Protest Arizona's Ban on Mexican American Studies
- by: Concerned Activists
- recipient: John Huppenthal, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction
A new Arizona law bans ethnic studies classes, including the Mexican American studies program offered by the Tucson Unified School District. At a time when Mexican Americans make up more than 10% of the U.S. population, Tucson's program is a vital example of comprehensive education.
Sign this petition to let Arizona lawmakers know that a ban on Mexican American studies stunts the education of all students in the state.
According to John Huppenthal, the state's superintendent of public instruction, the classes are "divisive" and "promote resentment." But the program's proponents, including faculty and students, are fighting back. They know that Mexican American studies programs help Latino students to excel and that the classes offer long-neglected Chicano perspectives on America's literature, history, and culture.
Sign this petition to support the faculty and students of Tucson by protesting the ban on Mexican American studies.
We the undersigned respectfully ask you to allow the Tucson Unified School District to continue offering its Mexican American studies program. At a time when Mexican Americans make up more than ten percent of the United States population, the program is a vital example of comprehensive education. Removing the program does not deter divisiveness based on race and ethnicity; rather, it stunts the education of all students by barring their access to long-neglected Chicano perspectives on America's literature, history, and culture.
