Ethnic Studies: A subject that fires emotions

This might be the spring of Mark Stegeman's discontent - and ours.

His proposal to turn some Mexican American Studies classes into electives is dead, the latest casualty in our culture war over ethnic studies (and so much more). And now, having stepped into the center of an inferno, Stegeman is getting burned on all sides.

He said he doesn't want to bend to the state and Tom Horne, or to the students who stormed the boardroom and chained themselves to chairs. Rather than capitulate, Stegeman would like to revive his proposal - which has managed to be reasonable and controversial, moderate in tone and yet extreme in interpretation. But some things you just can't bring back.

Not after Tuesday's disastrous board meeting where Lupe Castillo, a pillar in the Latino community, was detained and hundreds of ethnic studies supporters (and a few opponents) were left to stand in the streets. Not with 100 cops on the scene and a helicopter circling above.

"I don't want it to die," Stegeman said of his proposal. But his sense is it will. The staff and board majority, even if they are "sympathetic with the virtues of it, don't really want to go there right now."

We were talking at Raging Sage coffee shop Thursday, and Stegeman, who is board president, was still frazzled. He knew there would be backlash to his proposal to change high school social studies classes in the Mexican American Studies program into electives, rather than core requirements.

But the ferocity of the response caught him off-guard. He's been attacked as a racist, an apologist and as a lackey for Horne and Russell Pearce.

He's none of those things.

"Did I anticipate how fierce it was? Did I anticipate how personal it would become? Did I anticipate how distorted the argument would become?" he said. "No, I didn't anticipate the magnitude of what's happened."

Stegeman's in this tight spot partly because he didn't see The Magnitude. But it's also because he says he supports the Mexican American Studies program but believes it needs to be revised. He says he sees inherent value in the classes but has concerns about overt ideology.

He also sees a failure on the part of the district. He thinks the traditional social studies program fails to offer enough minority perspectives. And he thinks the Mexican American Studies courses leave out too much traditional U.S. history. His solution? Add minority perspectives to traditional social studies courses, and make the Mexican American Studies classes electives.

Stegeman, like many others, expects the state to come down hard on the Mexican American Studies program. The district is being audited for possibly violating a law Horne, as state schools chief, whipped up specifically for the program. Under this law, TUSD could lose 10 percent of its state funding. By changing the program, Stegeman thought he could buy time.

"Whatever he (state Superintendent John Huppenthal) is going to recommend is going to be substantially more radical than what I'm recommending."

We'll see. On Tuesday night it all blew up. Students chanted in protest. The old guard of Chicano and Chicana activists turned out yet again. Whatever the merits of Stegeman's plan, he failed to factor in Tucson's living history.

There was Salomón Baldenegro pacing back and forth outside 1010, the district's headquarters, with worry on his face. There was Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith, who rocked the board when she said, "You will be gone, and we will be here."

"We're fighting over a legacy of how Latinos have been treated in Tucson Unified School District, and how that legacy has ultimately resulted in a very high dropout for Latinos and Native Americans in our community," Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías later told me. "I think the timing of his proposal is all wrong because ultimately we don't know what the state is going to do."

Castillo, the longtime educator and activist who was detained, told me she'd rather have an up-or-down vote on ethnic studies than see the classes watered down into electives. The Stegeman proposal, she said, assured a slow death, making the program irrelevant with a secondary status. It undermined what her generation fought for.

It's too easy to paint this fight in terms of villains and heroes. Stegeman versus the students. Social engineering versus inspirational teaching.

What's getting lost is that our Mexican-American culture and history should be celebrated and taught. Instead we just keep tearing ourselves apart over it while Tom Horne watches.

Contact columnist Josh Brodesky at 573-4242 or jbrodesky@azstarnet.com

Seven people ranging in age from 19 to 69 were arrested Tuesday night during the TUSD Governing Board meeting on proposed changes to ethnic studies.

An overflow crowd showed up for the discussion of the district's Mexican-American Studies and whether some of the courses should be turned into electives.

All of those arrested were cited on a misdemeanor charge of third-degree criminal trespassing and released. They will have to appear in City Court.

The Tucson Police Department was on hand at the request of the Tucson Unified School District. About 100 TPD personnel were available in the general area of district headquarters at 1010 E. 10th Street. But only 40 to 50 were actively used at any given time, police said. Those arrested were identified as: Brook Bernini, 32; Guadalupe Castillo, 69; Maria Galup, 33; Amy Meller, 19; Wesley Narro-Castro, 21; Katerina Sinclair, 35; and Ann Yellott, 67.

Sinclair was the first to be arrested after she tried to address the board after the call-to-the audience portion had ended. Sinclair refused requests to leave and was led out of the room by police. Sinclair is the mother of a TUSD ninth-grader. She intended to speak in support of the program.

Sinclair said she doesn't believe that integrating Mexican-American history and culture into a traditional course will work.

"As a mother of a TUSD student, I have the right to say what I think about my daughter's education," she said. "To arrest a parent for speaking at a public school board meeting is not viable."

Sinclair went on to say that she wouldn't have defied the board had it said from the start that the vote would be postponed and that there would be the opportunity for more community dialogue at a future forum.

While TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone mentioned the possibility of a community forum in the future, it wasn't until four hours into the meeting that the board decided to go forward with his proposal.

Information was not available Wednesday on when the TUSD forum might be held.

The organization Save Ethnic Studies delivered a letter to Pedicone Wednesday suggesting that it co-sponsor the forum with the district. In addition to jointly sponsoring the event, the group would like to be part of the planning and identifying of a neutral moderator, site and format.

Pedicone wasn't available to comment on whether he would consider that.

According to the group, Save Ethnic Studies members are educators, students and community residents who support educational programs, policies and legislation that promote cultural awareness and diversity.

