Save Ethnic Studies (from
http://otterrealm.net/politics/ethnic_studies.php)
Ethnic Studies Programs Under Fire in Arizona
Teachers talking about César Chavez's legacy, introducing Magic Realism literature in the classroom or encouraging critical thinking among their Mexican-American students are not welcome in the Tucson public school system.
On Mar. 30, speaker Sally Rusk, representing the organization Save Ethnic Studies (SES), advocated for the continuity of the Ethnics Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD). Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) students, faculty and administrators gathered to understand and discuss why TUSD has chosen to eliminate the program and what may be done to cease its banning because, according to Sally Rusk, "we cannot allow a law that inhibits multi-cultural education."
Arizona Pueblo High School teacher Sally Rusk explained the history of both the ethnic studies program called Raza studies and the Arizona House Bill 2281 that attempts to ban the teaching of ethnic studies in the public school system. Though HB 2281 appears to be legislation for the entire state's school districts, the bill, according the Husk, "focuses primarily on the Tucson Unified School District."
Lawmakers are accusing faculty and administrators participating in the Ethnic Studies program of being anti-American and of promoting the division of races with courses specifically built around a particular ethnic group.
Rusk and SES disagree with the allegations arguing the elimination of ethnic studies courses would not only harm the Latino community, but also hinder academic freedom, school curriculum choice, development of authentic education, and student achievement.
The session at CSUMB began with introductory speakers including Liberal Studies lecturer Dr. Linda Bynoe, HCOM professor Dr. Maria Villaseñor, and CSUMB HCOM graduate Karina Hernandez. Hernandez said of the importance of ethnic studies, "it finally validated my life stories... it gave me confidence that before I didn't have as a student."
Rusk presented a clip of the documentary Precious Knowledge that depicts the fight of Tucson students and teachers to defend the right to learn and appreciate their own cultural roots. Professor Rusk showed how ethic studies program encourages students' confidence and solidarity as a community. Connections to any human being is core of their Ethnic Studies "You are my other self; an injury to one is an injury to all."
Contributing Authors: Fanny Shives, Martha Kirby, Nicole Marquez, Sam Pereira, Martin Wilson, Martin Hardenberger, Melissa Cooperman, Gabby Castaneda, Aya Kamata