The dismantling of Mexican-American studies in Tucson schools
Update: Congressional Hispanic Caucus want an investigation into Tucson's ethnic studies ban
By Stephanie Siek, CNN
(CNN) - Nearly two weeks since Tucson, Arizona's, Mexican-American studies classes were suspended, some books have been removed from classes, teachers are uncertain about what curriculum to use and some students said they'd like to give district and state school administrators some homework: Listen to the students affected by the decision.
"I just want to talk to them," said Nicolas Dominguez, a senior at Tucson Magnet High School, where administrators removed several seminal Mexican-American studies texts last week. "I want to talk to them about all of this, and I want to get to know them, because you have to get to know people before you can change them. I think it’s essential to become friends with the state superintendent and work together."
The Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District voted January 10 to suspended its Mexican-American studies program after an administrative law judge ruled it violated a new state law and the state said the local district was going to lose $15 million in annual aid. In a district where 60% of the 53,000 students are Latino, some said they felt like Chicano or Mexican-American perspectives on history have become unacceptable.
This week, seven textbooks associated with the Mexican-American studies program were removed from classrooms, provoking claims of censorship. District leaders said they aren't banning the books, but have removed them from classrooms while their content is evaluated.
The district’s Governing Board President, Mark Stegeman, said that copies of some of the books were still available in school libraries. But a search of the Tucson district’s school library online catalog, only a handful of copies of each book were available in any of the 11 high school libraries searchable online.
"I feel really disheartened," said Maria Therese Mejia, a senior at Tucson Magnet High School. "Those are our history, you know? It's ridiculous for them to be taking away our education. They’re taking (the books) to storage where no one can use them."
Opponents of the book removals say district leaders cut off access to books that give an account of American history from the perspective of Latinos and indigenous people who lived in the Southwest long before Arizona was a state. The books were removed from classrooms on Friday, in at least one instance during class as students looked on.
The Tucson Unified School District issued a statement late Tuesday calling reports of book banning "completely false and misleading."
Contrary to earlier reports which indicated that dozens of books listed as class materials had been taken away, the statement said only seven titles were affected:
"Critical Race Theory," by Richard Delgado
"500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures," edited by Elizabeth Martinez
"Message to AZTLAN," by Rodolfo Corky Gonzales
"Chicano! The History of the Mexican Civil Rights Movement," by Arturo Rosales
"OccupiedAmerica: A History of Chicanos," by Rodolfo Acuna
"Pedagogy of the Oppressed," by Paulo Freire
"Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years," edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson
"Each book has been boxed and stored as part of the process of suspending the classes," the statement read. "The books listed above were cited in the ruling that found the classes out of compliance with state law."
Arizona State Superintendent John Huppenthal ordered on January 6 that about 10% of the district's state funding, about $15 million over the course of a year, be withheld, retroactive to August 15, 2011, if it did not dismantle its Mexican-American studies courses.
That order followed a December administrative law ruling that the program was teaching "in a biased, political and emotionally charged manner," and upheld a state finding that it violated a 2010 law that bans ethnic studies classes which "promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment toward a race or class of people, are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals." In Tucson, only Mexican-American studies classes were affected.
An education company's independent audit of Tucson’s Mexican-American studies program done concluded in May that none of the courses were in violation of that law, that they benefited students and contributed to a climate of acceptance in the schools. The audit suggested a review of two books for curriculum and age-appropriateness: "Message to AZTLAN," a book of speeches and other writings by Chicano civil rights activist Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales, and "500 Years or Chicano History in Pictures."
"I think in most cases these books never went through a proper review process in the beginning, and they are now being removed, not in a specific review process but in that the state has decided these courses not be taught," Stegeman said.
Stegeman said it's possible some books could be reapproved for the classroom after a review. He said the review might take place before the summer break.
But in the meantime, the district's decisions suspended classes called Latino literature, American history/Mexican-American perspectives, Chicano art and an American government/social justice education project course. With the curriculum dismissed and books removed, teachers say they haven't received clear guidance on how to proceed with teaching their classes for the rest of the school year. They’ve been told that the district will issue a new curriculum that includes "a balanced presentation of diverse viewpoints on controversial issues," but it hasn't come yet. Teachers said their old curriculum already complied with those standards.
Curtis Acosta, a Tucson High teacher who has been with the district for 17 years, half of them as a teacher of Latino and Chicano literature, said he’s frustrated to be without a plan to move forward.
"Now we’re told we can talk about race, but it has to be through a multicultural perspective. And if you looked at our (old) curriculum, it was from a multicultural perspective," said Acosta, who said he used the writing of Sherman Alexie, Martin Luther King Jr., William Shakespeare, Ronald Takaki and Jonathan Kozol in his classes.
"I’m not confident one bit to move forward with any writer that has that social justice streak in them," Acosta said. "I have already built something that’s multicultural, centered around empowerment of youth and liberates them to make decisions critically and find their own academic integrity."
Students said they're learning a hard but practical lesson about politics.
"For me, what I've learned through all this is that students and youth have a lot of voices that we don’t get to express," Mejia said. "We’re the ones who will be changed by this situation. We will be the ones who speak out and do marches, and we will be the ones making the future. And no matter what, we have the power to stand up for what we believe."
Students have already staged several marches and a class walkout since the state law was passed in 2010, and another walkout is planned for January 24; students said they will attend a teach-in about Chicano history by University of Arizona professors.
A group of students and teachers, including Dominguez and Acosta, have filed a suit in federal district court to overturn the state law barring ethnic studies.
Outside organizations might get involved, too.
Barbara Jones, director of the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, said the removal of the books was a big topic of discussion at the association’s 2012 midwinter meeting, which began last Thursday in Dallas. Groups including REFORMA, the Latino librarians' group, the American Indian Librarians' Association and the Intellectual Freedom Committee planned to respond and a coalition of civil liberties groups were researching possible legal action and expecting to release a statement this week, Jones said.
Regardless of the words the district used, Jones said, it's actions restricted access to books, which leads to censorship.