The 11 TUSD Mexican-American Studies educators who are currently challenging the constitutionality of the state law aimed at ethnic studies - formerly HB 2281 - are part of the Save Ethnic Studies organization.

Police chief says officers handled meeting well / A8

Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.

Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor said he was satisfied with the way his officers handled Tuesday night's TUSD board meeting.

"I think they performed in a very professional manner," Villaseñor said.

There were about 100 officers available in the area near TUSD headquarters, although 40 to 50 officers were used for the meeting, according to the Police Department.

Those officers included bicycle and motorcycle officers, and a dog unit.

None of the officers was paid overtime, he said.

"This is not an abnormal number for a crowd that size," he said. "It looked intense because we had a very small venue packed to capacity."

The Police Department needed those officers to be available after initially receiving information about up to 150 counterprotesters who were expected to show up, he said.

Seven people were arrested and cited for criminal trespass at the meeting.

Some people also inquired about bringing their guns to the meeting, he said.

"We need to be prepared for the worst and always hope for the best," he said.

Villaseñor said he did not know if the department would use the same number of officers at the public forum being planned by the district to discuss ethnic studies.

The department has already reviewed video from the meeting and will make any necessary changes or improvements, he said.

All sides have a lot to answer for after the TUSD Governing Board meeting Tuesday night. The board mishandled the meeting and the pro-ethnic-studies protesters resorted to vindictive personal attacks.

With this kind of public embarrassment, it's no wonder elected officials in Phoenix think they can come in and meddle in the district's affairs.

Board President Mark Stegeman should have insisted that the call to the audience last as long as it took to make sure every person who wanted to speak had the chance on Tuesday night. Instead, he cut it off after about the customary 30 minutes - a move that infuriated the already frustrated students, teachers, parents and community members who'd come to fight for a program they believe benefits students who take Mexican American Studies courses.

But those supporters behaved in a manner that denigrates the goals of civic engagement, democracy and community involvement they say their program promotes. They lobbed unwarranted personal attacks at Governing Board members and administrators, calling them racists and more. They booed and heckled a woman from Peru who said it is parents' job to teach their children about their heritage, not the role of a school district.

The board voted to hold a public forum about ethnic studies, and to postpone a vote on Stegeman's proposal to make two Mexican American social-studies courses electives. Right now they count toward the three required social-studies units. His plan would also expand the existing American history course in all high schools to include some of the Mexican American studies material.

Governing Board members need to sit and listen to every person who wants to speak their piece about the Stegeman proposal. This meeting must happen soon and in a large venue, not in the small boardroom at TUSD headquarters. About 300 people had to listen to loudspeakers outside Tuesday. The next meeting doesn't need 100 police officers, a dog unit and the police helicopter, either. Talk about an overreaction to the previous week's meeting, when students chained themselves to chairs on the board dais.

Next time, the supporters of Mexican American studies must eliminate the ad hominem attacks and disruptive shouting from the audience. Verbal assaults on people voters elected to lead the district won't achieve anything.

Passions are high, but all of the key players have repeatedly expressed their support for ethnic studies. That ought to be common ground for respectful discussion.

If people cannot come together and behave in a way that reflects the intelligence, caring and the passion for education that all sides possess, then TUSD will have defeated itself.

Arizona Daily Star

In 1959, Adalberto Guerrero, a young Pueblo High School teacher, taught his first Spanish class specifically for Chicano students.

Within a few years of teaching, Guerrero discovered that the Chicano students, who were not expected to do well, surpassed expectations.

In addition to Spanish, Guerrero taught them their culture and history. The classes imbued the students with a strong sense of self-worth, which led them to defy prevailing predictions that they would fail.

This new curriculum not only helped the students understand themselves from a historical perspective, it gave them the skills to explore their social situation and overcome challenges, said Guerrero, now 81.

These classes formed the basis of bilingual education. Bilingual education found success and acceptance with many Chicano students and their parents, who were invited to participate in their children's education - something that, until then, was unheard of in Tucson's Mexican-American barrios.

Today history is repeating itself with Mexican-American studies in the Tucson Unified School District, said Guerrero and Pepe Barrón, the CEO of the Center for the Study of Primary and Secondary Education.

Last week I visited with Guerrero, who taught Spanish for more than 30 years at the University of Arizona, and Barrón, who has spent his professional life educating Latino youths. We talked about the creation of bilingual studies, its success and its eventual dismantling. And we talked about TUSD's Mexican-American studies, which is on the same historical path as bilingual education.

"The parallel is the same," said Barrón. "Opponents want to teach the same failed curriculum they have been teaching for years."

Guerrero, along with his fellow Pueblo high teacher Hank Oyama and the late Maria Urquides, a counselor at Pueblo, set the foundation for bilingual education, the precursor to TUSD's ethnic studies program that was established in 1998.

Bilingual education is a proven method to transition students from Spanish to English. But it was more than language transitioning. It gave Chicano students, who were often marginalized and ignored by Tucson's educational system, hope and tools to succeed.

Led by the teaching experiences of Guerrero, Oyama, Urquides and other pioneering bilingual ed teachers in Tucson, the new approach took flight.

In 1966 a national committee of educators, which included the Pueblo high trio, authored the landmark report, "The Invisible Minority." It documented bilingual education's success and laid the framework for similar programs across the country. In 1968, national legislation enacted by Congress established bilingual education.

But as the civil rights era passed, the political pendulum swung in a new direction. English-only proponents piled on and politicians rode a backlash against Latinos in the 1960s and '70s. In 2000 Arizona voters voted to ban bilingual education, which was never mandatory, denying parents the choice to enroll their children in bilingual education.

The same is happening to the non-mandatory ethnic studies in TUSD, said Guerrero and Barrón.

Opponents of bilingual education and ethnic studies never had the best interests of Chicano students at heart, they said. Instead, opponents' objective is to strip away the teaching of Mexican-American culture, history and language, they said.

