Are Mexican-American Studies Anti-American?
An upcoming federal court decision will determine if a 2010 state law that banned a Mexican-American Studies program in Tucson, Arizona is unconstitutional.
Ethnic Studies have been growing in popularity in United States school districts including in Texas and California with large Hispanic populations. Where not everyone's background is always taught through the traditional European History focus in the United States.
The state claims that the program was promoting racism, but many students and teachers didn't agree, arguing that the lawmakers were being discriminatory against Mexicans and their heritage.
Tucson’s Mexican-American Studies program was founded in 1998 in an area with a large Mexican-American population. It quickly became a very popular class, seeing good attendance, and higher graduation rates, until the government stepped in.
Conservative lawmakers in the state saw the program as a way to sneak anti-American propaganda into the classrooms. So in 2010, they passed a law that they then used to shut down the program.
Outraged by the law, teachers and students immediately sued.
If the judge confirms the program was promoting racism, then the lawmakers will be able to keep the law and eliminate the program.
If the lawmakers are found to be driven by their differing ideological views, or potentially their own racism, then the law will be deemed discriminatory and could be overturned.
This decision will decide if the program is racist, or the lawmakers are, and shape the future of cultural and historical 'studies,' classes.
An upcoming federal court decision will determine if a 2010 state law that banned a Mexican-American Studies program in Tucson, Arizona is unconstitutional.
Ethnic Studies have been growing in popularity in United States school districts including in Texas and California with large Hispanic populations. Where not everyone's background is always taught through the traditional European History focus in the United States.
The state claims that the program was promoting racism, but many students and teachers didn't agree, arguing that the lawmakers were being discriminatory against Mexicans and their heritage.
Tucson’s Mexican-American Studies program was founded in 1998 in an area with a large Mexican-American population. It quickly became a very popular class, seeing good attendance, and higher graduation rates, until the government stepped in.
Conservative lawmakers in the state saw the program as a way to sneak anti-American propaganda into the classrooms. So in 2010, they passed a law that they then used to shut down the program.
Outraged by the law, teachers and students immediately sued.
If the judge confirms the program was promoting racism, then the lawmakers will be able to keep the law and eliminate the program.
If the lawmakers are found to be driven by their differing ideological views, or potentially their own racism, then the law will be deemed discriminatory and could be overturned.
This decision will decide if the program is racist, or the lawmakers are, and shape the future of cultural and historical 'studies,' classes.