"We're gathering facts. Right now it looks like it's just the curriculum that’s affected and not school libraries," Jones said. "But we know from experience this will eventually affect books in the library."
Jones said there have been similar moves in Texas and other states to censor materials reflecting ethnic points of view. Such actions rob students of opportunities to form their own opinions, Jones said.
"If (school officials are) listening to their communities, they should understand that to take ethnic diversity out of curriculum in the 21st century is damaging and hateful," Jones said. “It stifles the conversations we desperately need to have in this country about inclusion, about preparing all people in this country to go in the workforce, to go to college, to be successful in life. And to ban discussion about these types of issues is very damaging to our country and our democracy."
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Excellent blog! Thankyou.
Also if you do educate yourself please do some research and you will find out that the Native American Tribes in Mexico(Aztec, Mayan, etc.) were also enslaved and oppressed by the Spanish conquistadors. So yes my people also know about slavery.
@yepyep they are much more than typos, they are uneducated...let me explain..."my people have been here 400 yrs"(your quote)...America has only been around a little over 200 years, remember July 4th, 1776. "your people are of Spanish descent" another of your quotes this one is partially true, but we are also of Mayan, Aztec descent which are Indian Tribes native to North America so this would make us Native American. Your ancestry can be traced to Africa, not America so I believe that takes care of that argument. Yes North America includes Mexico as well. Now on to economics, you say if all of the illegals left which by all even the far right accounts are only about 14 million the deficit would be cut by half, considering there are 300 million that is only about 5 percent so there is no possible way that 5 percent of the population can affect 50 percent of the deficit. The saddest part of this is that you do your ancestors an injustice by not taking advantage of their struggles. You should really take advantage of the opportunities that this country gives you and EDUCATE yourself. Slavery was not only a physical oppression but also a mental one I can see you are still being oppressed.
This is America's history. The history of the America's include the people who were here before the US took the land by force in a preemptive war that was soley to take the territory from Mexico.Texas was taken by the heroes of the Alamo so they could have slaves. Mexico had outlawed slavery. I suppose the next thing that will be removed from history books for students.
As a caucasian american all of this white bigotry is truly sad. Let these students, who are legal americans, learn their culture without calling them "stupid illegal druggies." Kumar, Kelly, etc. you're not representing America well by saying the things you're saying.
A TRUE AMERICAN? THERE IS NO SUCH THING. THE NATIVES WERE THE TRUE AMERICANS. HOW ABOUT BEING PLAIN HUMAN INSTEAD? I WISH WE WERE ALL COLOR BLIND.
A lot of these comments are simply ridiculous. To say that teaching people about their history and culture (that has been, hitherto the 80's and 90's, pretty much been systemically looked over) is somehow inciting hate towards whites, or turning people against the American Government is completely ludicrous. The reason that schools do not want to teach these Mexican-Americans about their history is the same reason we are cautious about teaching women about birth control and good reproductive choices– or why school guidance counselors do not point GLBT youth toward organizations that may help them. Its because organization and organized thought gives us POWER. That is very scary to anyone feeling as though they are holding up this monolithic white power model.
Fight on youth. History shows you will be rewarded for your efforts.
Sentiments like yours acusing 100% of a people to be illegal is why they hate whites.
I agree that they should be taught American history.. I think they need to create a separete class as an additional history elective that teaches this specific topic. I do not think it right to spend tax dollars catering to any special group
Banning books and closing a successful Mexican American Studies program: How ironic is Arizona’s oppression of Latinos who simply wish to learn of oppression?
http://justiceandthecommongood.blogspot.com/2012/01/abandon-critical-thought-ye-who-enter.html
MEXICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH FIGHT ON. DON'T GET DISCOURAGED BY THE HATE YOU SEE HERE. STUDY HARD, LEARN ABOUT YOUR HERITAGE, GO TO COLLEGE, GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, PUSH THE NEXT GENERATION TO ACHIEVE MORE. WE WILL OVERCOME ACTS OF BIGOTRY LIKE THIS ONE IN AZ. EVERYDAY MORE AND MORE OF YOU GO TO COLLEGE. EVERY DAY MORE OF YOU BECOME AWARE OF WHAT RADICALS LIKE JANET BREWER AND OTHER WHITE RADICALS ARE TRYING TO DO YOU. GO TO COLLEGE, COME BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, FIGHT BACK. SOON WE WILL BE A MAJORITY, BUT TO FIGHT WE NEED TO BE AN EDUCATED MAJORITY. FIGHT BACK.
....wow, talk about racism. Thank you for making the argument of why AZ made the correct call to review the materials.
Go back to Africa.
A person needs to educate himself first and earn a decent money so that way can open its mind to a more broad open subjects instead of blaming others for its miseries!!!!! Arizona is US indeed but with Spanish heritage
Send all blacks to their true continent AFRICA with the Anglo whites tax money :-))))))))))))))))
I'm an Anglo White.. can I be sent back to my ancestor's country too? I want to go to Norway.. That is where My people are from.. better education and healthcare system anyhow...
Where will you be returning to, Ivan? This could really shed some light on our "immigration problems." If all of us were to return to wherever our ancestors immigrated from, what would this country look like? The point is, Ivan-this is not your country, nor mine. It's OURS now, but only because our ancestors immigrated here; not because we risked our lives to immigrate here. We were just born here; we didn't do anything special. No, just becuase you say your special doesn't make it so. Yes, I'm serious. I know, I know you learned how special you are in school, and from your parents, but you were lied to. Yes, immigrants are here in America. Yes, this country is made up of immigrants. No you weren't "here first"; Natives were here first. Yes, you have to go if the Africans have to go. Yes, they have equal rights now. Don't cry; everything will be just fine. It's just that, you're not so special anymore. 🙂
Pedro what slavery and what lynchings? I havent seen 1 report of Mexicans being lynched or put in slavery in the U.S. maybe in GOOD OL MEXICO, but if there are I will guarantee it's by the hand of some cartel member, not a true blue american. Now that I know Im not dealing with someone who lives in reality you made the stupidiest statement made by a Mexican, "Mexicans have suffered lynchings and slavery" you my friend have been drinking that water they tell everybody not to drink in Mexico. And this were I depart from this conversation with a little advice to Pedro there is help for a mentally insane Mexican. ADIDOS PEDRO
Indeed lynching was not common in Texas and New Mexico between 1848 right up to about the 1920's, there are many books and pictures about it. Slavery was banned in Mexico since 1813, long before than in the US and that was the reason of both the Texas War and the Mexican American War
You never learned about the enslavement and oppression of Mexicans because you've been un-educated. 🙂 It's not your fault for now, but those who know better do better, and now you know better, so do better. Choose love not racism. Have you ever researched this topic? Just a thought. You might be suprised with what you discover.