The educational gains Guerrero helped establish more than 50 years ago are being eradicated by state legislators and some members of the TUSD school board over the objections of students and their parents, Guerrero said:

"We have the right to instruct our children in a manner that reflects us."

Ernesto Portillo Jr. is editor of La Estrella de Tucsón. He can be reached at netopjr@azstarnet.com or at 520-573-4187.

The TUSD Governing Board decided Tuesday night to delay making changes to the ethnic studies program until it holds a public forum on the controversial proposal.

Board President Mark Stegeman made the recommendation to hold off on the vote on his proposal to make some ethnic studies courses electives, capping a tumultuous four-hour meeting that included numerous interruptions, the removal of at least seven audience members and an armed police presence.

After the forum is held, Stegeman said he plans to bring the proposal back to the board. Details on when and where the forum will be were not announced.

In addition to the standing-room-only crowd inside TUSD headquarters, about 300 people who couldn't get into the meeting gathered outside. The crowd - raucous at times - listened to the proceedings over speakers.

While no vote was taken, it didn't appear as though any board members had changed their position on the proposal.

Adelita Grijalva and Judy Burns stood in opposition while Stegeman and Michael Hicks support the proposal. Miguel Cuevas, who is considered the swing vote, declined to take a stand but did say the proposal has merit and that it's possible he will support it.

TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone had urged the board earlier in the day to postpone the vote after hearing from a number of community groups. He hopes that the community forum will allow for a healthy dialogue.

The meeting moved at a slow pace as board members were often interrupted by audience members.

However, it came to a halt nearly two hours in when two members of the audience attempted to speak after the call-to-the-audience portion of the meeting ended. The women were asked repeatedly to leave before being escorted out by police in tactical gear.

The interruption resulted in a 15-minute recess. When the board reconvened and attempted to discuss the Mexican American Studies proposal, the interruptions continued and five more women were escorted out as a result.

Lupe Castillo, a longtime educator and community activist, was one of those escorted out.

"I wanted to say a few words. I wanted to read from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter From Birmingham,' " said Castillo, 69. "I'm horrified at the level of police presence."

She along with six others - all adults - were issued a citation for criminal trespass and ordered to appear in city court.

Police were on hand at the request of TUSD administration, which didn't want to take any chances after members of the student group Unidos stormed the dais, chained themselves to board members' chairs and forced the cancellation of last week's meeting when the issue was originally supposed to be discussed.

The proposed change to the ethnic studies courses applies to social studies courses offered by the Mexican American Studies department.

Both Burns and Grijalva argued that such a change would dismantle the program and that there would be no incentive for students to take the course, because it would mean doubling up on history courses when class schedules are already tight.

The proposal comes as the Tucson Unified School District waits for word from Arizona schools chief John Huppenthal on whether the Mexican American Studies program is in compliance with state law.

Though many called Stegeman's proposal a concession to the state superintendent, he said that is not the case.

"There's been a sense in the district that the Mexican American Studies program is flawless, and despite its positive qualities, this rhetoric doesn't serve the district well," Stegeman said. "Almost all of our programs have some room for improvement."

He went on to say that some of the courses may not give adequate coverage to core topics, just as traditional classes may not provide adequate coverage of alternative viewpoints.

His solution is to strengthen the traditional classes by adding a significant component that focuses on the contributions and viewpoints of Mexican Americans and other ethnic minorities.

Stegeman believes doing so will not only allow the content to reach more students, but also will put the district in a stronger position when it comes to the state investigation.

Grijalva disagreed, saying: "We're in a position to let the state know this is a program we're willing to fight for. The reason we're being targeted is because this state is purposely writing legislation that attacks a people based on the color of their skin - we can't lose sight of that. It's naive of us to think that by passing this resolution that it will take away the state attention."

Outside TUSD headquarters, a large crowd gathered while the meeting progressed. People chanted, waved signs, cheered and jeered through the evening. Some members of Unidos even held their own mock board meeting.

Among other things, supporters of ethnic studies wants the board to reject the proposal and expand the program.

"When prisons are growing and growing and schools are closing and closing, it affects everybody," said Ryan Velasquez, a senior at City High School.

Mayra Feliciano, a senior at Rincon High, told the crowd she is in an ethnic studies government class.

"These classes have had such an impact on me," she said. "I see the world through a critical lens now."

Tucson police had about 100 officers on site, said Assistant Chief Brett Klein.

He said no officers were there on overtime. The officers were pulled from various units to provide security. A police helicopter flew overhead during the evening and a dog unit was also present.

Police Lt. Fabian Pacheco said officers were on hand to ensure everyone's safety.

"We are here to preserve the peace," he said before the meeting started. "They can exercise their constitutional rights, but we will not tolerate criminal activity."

No serious incidents were reported.

Shortly before the meeting started, Superintendent Pedicone walked outside among the gathering crowd.

Activist and one-time TUSD board candidate Miguel Ortega shouted, "Shame on you, Dr. Pedicone." Moments later he yelled out, "Vote the right way" to board member Miguel Cuevas.

Star reporters Carmen Duarte, Marisa Gerber and Ernesto Portillo Jr. contributed to this story.

May 2, 2011

UA FACULTY

OPEN LETTER TO

Dr. Pedicone and TUSD Governing Board Members, 

As university faculty who are educators, researchers, and community members, we strongly encourage the Tucson Unified School District Superintendent and Board to delay action on the proposed resolution to remove ethnic studies from the core curriculum.

We believe that on this critical issue additional deliberation is needed and further efforts should be taken to openly listen to the voices of the students, teachers, and community members through safe and democratic processes.

 Specifically, we would like to propose a town hall meeting that would allow extensive dialogue where board members and TUSD administrators could respond directly to a wide range of students and community constituents. 

