Since May 2010 a collective resistance to preserve the story of Mexican Americans has manifested. The exposition of House Bill 2281, a new Arizona law that bans ethnic studies in K-12 classrooms, provoked this resistance.
Those who have participated in ethnic studies programs or support a student’s right to learn about Mexican-American history in the classroom have lead the fight against this legislation.
In December, teachers, students and community members attended Tucson Unified School District meetings requesting that their public servants take a stance on HB 2281. The issue is so personal to many people that past ethnic studies students were there alongside current students.
Mexican-American studies classes in Tucson schools under TUSD are the targets of this legislation that bans curriculum material that promotes the overthrow of the United States government, promotes resentment toward a race or class, endorses ethnic solidarity or is designed for a particular ethnic group.
Students who have taken these classes resent both the association of their program with these ideals and the ban itself. At one TUSD meeting students demonstrated by throwing their diplomas into a cardboard casket that read 'RIP'.
"By not taking an active stand against HB 2281, you are an accomplice in the murder of an education that empowers our youth," Logan Phillips, a protestor of the ban, told the TUSD school board.
This month, TUSD made a bold move and decided to comply with the Arizona law to ban ethnic studies and is urging all employees to follow suit despite numerous letters, verbal requests, presentations and demonstrations.
Does TUSD realize the magnitude of their decision? Or were their hands tied by the 10 percent budget cut they will undergo if they do not abide?
Though an appeal procedure is incorporated with the law, TUSD announced their decision to the Arizona Daily Star to not challenge the law without informing their teachers or students.
Despite the potential of being added to a lawsuit by the 11 Mexican American Studies instructors, TUSD Governing Board President Mark Stegeman told The Tucson Citizen that the board has a sworn responsibility to uphold the law.
TUSD now has blood on their hands whether they wanted it or not. According to The Tucson Citizen, ethnic studies students are twice as likely to pass AIMS mathematics and reading.
Both the Arizona state Legislature and TUSD have overlooked the success of the students from these programs and have killed an education that has proven effective.
Leilani Clark, an ethnic studies alumni and community activist, was disappointed by the news but says it was inevitable. “We knew it was going to happen, now from a student front we have to build a big mobilization,” said Clark.
Students and teachers, as they have shown in the past, will continue to fight for their education despite the decision of the board. The story of Mexican-American students is not dead. It is now up to the students and teachers to maintain its livelihood and fight for its revival when the ban starts removing 10 percent of school funds.
Justine can be reached at jrgarci8@asu.edu