Learn english that would be a start to become a American.
Mexicans dont know what racism is until your people go through what my people went through during slavery and the civil right era shut tha F U C K Up. What your people want is citizenship without going through the legal process. Follow tha LAW Pedro. This has nothing to do with racism. If you M U T H AS F U C K K A S would learn basic english, the taxpayer wouldnt have cough up tax dollars for billingual classes. Comprende.
TO MEXICANS ANYONE WHO FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS AUTOMATICALLY RACISTS. STOP YOUR EXCUSES. THE FACT IS THAT IF YOU COME TO OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY YOU SHOULD BE DEPORTED AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SAY...YOU PEOPLE BREAK OUR LAWS--STEAL CITIZEN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS-USE OUR HOSPITALS FOR FREE...DO YOU EXPECT AMERICA TAX PAYERS NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ???MEXICANS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR KINDNESS. TIME TO ENDED ..NO MAS
YEP-WHY DO BLACK LEADERS COME TO THE RESCUE OF THE MEXICAN ILLEGALS ?? ILLEGALS COME TO AMERICA TO STEAL THE JOBS OF BLACKS AND OF OTHER LEGAL HISPANIC. WHY HELP ILLEGALS ??? THEY DON'T CARE THAT THEY ARE TAKING YOUR JOBS..
they love the spotlight they are a bunch of disingenous black pieces of s h y t that dont give a d a m n about black people just look at what's happening to the black community it's disintegrating not because of the whiteman. The black community is being told they are victims and they cannot uplift themselves out of poverty because the playing field is not leveled. What a bunch of bullshyt by these slavetraders the plantation monkeys for the liberals. They dont give a damn about blacks or illegals it's a dog and pony show to appear concerned.
Ghost..... I have missed you. And you said that you were too busy to talk anymore, shame on you.. Are you spouting your racist gibberish on this thread now?? Have you let everyone know that you are an Ivy League graduate with two masters degrees so that they will think your posts are special?
Haaaaaa, I just read some more of your posts,, You have told everyone how special you are.. You are so predictable.. Love ya for it..
KELLY So now we have to hear you justify white racism in this blog, too? Anything to say about white racist radicals stopping Mexican-Americans from learning about the contributions of their ancestors in this country? No? I didn't think so, you are too preocupied with covering up your guilt and your hate. And here it is again, I am a Mexican-American with an Ivy League degree, working on my second master's degree, proud to defend my heritage and the rights of my fellow Mexican-Americans, and of any American who has to tolerate the racist bs you and your redneck buddies like to spew on these blogs. Happy now? Or would you like me to call you a bigot again.
ummmm guys during the time when blacks were slaves people also being use as slaves WHERE mexicans and orientals i should know im a junior in highschool we been studying civil rights more than ur racist time period did
Kumar, learn to respect diversity. Especially as you have a non-anglo name. I do recall Kumar means youth in Sanskrit. Grow up.
he says mexico was more open minded twords youre people and you tell him to learn english........ -.- youre a ungratefrul racist brat and i hope youre kids are better than you
If you knew proper English, you would formulate your sentences correctly, and if you are going to tell antoher to "learn English," perhaps you should take your own advise first, so as not to seem hypocritical. Also, America is made up of immigrants, so English is not a requirement for living in this country, nor for posting comments online. Not all of us immigrated from England, ahem. Last but not least, for all of you who've jumped on the "Let's Hate Immigrants Bandwagon," I can assure you that your ancestors were immigrants, and so are some of you, I'm sure; so get off your high horses. They (your ancestors) came here without any rights to this land, other than their fabricated fantasy of it having been "God's Will." LMAO! Unless you are Native to this land-get off your high horse!!! Your sick delusions of your rights to this country vs. new immigrants rights to this country of immigrants are highly irrational. You reason–"It's okay for me to do it, and it was okay for my ancestors, but not for you or yours." A five year old has more intelligence than you.
I wonder if HOWARD ZINN would be able to convince Arizona.
I was raised in a medium sized city composed primarily of immigrants from Portugal, Poland and France. My grandparents generation was obviiously far wiser than those of today, as the goal of all was to assimilate into American society. They realized that to do otherwise was to simply create the very problems they were fleeing when they arrived in the U.S.
Are we supposed to be impressed with you? I think not. If others disagree with you they are wrong? That means you are always right. My goodness...all that education and you still HAVE A NARROW MIND. I guess it didn't do much for you. Now that education...how did you pay for it a freebee or student loans that you are in default for?
Janskor, Ghost will always start off his posts by detailing his education. He believes it makes him superior to others. But if he does have that education, he didn't actually learn much. He will never give you facts to support his arguements, he will call you racist if you disagree with him, and he will claim you make racist comments without ever quoting you.. But he is fun to mess with because he sooo easily lowers himself to name calling and slurs... 🙂
BIGOTS I don't even have to address you by name anymore. Stop hating on minorities just because we care about educating ourselves. So I made it past the crapy schools and the white bigots like you who tried to put me down, destroy my self-esteem, make me forget about my heritage, the bigots like you who want all minorities to remain un-educated so that you put us down. Yes, I am special, not because of ego, but because I made it. To minority students out there, keep on fighting, keep on studying, keep on dreaming, you will overcome this bigots, we will help you.