After that, an orderly mechanism can be set up to encourage further dialogue between TUSD, students and representatives of our community. The consideration of a proposal to fundamentally restructure the ethnic studies program is premature, given that evidence presented to date shows its effectiveness in improving participants’ educational outcomes.

While extending elements of the MAS curriculum to all students might be an innovative way to further engage students and improve learning outcomes, this should not be done in such a way that limits the favorable impact of the documented successful core MAS curriculum currently available to students.

Given the uncertain legal standing of challenges from state politicians out of district boundaries who seek to usurp local control of education, we believe a delayed action would be most prudent.

As educators in Arizona, we have also closely followed the implementation of HB 2281, and we are concerned about the broad implications for academic freedom and student educational success that may result from this initial case in TUSD and the arbitrary nature of this enforcement. 

Our research, and that of many other scholars, has demonstrated that student engagement is important to students’ long term educational and health outcomes.

The students who participated in the action at the TUSD Board meeting last week are clearly engaged. While the methods employed to express their views may not be thought of as constructive to deliberative debate by some, it should be recognized they are the stakeholders most impacted by the board’s decision.

Additionally, these methods are certainly grounded in historic civil rights movements in the U.S., and clearly the students felt that their voices about their own education had been ignored by the state and others in authority for many years. Further, their actions should be viewed within the context of a hostile environment that has been created within the state of Arizona, specifically against people of color.

Research indicates that the climate created by this type of policies proposed in the state is harmful to the health, well-being and safety of minority as well as non-minority students.

We have also documented that hate rhetoric is often targeted towards individuals who speak out against laws such as HB 2281, and we are concerned about backlash against young people. We see this vitriolic hate surface in the comments section every time a story on ethnic studies is covered by local and national media.

We have observed the political battle over TUSD MAS over the past four years and know about the history, substance and effectiveness of the program, with results published in scientific peer-reviewed journals.

Further, TUSD’s own released data suggest the current program has been effective in improving AIMS reading, writing, and math scores particularly among students who have lower initial passing rates. The ethnic studies program has made long-term progress towards academic excellence, equality and inclusion precisely because of its continued existence.

The program is also the direct result of the civil rights struggles, led by such distinguished Americans as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez, as well as many other visionary leaders of a more just society in our state and city.

We speak out against efforts that may contribute to dismantling this historic and valuable program not as University of Arizona representatives, but as individual scholars, concerned citizens, residents, neighbors and parents of TUSD students; we are social scientists, ethnic studies scholars, communication scholars, education researchers, public health leaders, and recognized authorities on American history, culture and politics.  

Thank you for your consideration,  

Miranda Joseph

Andrea Romero

Patrisia Gonzales

Scott Carvajal

Maria Teresa Velez

Roberto Rodriguez

Nolan Cabrera

Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith

Caryl Flinn

Elizabeth Kennedy

V. Spike Peterson

Patricia MacCorquodale

Sandra K. Soto

Courtney Laine Lower

Julio Cammarota

Cecilia Rosales

Sofia Ramos

Raji Rhys

Antonio L. Estrada

Anna Ochoa O’Leary

Celestino Fernández

Araceli Esparza

Roseann Gonzalez

The TUSD Governing Board should hold off on a vote that could change some Mexican American Studies classes to electives, members of the Arizona Legislative Latino Caucus said in Tucson Monday.

The group of Democrats consisted of two state senators - Linda Lopez and Steve Gallardo - and four representatives - Sally Ann Gonzales, Richard Miranda, Macario Saldate and Bruce Wheeler.

They said they felt it was important to speak out as elected officials in support of not only the program, but the students it serves.

"The ethnic-studies program at TUSD is a very powerful, successful and important curriculum we ought to preserve," Wheeler said.

Added Gallardo: "You see school districts across the country who are struggling with dropouts and kids skipping classes - but here you have a group of students who are fighting to stay in class, fighting to learn an actual curriculum."

The board should wait for the results of an audit conducted at the request of Arizona schools chief John Huppenthal before taking a vote tonight, the lawmakers urged.

The time to consider changes is if the audit finds that the program is not meeting state standards, the lawmakers said.

The audit was ordered after the TUSD program was identified as being in violation of a state law formerly known as HB 2281. TUSD now stands to lose millions of dollars if it does not come into compliance.

Gonzales is sponsoring HB 2630, which would repeal the current law.

One member of the caucus, Saldate, became emotional over the fight that the students have waged in support of the program, saying that in the past, many have worked to ensure that Latino students are treated fairly and that they receive the necessary services to be successful.

"To see this all coming back, to see that hard work coming apart is so sad," he said.

Board members', students' take / A12

"The ethnic studies program at TUSD is a very powerful, successful and important curriculum we ought to preserve."

Bruce Wheeler, state representative

If you go

• What: TUSD Governing Board meeting

• When: Today at 5:30 p.m.

• Where: TUSD headquarters,1010 E. 10th Street

• Why: The Governing Board will consider making some ethnic- studies classes electives

Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.

The past couple of weeks have been a time of soul-searching for me. As a member of the Latino community and as an individual TUSD Governing Board member, it has been extremely difficult to be a part of the division in our community that has been caused by the proposed changes to the Mexican American Studies program.

At a time when the Tucson Unified School District is in the process of improving the quality of education for all of its students, this issue has become divisive to the point that a civil discussion was prevented from occurring in a public meeting.

While I strongly believe that the concerns of all TUSD constituents need to be heard, there is a prescribed process to bring these concerns to the Governing Board. This process was circumvented by the events that took place on Tuesday, April 26. It is impractical to openly and objectively discuss issues in an environment that fosters the polarization observed in the disruption.

As TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone has stated, "The proposed changes to the Mexican American Ethnic Studies program are not radical." In a school district with a 61 percent Latino population, the program should serve more than its current outreach of 5 percent of TUSD students.

