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Don't Hold Tucson's School District Hostage For Teaching Hispanic Heritage
  1. Signatures
    691 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona Schools (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona Schools (John Huppenthal)
      • Arizona State Board of Education
  2. Created By
    Carol Scott
    Washington, DC
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

 

A new Arizona state law that bans classes "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group" went into effect on January 1, 2011. This new law is a politically-motivated swipe at the Ethnic Studies program at the Tucson Unified School District, which teaches Mexican-American heritage to its largely Hispanic student body.

Tucson's popular "Raza studies" program investigates history, culture and stereotypes from a Chicano viewpoint. It's a supplement to, not a replacement for, other core subjects taught in the school district. It's been shown to increase school attendance, graduation rates and grades among the students who participate.

Former Arizona Schools Superintendent Tom Horne, who just became the state's Attorney General, is a partisan politician intentionally exploiting racial tensions in Arizona. On Dec. 30, 2010, he declared the "Raza studies" program illegal and is giving Tucson 60 days to stop the program. If they don't, 10 percent of the state's funding to the school district -- about $3 million a month -- will be withheld.

The Tucson school board, student activists, Ethnic Studies teachers and educators agree -- the Ethnic Studies program is a great asset to students in Arizona. Tell the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to overturn Horne's ruling and keep this valuable program running.

 

Photo credit: EpSos.de

Recent Signatures

Don't Hold Tucson's School District Hostage For Teaching Hispanic Heritage

Greetings,

I am writing you today to ask you to overturn the work done to intentionally exploit racial tensions in Arizona. A new Arizona state law that bans classes "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group" went into effect on January 1, 2011. This new law is a politically-motivated swipe at the Ethnic Studies program at the Tucson Unified School District, which teaches Mexican-American heritage to its largely Hispanic student body.

On Dec. 30, 2010, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne declared the "Raza studies" program illegal and is giving Tucson 60 days to stop the program. However, what happens to the program next is in your hands. It is up to the current Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to decide whether Tucson's program can proceed after the 60 days are up.

Tucson's popular "Raza studies" program investigates history, culture and stereotypes from a Chicano viewpoint. It's a supplement to, not a replacement for, other core subjects taught in the school district. It's been shown to increase school attendance, graduation rates and grades among the students who participate.

The Tucson school board, student activists, Ethnic Studies teachers and educators agree -- the Ethnic Studies program is a great asset to students in Arizona. Please make a commitment to keep this valuable program running.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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