I, like millions of others came from here. Right in here in the USA. This means not matter what my race is I am a Native American. To teach one persective of history over another is damaging and only serves to divide us as a country. If you want to read about your race than go to the library or online as this is American history. My ancestors are all Dutch, you think I had Dutch American studies focusing only on the Dutch persective or hear only Dutch speakers or how the Dutch shaped this country. Of course not, I received a simple history of America show where all people came from to this country.
Except that you do not live in Holland...you live in America! So we all deserve American history and Mexicans were in Arizona FIRST! The Dutch were not. Of course Mexican history is the history of America. We had to kill them to build it. It is continuing the wrong to cut them out of American history. These things should be common knowledge, and they will not be if classes like these are cut. It's preposterous and racist.
@Carly there was no such people called Mexicans your ancestors are from Spain you need to research your history the native americans have always been here. Your ancesturs wreak more havoc and destroyed more civilizations on this planet than any other race. Does Incas, Aztecs, Mayans, and Tainos ring a bell. 500 years ago they were Spainards you are of a mix blood race with African and the native population and then you called yourselves Mexicans. Research your history it aint good. If anything your people committed genocide on the native population from Cuba, central America and South America.
Carly your people will never experience what black people experienced 50 years ago what the Mexicans want is instant citizenship as soon as they cross the border. It took people lynched, shot, terrorized, and oppressed for black people to get rights. And it took 400 years.
no yepyep we went through what you did its just that you whined and cried more than anyone else the chinease and latin americans we did the work and did LEGAL actions to get rid of rascism you cried and killed like animals. also we want to know our history not every mexican is illegal. Im 16 and am a mexican/irish american and i am proud of my history as a mexican a irish man and a american i want to learn about all sides of my history including my peoples slavery not just youre slavery
This is just a sad commentary of racist thought. I can't even believe these comments. I am 25 and I think our generation will be much more educated and less ignorant than the baby boomers. You are missing the point, yepyep. You are wrongwrong!
thank you carly and yes alot of us are alot more open minded about the good things and see things for what they are not anarrow minded view. unfortunatley people like yepyep are still aro8und in the school systerm and it scares me that some of these ignorant kids will be running the country in a few years
Remember when people came to this country to be Americans? Minus the hyphen? Remember the melting pot? Whatever happened to that? Having read about some of the lessons being taught from the "ethnic studies" classes, I would definitely agree with a ban on them. These classes are basically America-bashing, plain and simple. If you don't like it here, why did you come? If your old country is so much better, why would you stay here? This is simply another effort to divide us as AMERICANS, and I certainly do not approve.
you are retarded seriously?????
I disagree. We are still a melting pot but it never hurts to study where you came from. Everyone who is a citizen here now came from somewhere else. It's also true that there is a lot of historical fact which has been covered up and it's always good to understand what really happened to get us all to the point we inhabit today. White anglo-saxons (and I'm one of them) have done some really horrible things to minorities here and elsewhere just as we have done some brave and honorable things. Knowing about the bad things does not cancel out the good things. Both those things are a part of our cultural history. And remember: those who forget history are bound to repeat it.
You are wrong, I came from here. Right in here in the USA. This means not matter what my race is I am a Native American. To teach one persective of history over another is damaging and only serves to divide us as a country. If you want to read about your race than go to the library or online as this is American history. My ancestors are all Dutch, you think I had Dutch American studies focusing only on the Dutch persective or hear only Dutch speakers or how the Dutch shaped this country. Of course not, I received a simple history of America show where all people came from to this country.
Parkerman, You've confused me. Maybe you are confused. Are you Dutch or are you Native American? Do you understand these terms? The Dutch people did not come from American and therefore are not Native American. Did you mean to say you are both?
I agree. My father came from Sweden at age 7 in in 1928. He never spoke Swedish again. He was an AMERICAN. He translated for his parents until they learned English. He was fortunate enough to join the Air Force, flew commercial airlines when it was the best job in the world, and loved America all his life. I married a man with similar background to mine, half Swedish immigrant, yet when our daughter grew up in California, she asked me i kindergarten, after all the Cinco de Mayo and other celebrations, "When is Swedish Day, Mom?" And I had to tell her that we do not celebrate the contributions of the Swedes to the American way of life. It changed her entire way of thinking about her Latino friends. We are Americans, and we should celebrate all the cultures that make up our melting pot, or none of them. Learn your cultural heritage at home.
A person needs to educate himself first and find a way to earn decent money so that way its mind can open to a more broad subjects other than blame others for ones misery!!! Arizona is US indeed but with Spanish heritage
Wildblu, the problem with the "melting pot" is that it was a fantasy, not reality. Are you telling me that all people just "melt" right in? Well, I think you need to be more observant. The only way to change this country for the better is to face the ugliness within it, and fix our past mistakes. Our history isn't rosy, but that doesn't mean immigrants should "go back to where they came from" because they disagree with your oh so POSITIVE-LY BLIND perspective. BTW, you'd have a long voyage "home" compared to mine, if I were to turn the tables and advise you to go back to where you came from for disagreeing with me. Oh, what's that, this is your home? Well guess what, it's mine too, and we don't see the world in the same way, and that's okay with me. I see the good with the bad so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. I don't have to PRETEND that everyone is the SAME. Learning about any group of people and how they see the world is EDUCATIONAL in my eyes. if you think we should all think alike, we may as well be robots and not think at all. One person could do the thinking for this entire country, and you could pick who that person'd be. You would like that, wouldn't you? Pretending that everything is okay, and that everyone gets along and sees the world in exactly the same way is silly, and dishonest at best.
Only the lousy affirmative action kids student these worthless courses anyway
All the smart latinos are learning about important things
Arizona's ACT scores are below national average... might want to enforce more math science and reading eh Tuscon... oh ya, and English.
I for one am for the Mexican-American Studies. Racism and hate is everywhere because people don't know, or understand history from other people's perspectives. I think Mexican-American teaches the students about history through a different lens, not just what's in an ordinary textbook. It creates a sense of knowing and these students are informed about U.S History. U.S history can be told through different perspective, and I think it's a great idea to teach them in a variety of lenses, not just one.