The proposed changes will not destroy the program; it will remain intact.

As electives, the classes may continue to be offered without the possible threat of elimination by the state.

Under this proposal, the ethnic-studies departments will have an increased budget to serve more TUSD students of all ethnic backgrounds.

TUSD prides itself on providing choice in its curriculum; this is one way to provide more students with the choice to participate in the Mexican American Studies program.

As a native Tucsonan, I am proud of my heritage and its valuable place in this community.

As an individual TUSD Governing Board member, I am committed to providing the best educational choices for all TUSD students.

IF YOU GO

The TUSD board meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. today at TUSD headquarters, 1010 E. 10th Street.

On the agenda will be a proposal to change some ethnic-studies courses to electives.

The TUSD boardroom and lobby can hold a total of 185 people. That capacity will be enforced. Speakers will be placed outside for the overflow crowd.

Anyone attending the meeting will be searched, purses will be checked and backpacks will not be allowed. Metal-detector wands may be used.

Miguel Cuevas serves on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board. Email him at miguel.cuevas@tusd1.org

Unidos has done everything in its power to create dialogue with the TUSD Governing Board. We have spoken numerous times during the call to audience, written letters, met with individual board members and held press conferences. But the Tucson Unified School District has failed to listen to us.

Even before this year, ever since 2006 when former state Superintendent Tom Horne started his vicious campaign against ethnic studies, the youth have been fighting to get their voice heard and express how much these classes mean to us.

The resolution presented by Board President Mark Stegeman to disaccredit our classes is not a reasonable option. Turning our ethnic-studies classes into elective courses is a slow death sentence to our studies because students won't have room in their academic schedules for them anymore.

This move is basically making ethnic studies "second class." The school board and the state are completely undermining the value of our history and culture. Our classes must remain core courses.

TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone is accusing adults of using students as political pawns in regards to last Tuesday's student-led action.  

But actually, it was Pedicone and Stegeman's attacks on our education that forced us to take action. If any adults are to blame, it is Pedicone, Stegeman, Horne, new state Superintendent John Huppenthal and Gov. Jan Brewer for attempting to eliminate our ethnic-studies program. Adults in power are creating a hostile environment for students of color at TUSD and all of Arizona. That is why we took action.

Pedicone is also denigrating students' intelligence.

How can you be superintendent of a school district and believe your students are so stupid and apathetic that they would need adults to "brainwash" them enough to care about their own education?

What kind of respectable school administrator would ever trash and undermine his own students? Shouldn't you be happy that students love their education so much that we are willing to risk arrest for it? You say you care about us and our success, but you are passionate about cutting a program that helps us. That doesn't make sense.

It is disappointing to see a superintendent undermine and attack the youth.

Our Tuesday action was intended to hold Pedicone and the board accountable to youth's voice.

We don't want this resolution. What's embarrassing to TUSD about that? The embarrassment is HB 2281 (the state law aimed at ethnic-studies courses). The embarrassment is Stegeman's resolution. The local and national embarrassment is Pedicone and Stegeman for failing to represent the best interests of Tucson youth.

It was announced in the Arizona Daily Star that Tuesday's meeting will be filled with security officers, some of whom will be armed, and that those attending the meeting will be searched, purses will be checked and backpacks will not be allowed.

Pedicone is attempting to silence youth and community voices through heightened security and what we see as intimidation tactics. Pedicone is clearly acting against the will of the people. He does not represent us. That is why we took action. 

If the board wants to regain the confidence of the public, we ask once again that you withdraw Stegeman's resolution, preserve and expand our ethnic- studies classes and join the teacher's lawsuit against HB 2281! 

IF YOU GO

The TUSD board meeting is scheduled 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at TUSD headquarters, 1010 E. 10th Street.

On the agenda will be a proposal to change some ethnic-studies courses to electives.

The TUSD boardroom and lobby can hold a total of 185 people. That capacity will be enforced. Speakers will be placed outside for the overflow crowd.

Anyone attending the meeting Tuesday will be searched, purses will be checked and backpacks will not be allowed. Metal-detector wands may be used.

Mayra Feliciano and Daniel Montoya are seniors at Rincon High School and are involved in the Mexican- American Studies program. This piece is representative of the Unidos student group. Email them at unidos.tucson@gmail.com

Everyone has an opinion about what occurred at the TUSD Governing Board meeting on April 26, 2011. Most, including board members and administration, do not know what actually led up to that moment. They could not know because they have not been involved with the school district for a long enough time.

As an individual who has spent 26 years being involved, at one level or another in a volunteer capacity, I have a different perspective than most.

TUSD's Mexican American Studies classes have a complicated history, but one thing has been consistent: There is a need to bridge the achievement gap between our Mexican-American students and white students.

Many methods had been attempted and failed to show results. The current classes did show results. Students felt engaged in their education, they had purpose, sometimes for the first time in their lives. Their teachers were dedicated to their success and the kids knew it. Other teachers saw the academic improvement when they began these classes. Students graduated at a higher rate and went on to higher education.

I have heard from hundreds of these students over the 10 years I have been a TUSD board member. Their stories have been different, but one thing has been woven through every account: These classes were the turning point in their lives, inspired them to be productive members of society and made them aware of their own self-worth.

For years these teachers and students have been the object of controversy and scrutiny. Words like "un-American" and "violent overthrow" have been bandied about and repeated over and over again. All of this culminated in HB 2281 being passed by our Legislature last spring and becoming law (ARS 15-112) in January.

Since January, these classes have had a stream of people interrupting them. TUSD administration, state officials, media and board members have paraded through the doors, all with a level of scrutiny that no other classes have had to endure. Students had peaceful demonstrations, they spoke to legislators, they spoke to board members and they spoke in regular call to the audience times at TUSD board meetings.

