by the Left Coast Rebel
'Ethnic study' programs across the nation's campi are the most comfortable breeding grounds for raging communists, reverse-discriminationists, segregation-secessionists, American/Western culture-hating leftist loons. This has been true for quite some time - I've seen it with my own eyes. For an example look at this 'mission statement' for the 'ethnic studies' department at Colorado State University. Marxist, no? Note the Che Guevara picture that pops up in the banner.
Knowing this, Arizona has had enough of it, to the point of banning 'ethnic studies' programs, or at least certain aspects of 'ethnic studies' in Arizona's university system via HB 2281. Non-compliance means no more state funding.
Perhaps Arizona will be the next best state to raise a family, start a business and otherwise pursue the American dream? Fox News has this:
The new bill would make it illegal for a school district to teach any courses that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."Initially I had a 1st Amendment reservation to this bill. After actually reading the simple, one page bill, I think that it makes perfect sense. I think that the Arizona state legislature is completely within its rights to deny funding to racist, collectivist, subversive curriculum/programs on college campi.State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tom Horne called passage in the state House a victory for the principle that education should unite, not divide students of differing backgrounds.
"Traditionally, the American public school system has brought together students from different backgrounds and taught them to be Americans and to treat each other as individuals, and not on the basis of their ethnic backgrounds," Horne said. "This is consistent with the fundamental American value that we are all individuals, not exemplars of whatever ethnic groups we were born into. Ethnic studies programs teach the opposite, and are designed to promote ethnic chauvinism."
Indoctrination tactics addressed in HB 2281 (taken directly from the bill):
Prohibits a school district or charter school from including in its program of instruction any courses or classes that:
Ø Promote the overthrow of the United States government.
Ø Promote resentment toward a race or class of people.
Ø Are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group.
Ø Advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.
Common sense, no? Many of these radical collegial communist types insulate themselves under the 'ethnic' veil, they should have equal standards applied to them.
What say you, libertarians? I'm interested to know what you think? Read HB 2281 in it's entirety here.
Via Memeorandum.
UPDATED: Jeff Goldstein at Protein Wisdom puts it well:
A sticky wicket, this. On the one hand, opponents of the legislation who argue that the legislature should not be involved in developing school curriculum would appear, at first blush, to have a valid point; putting legislatures in charge of creating curricula is a political powder keg — and, in addition to being a way to micromanage education, opens the door to all kinds of potential populist abuses from both sides of the political divide.
On the other hand, school curriculum developed by educational professionals and teachers — whose unions both support and are supported by a partisan affiliation with Democrats — is in many ways already quite politicized, with the pedagogical status quo representing a kind of epistemic closure that favors the orthodoxies of the left. That is, it institutionalizes as received truth a politicized version of knowledge built around leftist shibboleths — and in so doing, prevents parents from having much (if any) say about the content of their children’s education in the sphere of public education.
Is legislating through the thicket of a the particular political client relationship between Democrats and public educators the best answer? I can’t say
But I will say this: Arizonans appear tired of waiting around until such determinations are made — on the relatively sound reasoning that in the meantime, the institutionalization of “progressive” ideas are further breaking down the principles of classical liberalism upon which this country was founded.
IT is amazing to see how simple things can be spun so that they're hardly recognizable. I hope this holds. The situation here is that the Republicans have not had the governorship for quite a while, and when they did, it was bad. Now, with Janet Napolitano having been drafted up to the big leagues, Republicans are trying to do things before the November elections. The other distraction is the disastrous state budget situation.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this will get the La Raza program out of Tucson Unified School District...
ReplyDeleteI think this is long over due and should be applied nationally!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I have an outdated version of the bill, but I can't find anything related to...
ReplyDeleteØ Promote the overthrow of the United States government.
@ Lucid Dream - http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/2r/summary/h.hb2281_03-18-10_houseengrossed.doc.htm
ReplyDeleteThank you very much...I was reading the first one that popped up on Google, after your site.
ReplyDelete"Indoctrination tactics addressed in HB 2281 (taken directly from the bill):
ReplyDeleteProhibits a school district or charter school from including in its program of instruction any courses or classes that:
Ø Promote the overthrow of the United States government.
Ø Promote resentment toward a race or class of people."
So by these standards, schools aren't allowed to teach students anything about the Civil War? Or do we completely forget that The Confederate states were trying to overthrow/take over The Union. And of course any mention of the Civil Rights era would also have to be taken out of the public school system, as students could possibly begin to resent "the white man that so often kept the black man subservient."
This bill attacks every ethnic group that isn't white. Next thing you know there will be a ban on any studies in relation to the struggles of American Indian tribes, African American slaves, Asian Americans during the internment camp era, etc.
I'm disturbed by how easy it is for this country to accept ethnically prejudiced laws in order to promote a "purely American agenda." There is no such thing.