But these studies were not for White/Black American students. They were meant for Spanish speaking students only. The course material was not in English. To say we need these classes to help educate people is wrong. I learned all about the Spanish/American war, the Mexican people and the Spanish invasion of the tribes there, in History Class. I didnt any thing else to learn about where Americans came from, other than that their Home country was bad, and this country offered the best that they could achieve.
@SayIt yep Im just as much racist as those Mexican gangbahgers who target black people in L.A. except Im not killing Mexicans.
Will, Will, Will, I can tell, tell, tell, that you have no clue what you are talking about. Yes, the classes were for everyone; and yes, the course materials were in English. God forbid though, that students be taught in multiple languages; we don't want our kids running around bilingual or worse yet–trilingual!!! We wouldn't want to make you feel inferior, Will. You know, refugee students in TUSD often speak multiple langauges? Most of our American kids don't, and that's okay with you, right Will? Or are you okay with everything other than Spanish being taught in school? Just asking.
sorry thetypist the Mexicans didnt build this country black americans did. we have been here 400 years and my people endured force labor wiyhout pay. if we are going to have any type of study it should be black history and our history trumps the little history you have here besides the whiteman sending your a z z back across the border. Santa Anna got his A Z Z kicked. Tell you the truth the only thing Mexicans can talk about is Caesar Chavez THAT'S IT.
A black racist...ain't that somethin.
tyepyep do you proofread anything u are a terrible person who is racist twords anyone who isnt black because "YOU" suffered evem though "YOU" never experianced crap
@Rose where did you get that fairytale your people suffered slavery did those white liberals fill your little guacamole brain with that mush or was it La Raza or Lulac a mind is a terrible thing to waste they have already indocrinated you to believe in B U L L S H Y T. 16 years old and they have already phucked your mind up too bad you cant learn math and science, but they you lies and you believe in nothing, Probably you speak in broken english perhaps you will wake up and realize you are in the United States and not in your drug infested country called Mexico. See little rose nobody cares to know any history about mexican history because it is all insignificant to the average true blue america. You see my lttle frijole mexico is a border away and you can always go the same way you came in and that would be 1 down and millions to go. 16 years old and it is already too late to reel you back into reality. If all of you left ecept those who are here legally it would drastically cut the deficit in half.
I keep trying to post a comment about this article and CNN will post it. I didn't use profane language or anything inappropriate. However, I did say that teenagers did not have the intellectual skills necessary to read the books in this program and be able to judge maturely what is biased and how it is biased. Is that really a bad thing to say?
These courses are not world history courses. They are specialty courses that focus on the history of Mexicans and their offspring in the US. The problem with the courses is that they encourage students to separate and isolate themselves from mainstream America. They encourage students to view all white people as racists and they encourage students to always view themselves as victims. It is also often the case that they don't even teach historically accurate information. A case in point: most of these courses teach students that "Aztlan" the mythical homeland of the Aztecs was in the area that is now the modern US southwest. They use that as a justification for illegal immigration from Mexico in the present. Here's the problem: Aztlan never existed. There is no archaeological nor historical evidence for it. It's just a made up story used to support the idea that Mexican nationals have some kind of inherent right to immigrate to the US in violation of federal immigration laws. Students are brainwashed with these ideas. There is no critical questioning of the "facts" presented nor of the political ideas that are espoused. That's why these courses are bad. It's not that they are trying to censor teachers, nor permit students to learn. What they are trying to do is keep them from being brainwashed by old-style Chicano activists that want to overthrow the US, so that they can start a new nation or return the southwestern US to Mexico. Just for the record, I teach at a dual-language, i.e. bilingual school in New Mexico. In fact, I teach Spanish there. I think that these courses are questioned and prohibited because all they do is so division amongst young people.
And teaching from the white, male perspective isn't brainwashing and maintaining an order in which people of color maintain that they their experiences are not valid? And to also ignore oppression in the past and the oppression CURRENTLY that happens to these groups. Oh, and God forbid anyone recognizes that some white people are racist (including conciously and subconciously). History is not biased because it comes from the perspective of a group. Period. And if their books support illegal immigration, mainstream ones support the murder of native people and the REMAINING on their land.
Also, America is made up of different races and people. You can be American and respect your culture. Why must people of color ignore their culture to adopt yours? American culture if often described as white western culture. False.
AMEN!!!
I think maybe your heart is in the right place, but the way you voice your opinion promotes discord. Here is a quote: "History is not biased because it comes from the perspective of a group. Period. And if their books support illegal immigration, mainstream ones support the murder of native people and the REMAINING on their land." For one, the first sentence in this quote could be used by either side, it means nothing. Second, if you are going to make a claim that "their" books "support" murder, then list the book so we can all see for ourselves and protest against it. I would be very surprised if there actually is such a book. Try to be accurate and reasonable in your posts and you will win many more converts.. 🙂
I am currently the principal at a Dual Language School in Albuquerque, NM. I am very sad to hear this is happening in your school district. I was a child when my parents brought me to this country. I am from Mexico and back in the 80's crossing the border was not an issue as I lived along the border. It is amazing to me that schools would want to eliminate books that are culturally relevant for the student population they serve. We live in a nation of immigrants! People need to learn to respect that...and provide all students with an equal opportunity to learn. I personnally do not see anything wrong with history books written by different authors, let students read about it and decide who is right! We now live in this country anyway and we must follow the law regardless of what we read. So, I don't agree with this and hopefully they will change their minds...
create your own school that would be some good advice take it and run with it not on my tax dollars.
POINT 1- My folks came from Russia, but there is no 'Russian-American"studies. In fact there is no Slavic-American studies, Hmong-American studies, or Inuit-American Studies. Lets stop trying to mollify every ethnic group, and study those thing that will get our students a useful career. POINT 2- There is no law that says that these students cant read all about Mexican-Americans ON THEIR OWN TIME, OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL IF THEY'RE SO BLOODY CONCERNED ABOUT IT! Why does the school system have to do it all?