In March, state Superintendent John Huppenthal hired a consulting firm from Florida to come in to TUSD and assess what was really going on with these classes. A report from this group should come to the state and TUSD within the next few weeks.

However, Governing Board President Mark Stegeman decided to write a guest opinion column, ("TUSD should widen but revamp ethnic-studies curriculum," published March 21 in the Star) without board approval, stating his solution to the issue. It involved changing these classes to elective classes, which students have said they cannot fit into their already overcrowded schedules.

Stegeman insisted on placing a resolution on the April 26 agenda that directed the TUSD administration how to proceed with his solution. He was asked numerous times to delay his resolution until the state returned its report and findings to TUSD.

When this resolution became public, the students felt that their democratic communication with officials of the state and the Governing Board had led them nowhere.

What looked like a riot to some was actually a desperate attempt by these students to finally be heard. I saw the potential for problems and decided that I would stay until these students and their parents were safely out of the building. I listened to what they had to say. I supported their right to say it. I saw a group of idealistic, dedicated young adults that were passionate about their education.

They spoke, there was no violence, they cleaned up after themselves and they left in a peaceable manner. They knew they had probably seen the last of their beloved classes.

They knew that it was inevitable that Stegeman or the state of Arizona eliminated the opportunity for future students to have the experiences they have had. They had done all they could within and outside of the system to be heard, and the system failed them.

I commend them for fighting for their education in every way they could.

IF YOU GO

The TUSD board meeting is scheduled 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at TUSD headquarters, 1010 E. 10th Street.

On the agenda will be a proposal to change some ethnic-studies courses to electives.

The TUSD boardroom and lobby can hold a total of 185 people. That capacity will be enforced. Speakers will be placed outside for the overflow crowd.

Anyone attending the meeting Tuesday will be searched, purses will be checked and backpacks will not be allowed. Metal-detector wands may be used.

Judy Burns is clerk of the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board. Email her at judy.burns@tusd1.org

The TUSD Governing Board will consider this week whether to make some ethnic studies courses electives. Here is how ethnic studies courses fit into current graduation requirements:

Q: What courses do students need to graduate from high school?

A: To earn a high school diploma in Arizona, students must complete four units of English, three units of math, two units of science, three units of social studies, one unit of fine arts or career and technical education, half a unit of health, one unit of physical education and 6 1/2 units in electives.

Q: What if the student wants to attend a university?

A: An additional unit of math and an additional unit of science are needed. Two units of a world language also are required.

Q: How do ethnic studies courses fit into graduation requirements?

A: The African American Studies and Native American Studies departments do not offer any classes. They primarily serve in a support role to students, personnel and parents.

TUSD does, however, offer African American and Native American literature courses that satisfy the English requirement.

The Asian Pacific American Studies department offers Chinese, Russian and Arabic classes. Students taking any of these courses earn world language credit.

The Mexican American Studies department has the most course offerings under the ethnic studies umbrella. Two classes - American History/Mexican American Perspectives and American Government/Social Justice Education Project - satisfy social studies requirements, and one course - Latino literature - meets the English requirement. There are also Chicano Art classes that are counted for fine arts credit.

Q: Are students required to take an ethnic studies course to graduate?

A: No.

Q: What would happen if the TUSD Governing Board adopted a resolution to make the Mexican American Studies social studies courses electives next year?

A: If students took one of the two social studies courses offered, it would have to be on top of the three required social studies units. However, each class would satisfy one of their 6 1/2 elective credits.

Q: What is the cost of running the ethnic studies programs?

A: In terms of personnel and benefits, TUSD spends $2.2 million per year. An additional $118,000 is spent on student-enrichment opportunities, special events for students and parents, professional development for teachers, instructional materials, local travel and other expenses.

IF YOU GO

The TUSD board meeting was rescheduled to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at TUSD Headquarters, 1010 E. 10th Street.

On the agenda will be a proposal to change some ethnic studies courses to electives.

The TUSD boardroom and lobby can hold a total of 185 people. That capacity will be enforced. Speakers will be placed outside for the overflow crowd.

More than a dozen TUSD school safety employees - some of whom will be armed - will be on hand along with four to six on-duty police officers. School safety personnel work for TUSD, but those on overtime earn $28 an hour.

Anyone attending the meeting Tuesday will be searched, purses will be checked and backpacks will not be allowed. Metal-detector wands may be used.

Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.

In 1959, Adalberto Guerrero, a young Pueblo High School teacher, taught his first Spanish class specifically for Chicano students.

Within a few years of teaching, Guerrero discovered that the Chicano students, who were not expected to do well, surpassed expectations.

In addition to Spanish, Guerrero taught them their culture and history. The classes imbued the students with a strong sense of self-worth, which led them to defy prevailing predictions that they would fail.

This new curriculum not only helped the students understand themselves from a historical perspective, it gave them the skills to explore their social situation and overcome challenges, said Guerrero, now 81.

These classes formed the basis of bilingual education. Bilingual education found success and acceptance with many Chicano students and their parents, who were invited to participate in their children's education - something that, until then, was unheard of in Tucson's Mexican-American barrios.

Today history is repeating itself with Mexican-American studies in the Tucson Unified School District, said Guerrero and Pepe Barrón, the CEO of the Center for the Study of Primary and Secondary Education.

Last week I visited with Guerrero, who taught Spanish for more than 30 years at the University of Arizona, and Barrón, who has spent his professional life educating Latino youths. We talked about the creation of bilingual studies, its success and its eventual dismantling. And we talked about TUSD's Mexican-American studies, which is on the same historical path as bilingual education.

"The parallel is the same," said Barrón. "Opponents want to teach the same failed curriculum they have been teaching for years."

Guerrero, along with his fellow Pueblo high teacher Hank Oyama and the late Maria Urquides, a counselor at Pueblo, set the foundation for bilingual education, the precursor to TUSD's ethnic studies program that was established in 1998.

