The ethnic studies ban that went into effect Jan. 1 brings a continuing dark cloud over the teaching of history. While projections show the U.S. population will become much less white as time progresses, history slants toward the white version.
Western civilization bases itself on Judeo-Christian righteousness, since the enlightenment on liberty and democracy, and on the scientific method. However, whites have brought slavery, wars and domination over most of the world. The U.S.A. along with Europe, Anglo countries and supporters such as Israel dominate world politics. In a multiracial world, we should seek inclusion rather than division and domination.
Meanwhile even in the U.S.A. many intellectuals throughout history can be found in black, brown and other citizens. In pre-colonial America and in other countries, great ideas can be found including democratic, ecological and spiritual ones.
These facts along with an anti-racist precept should demand that ethnic studies be allowed here and now in Arizona.
Tim Mavrides, Mesa
Leon Ceniceros posted at 9:11 am on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
The University of Arizona at Tucson Institute for Transformative Education co-sponsored with the Tucson Unified School District's "Mexican American/Raza Studies Program a 4-day program for teachers and professors on July 15-18, 2008. The "keynote speaker" was UCLA Professor Peter McLaren. He is the author of a the following books on politics. The "Teaching Against Global Capitalism, and the New Imperialism" (2005) and "Red Seminars: Radical Excursions into Educational Theory, Cultural Politics, and Pedagogy" (2005). There were also workshops and other presentations along with the lectures.
What is so troublng in the Tucson Unified School District "Ethnic Studies/Raza program is how it was taught. The book, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" by the Brazilan Marxist, Paulo Freire was "required reading" for these Tucson High School students. Also these books were "required reading", "Occupied America" and "Prison Notebooks" by an Italian Communist , Antonio Gramsci.
This information is all in the Internet. I found them with a couple of hours search. Professor Peter McLaren's website shows exactly where he is "coming from". How could theTucson Unified School District, in all good conscience, expose impressionable Hispanic, Black and Native American 15,16 and 17 year old minds to these anti-Capitalism, anti-White teachings? This is America, not Venezuela, Brazil or Cuba.
Teaching one to know and take pride in the achievements of their ethnic leaders and people of note is wonderful thing which needs to be taught. But teaching public high school age students from the books of Marxist and Communist authors is not to be allowed in Arizona or any other State in our Great Nation.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:34 am on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
Leon,
Again, the points you make appear to be well taken. You did some research, appear to have a background which would support a life long interest in this subject, and you take a reasonable position in commenting on the conclusions of the Letter to the Editor.
This is the sort of thinking and reasoning which is not being taught in our schools. Saturday's tragedy in Tucson appears to highlight the situation of a young man confuzed by the sophistry of others, and not able to get a hold on things himself.
As time plays out, we are likely to find him to be "nuts." Yet he is not so different from others. Most who become perplexed, drop out of the complexity of politics and focus on earning a livelihood and making friends. Likely this kid dropped out of school and life dropped out on him. He had no place to turn but violence.
Just like there is reason to improve upon Diversity Education, bringing an objective perspective from studying the "other side" of history, there is reason to improve upon our society of gun toting, lambasting commenters. [Slabside!]
"Moderation if all things" and "Compromise" are the prescriptions for our future.