Albro
POINT 1- My folks came from Russia, but there is no 'Russian-American"studies. In fact there is no Slavic-American studies, Hmong-American studies, or Inuit-American Studies. Lets stop trying to mollify every ethnic group, and study those thing that will get our students a useful career. POINT 2- There is no law that says that these students cant read all about Mexican-Americans ON THEIR OWN TIME, OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL IF THEY'RE SO BLOODY CONCERNED ABOUT IT! Why does the school system have to do it all? (The best comment on this post. lets not lose focus on whats really depriving our youth from succeeding in their future.)
Need to teach hispanic kids about the importance of staying in school and out of gangs. Proof is in our cities so I need none to present. Please put these books and what is inside them up on the net so the ENTIRE COUNTRY can read what is in them. I have a good feeling they are RACIST and promote only Latinos. I am glad to not be white, black, hispanic, or asian. I AM AMERICAN . Nothing else. As for these Mexican/Americans, why let someone label you. If you are born in the USA, YOU ARE AMERICAN. If you want to claim being Mexican, go live there and earn your right. I see to many kids born here that promote Mexico over the USA without even knowing what Mexico is or about. THERE IS A REASON SO MANY HISPANICS FLOCK THEIR COUNTRY. If their country loved them, THEY WOULD STILL BE THERE.
Couldnt have said it better than that.
It seems that Asian kids and families have done pretty well in US w/o Asian Studies taught in High Schools. Hispanic kids in Tucson can learn Chicano Studies at Univ of AZ in Tucson or Pima CC. They need to concentrate on the 3 R's first.
Hey try to remember that Arizona is part of the United States of America. If these MEXICANS want to learn Mexican history let them cross the border, go home, and enroll in a Mexican school.
The Spanish/Mexican took the land from the Native Americans.....now we have it and the dumbocrats will let them take it back peacefully unless we stand up....get your heads out and look at reality for a change!!!!
you mean your reality???? no thanks!!!
What amount of ignorance for most of the comments!!!! Ring a bell? The New Spain....................Before Mexico was the richest Imperial land ever on the world and Arizona was part of it!!!
Just because some Spaniards rode up here and stuck a flag in the ground doesn't make this their country. The Mexicans have a weak claim to this land. They had about a hundred guys huddled up in a fort in Tucson too afraid to come out because the Apaches would cut them to pieces.
I wonder if Goyathlay, Mangas Coloradas, Cochise and the rest of the Apaches thought they were living in Mexico, because I'm pretty sure they didn't. The Navajos, Pimas and Yaquis didn't think they were living in Mexico. For that matter, I'm pretty sure the Comanches, Kiowa and Kickapoo didn't think they were living in Mexico, or Texas, either. So, enough with the B.S. claims about this being Mexico. From California to Texas there were a few thousand Mexican farmers and ranchers that never subdued the native population, and lost a war to the U.S. It was never really a stronghold of Mexican property. More Mexicans live here now than they ever did prior to 1990.
Um..I think it did. Spaniards and Mexicans DID own parts of the US before we aquired it. Someone needs a history lesson.
you didnt own S H Y T
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This is not Mexico, we are Americans not Mexican-american.You want mexican in your name move to mexico.
weak!!
KIDS SHOULD BE LEARNING COMPUTERS-TRADE JOBS LIKE PLUMBING-CARPENTERS --DRYWALL-ELECTRICAL-TRUCK DRIVING JOBS LICENSE -ENGLISH AND BASIC MATH.....FEW KIDS END UP USING ALGEBRA–GEOMETRY-AND ALL THE OTHER MATH JUNK ....TEACH KIDS WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW TO SURVIVE IN TO DAYS REAL WORLD.. MOST BLACK AND HISPANIC KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE CEO'S-ENGINEERS ....SO TEACH THEM MORE TRADE JOB SKILLS..
Being a Master's student who works in one of the most prestigious colleges in the nation, I can tell you that you are full of bull****. Can someone please get rid of these trolls who don't know how to take their keyboards off caps lock.
In response to " MLatino " I agree and concur with " JOSE031USMC . With out question in the South West part of the United States the Latino culture is a gem and only gives to our nation . However, this may be voiced with many ethnic and diverse groups in the United States , be they European , South American , Afro America ALL cultures have provided that special ingredient that makes America .
With out a question to learn about Native Americans , Europeans and Latinos and how they all contributed to the American experiment is wonderful ! However , we must have a time and place to address this cultural cross pollination.
Our children and young adults MUST LEARN how to provide and develop in their life time . They NEED the academic subject matter , Trades or Crafts that will provide for their loved ones .
Any subject matter that addresses a particular ethnic population must be taken in context with other ethnic groups that departed their native lands to seek promise in the New World , or as in the case of Black Americans were sold into slavery with no choice . On all the European Settlers, African Slaves , Native Americans , Asians, Latinos etc they built this great land ..I as an American am free today ,better today by all the generations that toiled , suffered , died in combat be they white , black , native American , Latino . Those that came before us provided a nation , not perfect , but a place where there is hope and a man or women can make a go of it ...
Yes, have Latino Studies ...but we have much ground to cover ......
Sorry devil, but been a usmc vet myself I think that is the incorrect way to approach this issue. There is plenty and I do emphasize the word PLENTY of Mexican Americans, Chicanos and other Latinos already in the labor workforce. These kids like everyone in this nation should be able to have the chance to dream big and not settle for the same occupations that their parents are currently employed in. I won’t call you an idiot for having your CAP LOCKS on as I understand this is a CNN comment box and no one gives a F***, but denying the curriculum to these children specially in a geographical location such as Arizona is complete BS. The land was Mexico, part of Aztlan. That to me makes the difference of teaching Chicano Studies from teaching European history. With the knowledge the children have obtain they also get the motivation to pursue higher learning at some of the best universities (such as the guy who insulted you). BTW: I study Latin American Studies at a University.