Bilingual education is a proven method to transition students from Spanish to English. But it was more than language transitioning. It gave Chicano students, who were often marginalized and ignored by Tucson's educational system, hope and tools to succeed.

Led by the teaching experiences of Guerrero, Oyama, Urquides and other pioneering bilingual ed teachers in Tucson, the new approach took flight.

In 1966 a national committee of educators, which included the Pueblo high trio, authored the landmark report, "The Invisible Minority." It documented bilingual education's success and laid the framework for similar programs across the country. In 1968, national legislation enacted by Congress established bilingual education.

But as the civil rights era passed, the political pendulum swung in a new direction. English-only proponents piled on and politicians rode a backlash against Latinos in the 1960s and '70s. In 2000 Arizona voters voted to ban bilingual education, which was never mandatory, denying parents the choice to enroll their children in bilingual education.

The same is happening to the non-mandatory ethnic studies in TUSD, said Guerrero and Barrón.

Opponents of bilingual education and ethnic studies never had the best interests of Chicano students at heart, they said. Instead, opponents' objective is to strip away the teaching of Mexican-American culture, history and language, they said.

The educational gains Guerrero helped establish more than 50 years ago are being eradicated by state legislators and some members of the TUSD school board over the objections of students and their parents, Guerrero said:

"We have the right to instruct our children in a manner that reflects us."

Ernesto Portillo Jr. is editor of La Estrella de Tucsón. He can be reached at netopjr@azstarnet.com or at 520-573-4187.

It is fair to say the situation that occurred at last Tuesday evening's TUSD Governing Board meeting has caused this school district embarrassment.

The entire Tucson community is impacted by this situation and the way we are viewed by people across the country.

My immediate concern focuses on the events that led up to the decision on the part of a number of adults and students who engaged in an action that interfered with the operation of government.

The manner in which it occurred was, to many people inside and outside of the organization, shocking and abhorrent.

While we were fortunate no one was hurt and control was restored without violence, the consequences of the situation are far-reaching. Rest assured the district will make every effort to restore order and hopefully restore confidence over time.

Some would have you believe this action was taken by a group of students who just made a plan to express their dissent. That is not accurate.

It is clear adults both helped to plan and influence the outcome of that night.

If you take a moment to examine the resolution by the student group, Unidos, you will see the demands include issues involving the Mexican-American Ethnic Studies program, the repeal of state laws, school closures and turnaround schools, United Nations human rights and the removal of state governmental officials.

In my opinion, students have been led to believe their basic rights to an honest discussion of their heritage are at risk. Students have been convinced the school district is attempting to eliminate a program that simply tells the truth and this action is associated with concerns about immigration and a broad range of issues at the state and federal levels.

Students have been exploited and are being used as pawns to serve a political agenda that threatens this district and our community. Just as high school and university students led the charge to the Governing Board dais on Tuesday, they are being used to lead the charge for those who wish to make this a civil rights issue.

The simple truth is that one board member suggested having a discussion about changing Mexican American courses from being used to satisfy the state requirement for American Government and American History into electives that will continue to be offered.

Further, he suggested multicultural perspectives be expanded across all courses to provide students with a more open and inclusive curriculum.

None of these ideas are radical and are certainly worthy of consideration.

On Thursday, an open forum was organized by the Metropolitan Education Commission, in concert with the Tucson Police Department, designed to provide students with an opportunity to express themselves.

It was extremely well-run and served to open issues of concern to our youth. The forum worked and people left feeling they had accomplished something important.

Rather than use our children to carry the political mantle for people who are frustrated and angry about highly emotional topics, consideration should be given to having a similar community forum, open to all opinions about issues of concern. That would seem to be the appropriate venue for such a debate.

In the end, if we approach difficult issues with honesty and openness, we teach our children effective lessons in honor and discourse and we become a stronger community as a result.

John Pedicone is superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District. Email him through Karen.bynum@tusd1.org

A group of nearly a dozen parents stood up in defense of their children who stormed the TUSD Governing Board meeting, forcing its cancellation.

The parents spoke out on Friday, explaining why they supported the action, which is now under review by law enforcement, and why they feel the Mexican American Studies courses should be left alone.

Tuesday's protest was organized by youth-formed coalition Unidos out of concern for the Mexican American Studies program.

The Governing Board was to consider making some of the courses electives instead of core classes.

Leila and Chris Duncan spoke in support of their daughter Maggie, a senior at University High School.

While Mexican American Studies courses are not offered at her school, the 18-year-old felt it was important to get involved, so she joined Unidos. She has friends who are enrolled in the courses and believes Mexican American history needs to be taught, her mother said.

"I'm proud of her and the other students who stood up for the future and the fate of the Mexican American Studies program," Leila Duncan said.

"I think they're doing the right thing," Maggie's father added. "They are speaking from a position where they're not in power, trying to speak to a position of power. They acted the way they did because they were not being heard, and I think it's time for us to listen."

While the Duncans say they support their daughter's decision, they are concerned that she could possibly face prosecution.

"I'm her mother and of course I don't like that, but it's something that they as a group had talked about and considered and still wanted to go forward with it," Leila Duncan said.

The Unidos group, made up mostly of current and former students, ran through the boardroom Tuesday minutes before the meeting was scheduled to begin.

They chained themselves to board members' empty chairs and began chanting and pounding their fists. TUSD security attempted to remove them but were unsuccessful.

The boardroom quickly filled up well beyond capacity as the protest went on for two hours.

Supporters of the group call the incident an act of nonviolent civil disobedience.

However, the Tucson Unified School District said the youths unlawfully interfered with the operation of the district, adding that behavior like that would not be tolerated.

