What the . . .?

by David Safier

Pedicone denied a reporter's request to visit an Ethnic Studies class? From Stephen Lemons of the Phoenix New Times.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a Mexican American Studies class, something Horne has never done, despite his signing a "finding" that calls for the program's elimination.

TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone rejected my request to observe such a class in action. Via e-mail, his assistant cited "distractions, controversy, and end-of-year issues."

This is a new policy, instituted by Pedicone, who officially became superintendent this year. And it is part of a climate of fear that pervades the ethnic-studies teaching ranks. TUSD teachers told me that they're being closely watched by administrators, who are looking for any excuse to investigate them and retaliate. All on Pedicone's orders.

Which is why I will not tell you the name of the teacher whose class I sat in on or what school the teacher works in. I even have to be vague about the specifics of what was taught, because that would identify the class and the instructor.

Let me try to be fair here. Maybe there are so many requests to visit the classes TUSD issued a blanket policy to reject them all. But if that's the case, I wonder if Pedicone discussed the decision with the MAS Director, Sean Arce. If this decision came by mutual agreement, fine. If it was simply Pedicone's dictate, it's just another seed sewn in the distrust which has grown between the two sides.

This line from the excerpt above speaks volumes.

TUSD [I assume, MAS] teachers told me that they're being closely watched by administrators, who are looking for any excuse to investigate them and retaliate. All on Pedicone's orders.

That's where things stand right now. Either Pedicone has it in for the MAS program, or MAS teachers believe he does. So long as this atmosphere of mutual distrust, which Lemons calls "a climate of fear," persists, tensions will continue at current levels or continue to escalate.

By the way, Lemons' article is excellent, worth a read.