiterated its support for the TUSD Mexican American Studies curriculum and condemned Tom Horne and John Huppenthal's continuing attacks on TUSD's Ethnic Studies program.

Jeff Rogers, Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party said:

"Now is not the time for capitulation or compromise. We remain confident that the courses are completely legal.  Further, we remain confident that TUSD will prevail in all challenges to the courses if they just stand tall and fight for this curriculum. Our party's full committee of over two hundred precinct committee persons met on January 8th of this year and, despite the tragedy that was unfolding, unanimously passed a resolution in support of the Ethnic Studies Program and opposing HB 2281. We said that these programs should 'not only be left as-is but should be expanded to include more ethnicities and cultures in every school throughout Arizona who want to enhance the academic, personal and social development of their students.'  Capitulation and compromise will not deter Horne and Huppenthal's thinly disguised racist attacks on minorities just like Russell Pearce cannot be dissuaded from his attempts to marginalize immigrants and minorities. The only way to defeat bullies is to stand up against them. We are prepared to do so and hope all Arizonans will stand with us in this fight."

Resolution passed unanimously by the over 200 attendees at the 2011 Pima County Democratic Party's Biennial Reorganization Meeting held January 8, 2011: 

Be it resolved that the Pima County Democratic Party opposes House Bill 2281. Programs that keep students in school, prepare them for higher education and develop well-rounded thoughtful, productive members of society should be praised, replicated and expanded, rather than criminalized.

We agree with Senator Paula Aboud that, "What we are seeing here is political bullying by elected officials holding schoolchildren and a Tucson school district hostage by withholding education dollars as ransom."

Research shows that ethnic studies curriculum such as TUSD's Raza Studies contribute significantly to student achievement. The graduation rate among students who have participated in the Raza Studies curriculum is 97%, compared to the national average of about 40% for all Latino students. And approximately 85% of Raza Studies graduates go on to college.

African-American, Native American, Pan-Asian and Raza Studies should not only be left as-is but should be expanded to include more ethnicities and cultures in every school throughout Arizona who want to enhance the academic, personal and social development of their students.

We are proud to stand with the 11 educators opposing House Bill 2281 and we encourage all Arizonans who value innovative, successful programs in the realm of public education to join us.

Adam D. Kinsey
Executive Director
Pima County Democratic Party
Office: (520) 326-3716
Cell: (520) 834-6384