On StarNet: Go to azstarnet.com/gallery for photos from the protest at the board meeting. See a video of the takeover at azstarnet.com/video

MEETING CHANGED

The TUSD board meeting has been rescheduled to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at TUSD headquarters, 1010 E. 10th Street.

The agenda will remain the same, to include a proposal to change some ethnic studies courses to electives.

It had initially been set for Thursday at Catalina Magnet High School.

The TUSD boardroom and lobby can hold a total of 185 people. That capacity will be enforced. Speakers will be set up outside for the overflow crowd to hear the proceedings.

Factors in the date and venue change include:

• Thursday is Cinco de Mayo - a day that has symbolic value.

• While Catalina accommodates more members of the public, it would be harder for police to gain control. Catalina would require more resources in terms of security officers.

Precautions that will be taken at 1010 include:

• The use of more than a dozen TUSD school safety employees - some of whom will be armed - and four to six on-duty police officers.

School safety personnel work for TUSD, but those on overtime earn $28 an hour.

• Those attending the meeting will be searched. Purses will be checked and backpacks will not be allowed. Metal detector wands may be used.

Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.

The TUSD board meeting  was resceduled to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at TUSD Headquarters, 1010 E. 10th Street.

The agenda will remain the same, to include a proposal to change some Ethnic Studies courses to electives.

It had initially been set for Thursday at Catalina Magnet High School.

The TUSD board room and lobby can hold a total of 185 people. That capacity will be enforced. Speakers will be set up outside for the overflow crowd to hear the proceedings.

Factors in the date and venue change include:

• Thursday is Cinco de Mayo — a day that has symbolic value.

• While Catalina accommodates more members of the public, it would be harder for police to gain control.

• Because of its size, Catalina would require more resources in terms of security and off-duty officers.

Precautions that will be taken at 1010 include:

• The use of more than a dozen TUSD school safety employees — some of whom will be armed — and four to six off-duty police officers.

An off-duty officer costs $40 per hour. For every five officers, one off-duty sergeant is needed at $45 per hour. TUSD expects to utilize the off-duty officers for six to seven hours.

School safety personnel work for TUSD, but those on overtime earn $28 an hour.

• Those attending the meeting will be searched, purses will be checked and backpacks will not be allowed. Metal detector wands will also be available for use.

In light of this week's protest at TUSD headquarters, a teen town hall about youth issues focused heavily on a discussion about ethnic-studies demonstrations and hinted that more are coming.

John Pedicone, superintendent of Tucson Unified School District, said concerns need to be discussed civilly and rationally in order for reasonable conversations to take place.

Some 300 students from eight school districts in Pima County listened to Pedicone at Sunnyside High School's auditorium Thursday. The forum was hosted by the Metropolitan Education Commission and the Tucson Police Department.

Pedicone said Tuesday's action, in which students and adults made an orchestrated decision to have teens chain themselves to the empty chairs of board members while they were in executive session, led to the board's decision to end the meeting.

Sunnyside district Superintendent Manuel L. Isquierdo told students that they will not always like politicians' answers or their positions on issues, but discussions have to take place. "The answer is not to chain yourself to a board chair. That will lose the conversation. That will be used against us," Isquierdo said.

José A. Palomino, 18, a Sunnyside High senior, said students are acting radically because it appears the TUSD Governing Board may no longer back students and uphold current ethnic-studies programs. He said the YouTube videos airing showing the boardroom takeover have created national support for the students, who are receiving numerous emails.

In an interview after the nearly two-hour forum, Palomino, who helped organize the takeover, said, "We have responded civilly to the board. We have written letters, sat down with board members and talked. We feel they are not hearing us.

"We are being radical. Youth will attend the next meeting. This is not going to stop. We want school districts to stand up to the state. Don't let legislators bully us - it is our education."

Unidos (United), a youth-formed coalition, decided to storm the TUSD boardroom to prevent the board from taking a vote on a proposal that would change some of the district's ethnic-studies courses to electives only.

Another board meeting to discuss the issue is currently rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday - Cinco de Mayo - in the auditorium at Catalina Magnet High School, 3645 E. Pima St.

TUSD has taken a strong stance in support of the ethnic-studies program, said Pedicone, and teachers have lodged a federal lawsuit challenging the state law that could change or end the program and hold back funding to districts that violate the law.

The law prohibits courses that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government; promote resentment toward a race or class of people; are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group; or that advocate ethnic solidarity instead of treating students as individuals. TUSD officials say the district is not violating the law.

When students asked about the legal ramifications regarding protests, Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor explained that the U.S. Constitution provides for free speech, and that no one was harmed or threatened during the boardroom takeover.

"Some people who protest want to be arrested to make a point," Villaseñor explained. He said that if a protest is declared unlawful, participants are asked to leave or face arrest. He said the board ended the meeting, the protesters left on there own and no arrests were made. However, he said the city attorney will review police reports about the incident to see if any laws were broken, Villaseñor said.

Protest videos under review

TUSD and law enforcement are reviewing videos of Tuesday night's protest at the school-board meeting to determine if prosecution is warranted.

The protest, organized by the youth-formed coalition Unidos, resulted in the cancellation of the Governing Board meeting as students chained themselves to the dais in support of Mexican American Studies.

TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone said while students and community members have the right of free speech, they do not have the right to interfere or impede the operation of the district.

"This type of behavior will not be tolerated," Pedicone said. "The public must feel confident that TUSD believes in the importance of ensuring school district operations are being handled effectively and that, in all cases, a professional and orderly environment will be maintained."

The protest began just minutes before the meeting was scheduled to begin. Students ran up to the dais where the Governing Board sits and chained themselves to the chairs. Security attempted to remove them but were unsuccessful.

Though the organizers were told that the meeting had been canceled, the protest continued for about two hours before they cleared out of the room on their own.

Alexis Huicochea

Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4104 or cduarte@azstarnet.com