But if this was a school teaching white children about whites (be it jewish, irish, russian, english etc).. the story and article would be about how they need to get with the times and remove the class because its racisist. The comments would be angry at why these classes were allowed in the schools, and how dare they have them. Just a year ago, some girl in the Tuscon school system tried to have a "White" club because she felt left out because there was a Mexican, a Black, club that were for those kids only. But when she tried to get a White club she was threatened with suspension. People forget this because she was white and she was deemeed a racist. I wish this country would grow up and stop this bigotry but these type of classes are keeping it alive. When all these kids here is how bad their race has it vs all the rest they continoue the steryotype that the white man is the problem. Its like the Jews and WW2. The Holocaust was horrible, and yet you never here them mention that along with the 6million jews put to death in the Gas chambers, over 14million Russians were also killed. Most of them in Camps as well. The American Indians were forced to be American. They didnt want to be and they fought it. and because they had claims to the places before everyone else they eventually won that freedom to have their own schools and to keep their culture alive. Mexicans can not win that here, because Mexicans did not own this land before America, therefore we dont need to bend to their needs. They have their own country and can go back if they dont want to change. And people need to stop with the whole mexico owned the southern us crap. The french owned the northern states and so did English but if they were crossing a border into the US they wouldnt be claiming its their right because they once owned the land. Illegal Aliens are a plague and like a plague it needs to be stopped. The US millitary should have a shoot first policy like all other countries have when protecting the borders. I for one, would not be saddened if they placed Gatling guns every 50feet and killed every human being that crossed. Eventually there would be enough bodies to scare anyone from crossing.
Arizona WAS Mexico until 1863. Chicanos were there first.
Actually do your history....American Indians were there first..
http://www.native-languages.org/arizona.htm
The Mexicans, which are a Spanish/Indian Mix killed and took over most of the Indian tribes in the area. Only since America has taken it over and then federally reconized those tribes have they gotten some of their land back.
Need to teach hispanic kids about the importance of staying in school and out of gangs. Proof is in our cities so I need none to present. Please put these books and what is inside them up on the net so the ENTIRE COUNTRY can read what is in them. I have a good feeling they are RACIST and promote only Latinos. I am glad to not be white, black, hispanic, or asian. I AM AMERICAN and thats it. Nothing else. As for these Mexican/Americans, why let someone label you. If you are born in the USA, YOU ARE AMERICAN. If you want to claim being Mexican, go live there and earn your right. I see to many kids born here that promote Mexico over the USA without even knowing what Mexico is or about. THERE IS A REASON SO MANY HISPANICS FLOCK THEIR COUNTRY. If their country loved them, THEY WOULD STILL BE THERE.
that was over a hundred years ago. Let the mexicans win a war (any) agains the US, then they can try to take the land. FACT, we won the wars(s) for this land. Fact it is our (american) land. Fact, the mexicans are bairly a people anyway. Fact let them clean up mexico before we give any aid to any mexicans.
i researched this s h y t in college you had no right to this land it was spain as conquitadors and explorers who claim land they had no rights too, it has always been native american. infact this side of the world from Canada down to South America all the way to cuba was inhabited by native indians.
Will, how can you say American indians where there first? You should take a class in history. Did you know the almighty aztecs came from this region. Except it was during a time that it wasnt yet ruled by the Spanish conquistadors. We can say they were American indians because in reality breaking down the context of American would be hard enough.
Im an Anthropologist and you really dont know history if you belive that American Indians came after. The Natives traveled south from the Land Bridge that connected Alaska and Siberia 15000years ago. These people traveled and settled the Americas and eventaully made it to Central America and South America. The American Indians were the ancestors of these peoples. Aztecs/Mayans and all the other peoples are all ancestors of the American Indians Known as the Clovis and earlier groups. The aztecs did not come about as a tribe until the 6th century AD. when they moved from Northern Mexico to southern Mexico. Their empire never really reached into America. Its rumored and there are theorys that the original people who would become Aztec were from the souther Texas area, But no evidence has really supported this. The true peoples of Texas and Arizona were not Aztec from all evidence found, point that this area was inhabited by the Mogollon tribe which had lived there since the 1st century. Please, actually do your homework and learn your history before commenting.
Being African American I agree with what you're saying. Why should we continue to teach racism by having these types of classes and clubs? I am so SICK and tired of TUCSON complaining. I lived there for a long time and they need to get with the times! They have a old way of thinking and their mentality is SOOOOO behind! TUCSON cross over to 2012!
@Will regardless of where native americans migrated to or from they were here before the Spainards so what are you going to say Mexicans were native to this land. So your argument dont hold p i s s. THERE WERE NO SUCH PEOPLE CALLED MEXICANS 500 YEARS AGO you are of mixed blood idiot. Do you know what the word N-A-T-I-V-E means they were already here.
Mexicans are a mix blood of Spanish and Native's from the area, they typically are of aztec decent. Because they are of mixed blood. The fact that most these "Mexicans" are of mix blood means that none of them can claim the land as ancestral home. Much like me having Mix Cherokee I can not claim any lands they controlled because I am too far removed. These people who keep claiming that they are just taking back their home shows they dont even know where their ancestors are even from since history shows that most Mexicans claim that they are part of a tribe that if they did their history is from central and southern not northern Mexico. IF these people were claiming to be of the Mogollon tribe they would have a claim but these idiots dont even know their own history.
@Will, I agree with most of what you said. But keep in mind that the term Mexican-American studies is a misnomer. From most of those books, several of which I own, They are about the "mixed" bloods you mentioned, NOT mexican history. My family has lived in Colorado and New Mexico going back over thousands of years on my native side and over 500 years on my spanish side. What those books are doing, all they are doing is giving an interpretation of history from the viewpoint of the mestizo people (ie. mixed blood). All through my child hood I learned about the pilgrims, the the waves of immigrants coming from Ireland, England, France, Spain, etc... And all the while looking at these approved lessons and wondering...."Where do I fit in?" The only colored/dark people who came over were slaves. being about 80% native I can honestly say that my family was NEVER part of the nice american history taught in school. When asking my grandmother about this, and about MY history, she handed me '500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures' and 'OccupiedAmerica: A History of Chicanos'. And told me that this is the only written history of our people, the rest was destroyed through the intentional and partially accidental genocide of our people. All i'm saying is it'd be nice for my children to sit in history classes and not feel left out of American history. We had to fight for our rights, even using violence sometimes. It worries me to think that these people in Arizona are so afraid of the truth, whats next, take any evidence of slavery out of history, perhaps gloss over the racial hatred that the 1950's encompassed? Yes, we need to keep curriculum age appropriate, yes we need to not radicalize our youth. but when the truth becomes radical, those who protect and seek the truth must in turn become radicals.
Amen!
wish people could see it like that!!!!! and A to the MEN on that too!!!!
Maybe a good way to promote what you want is to work to ensure that it is part of an American Hisory course. One that all feel welcome in. I think that when you start labling courses after certain ethnic groups you are intentionally, or unintentionally, telling everyone that this course is for them only, That promotes discord.
KELLY You promote discord. What are you going to suggest next? That we stop learning how to read because we might come across an idea that makes you look less like a bigot? So sad for you, I praid for you this weekend at church.
Well said !
Really??? I remember our history classes being all about the the European races. When were they not? Do you even have a clue what you are talking about?
It´s obvious you don´t have a sense of what life is.. right? Shot at sight?!?! Plague?!?! Calling plague to a HUMAN BEEN?!?!?!
Imperialism... oh boy. Get a grip. I dont see any gladiator contests to the death with slaves named Spatacus nor do I see a loss of rights as in India when the Brits arrived and Hong Kong. I see that we gave Europe back to the Europeans after winning the war and gave Iraq back to the Iraqis when we could have kept their oil as spoils of war. Is that imperialism or is the actual type of imperialism the cultural one wherein KFC is distributed around the globe as well as Jeans that show the buttocks and hang down while a guy crosses his arms and makes funny mouth noises. That has managed to get on just about every TV music station in the world from the Mid East to Russia. What a culture.... cant read, never saw the ballet , dont know who Ghalen is but boy can we hit those plastic drums on the corner.
good. now what should they teach ? teach a trade that can help young kids get a real job. like plumbing-roofing-electrical-
The American Indians were forced to speak english and were beaten if they spoke their native language. It's high time America did that to all of the Immigrants. And if they don't want to speak english send them packing to the country they and their families came from.
yeah, lets just repeat the atrocities to force conformity. what a schmuck!
agreed, try going to mexico (out side of tourist towns) and try to speak english, you will be f-ed.
so how many times have the "f-ed" you up???? you probably never even been!!! I have and they are badasses for trying to understand!!!!! Never once did i get "f-ed" up
inbred???? most likely huh??? damn racist!!!! thank god im educated 🙂
Yeah, your posts sure make you sound educated..
KELLY blames minorities because we want to improve ourselves and she can't get beyond her ignorance. She didn't go to college, so she wants to stop minorities from having an education. It that what you are about Kelly? Once again, I give you a chance to speak up against injustice and racism in Arizona? Are you finally going to do it or are you goint to try to disqualify my oppostion to what white radicals do to minorities just because you can't get over your denial of what is going in on in our country today?
Yes indeed, those ethnic studies classes will surely help my family members obtain employment. Maybe focus upon language skills, proper assemblage of a CV (duh , what's a CV?) attain proficiency in mathematics and science as there is presently and a forecast shortage of engineers and other hard-science or mathematical based positions. Whoops, might be too difficult. Instead it is easier by far to teach soft classes in the humanities and social (or socialist) studies and hand out "feel good" positive reinforcement grades with grade inflation. Ah, how I miss the greatest generation and their lack of whining , simply win the war and win the peace afterwards with the GI bill but stop the feel good non-sense.
LOL... guess you forgot that it was under the GI Generation that liberalism and multicultural studies came about. This is not new.
You're right, Bob, those classes definitely won't help employment any. I mean, all other ethnic studies classes will, but not Mexican-American studies because that's totally different. Hey, as long as we can brainwash our kids the way they've been brainwashed - much like yourself - to believe America has never made mistakes. Plus, those are concepts that are taught at most major universities - critical thinking totally doesn't matter in the real world, does it? I can tell, since you're not doing much of it yourself.
We should go back to being an Imperialist country and teach our kids how to alienate themselves from minority groups because that will definitely solve everything. Right?
@carloshZ "teach ALL cultures .... not just yours of the reconquista". I dont see a white person museum but I sure do see ones for Indians and freed slaves. I never owned anyone and want equal time for everyone of every ethnicity. Stop the boo hooing and lets have everybody enter the country in a legal manner as my wife did from East Europe and my family did from Ireland. No sneaking in. No special preference or special studies. We don't get a month in my ethnicity. we get March 18th. We dont get a preference at a federal job. Oh and yes we did suffer beat downs and discrimination as well as indentured servitude along with whippings and draggings behind wagons. There were even some irish lynchings. My wife , the LEGAL immigrant does not have an ethnic month either ..... not even a special day or statue for immigrants from her nation and yet, we dont protest or complain. My original comments addressed more the need for engineering hard science education such as we had after the Russians launched sputnik and we went to the moon first thusly. Sadly, not too many Americans recall those great days. Me , I will take my 401k and ride off into the sunset to recall our greatness as the nation dumbs down into playstation, drug addicted, baggy pant, cultural study oblivion.
WITH A LOUSY ECONOMY AND NO JOBS, WHO CAN AFFORD TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO A COLLEGE TODAY ????TEACH KIDS TRADE JOBS....WE WILL ALWAYS GOING TO NEED TRUCK DRIVERS-PLUMBERS-COMPUTERS JOBS--CARPENTERS-CARPENTERS--ROOFERS--PLUS BASIC MATH AND ENGLISH... THOSE IN UPPER CLASS WHO CAN AFFORD COLLEGE ? THEY WILL DO THE HIGH TECH JOBS ..ONE PROBLEM ?? THOSE HIGH TECH JOBS ARE BEING TAKING BY H–1 VISA WORKERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES..
@Jose these colleges are graduating community activists somebody has to take up the slack when the U.S. ranks 35th in world when it comes to math and sciences.
the baby boombers are by far the worst gen of americans EVER
You don't even know who they are- "mickey"