America is a melting pot of multiple ethnicities (or have we all conveniently forgotten how this country was originally made up from immigrants all over the world?) and we should be promoting the education of history related to ALL of these ethnic groups and how they've affected the American discourse - not banning them.
Cristina - Do your standards here also apply to courses that would teach that white people are inherently superior to other races? Or right wing groups that wish to overthrow the government?
ReplyDeleteWhy is it ok when Latinos teach and/or are taught 'brown power?'
Have you ever taken any of these courses? have you sat in the class and experienced it? most likely you havent just like tom horne. WE promote peace and union in the classes. in no way do we ever learn about "over throwing the government" or create seperate racial classes. THis whole article is based on opinions and lies. Ive been taking these courses throughout high school and i have learned more than i ever have in any other class. ive been learning about american history my whole life and its beautiful that i have a CHOICE to learn about different cultures including my own. Thats right its a choice, in no way was it ever pushed upon me to take these classes. ANY student of ANY race can take these classes. its a melting pot and we learn about that. we bring people together if anything. we have people all over the community who support us of all shapes sizes and color. who is one man to say our classes our wrong? his opinion is nothing compared to every student in the TUSD schools. we will fight peacefully for what we believe in and we wont stop until our classes are safe and secured. SAVE ETHNIC STUDIES!
ReplyDeleteTpesqueira - Yes I have, actually. What do you mean by 'fight peacefully?'
ReplyDeleteI am tired of reading comments that Arizona is not racist, that it is about illegals. However, this new bill HB 2281 is a clear example that they are targetting minorities. Before you know it they are going to have colored restrooms and water fountains.
ReplyDeleteLeft Coast Rebel - My standards apply to courses that teach that ANY people are inherently superior to other ethnicities (as race is really a constructed idea based solely on the color of one's skin and not their geneological background). It isn't okay for anyone to teach that one group is better than another - and this includes White Power, Brown Power, Black Power, whatever-Power you choose. However, I see nothing wrong in being taught to be proud of who you are. For many that can include their heritage, but I don't see how that automatically leads to beliefs that one ethnicity (mine, yours, or anyone else's) is better than another.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, these programs certainly DO NOT promote or support the idea of overthrowing the government. While I have encountered a few professors whose personal beliefs could be aligned to such ideas, you might be surprised to learn that those professors were WHITE, and did not teach in the ethnic studies departments. That portion of this law could be completely legitimized should it be applied to ALL studies - not just ethnic ones.
But it's erroneous to assume that ALL ethnic studies courses are meant to support the idea that one ethnicity is superior to another. In fact, most ethnic studies programs exist (and do operate as such) to teach the history of the millions of people who've basically become invisible - or rather, quickly glossed over with no real examination of context and circumstance - in what has become the customary rhetoric of U.S. History.
The argument that I too often find when it comes to this issue is that the country would be outraged if there were "White Studies" courses that received state funding (which ultimately is the reason this bill even exists, MONEY, just like it makes the world go round). However what boggles my mind is that people don't recognize the fact that the customary rhetoric of U.S. History basically IS white studies. Unless of course it's February (aka Black History Month) - which I also think is a ridiculous idea, to relegate a portion of history to a specific month, when it should be INTEGRATED to the historical discourse, and focused on just as much as any other part of history would.
Neverthless, I go back to my prior point, we should be promoting the EDUCATION related to ALL of these ethnic groups and how they've affected what now makes up America - not banning them. Maybe if this country were more educated we wouldn't have these issues that pit our differences against each other, and make it so easy to polarize the American people.
I'm don't think this applies to universities, only to public primary and secondary schools.
ReplyDeleteI work at ASU and if this applied to us I'm sure the leftards would be rioting.
As it stands, the crypto-marxists are only whining as usual.
"Its" not "it's." It's = it is. Its = possessive.
ReplyDelete>Before you know it they are going to have colored restrooms and water fountains.
ReplyDeleteThe restrooms at the university at which I teach have been painted a variety of colors, and there are water fountains in many places around campus, so your prediction has already come true!
Since you apparently didn't know this, Ward Churchill was a professor at the University of Colorado...NOT Colorado State University. I know we're a small state, but we do have more than one institution of higher learning!
ReplyDeleteCristina,
ReplyDeleteYou said: "I see nothing wrong in being taught to be proud of who you are. For many that can include their heritage, but I don't see how that automatically leads to beliefs that one ethnicity (mine, yours, or anyone else's) is better than another."
Your statement in itself makes sense, except I think you are ignoring reality of where things are today. I think we already pass the point where we need to worry about people not being proud of their heritage. Did you hear the news story of Mexican kids at Live Oak high school in California who demand American kids who dared to wear American flag on Cinco de Mayo to be punished? I am a Chinese immigrant. I am not saying we should tell people to abandon their heritage. But in today's environment, I think the need is more on teaching people on how we, Americans, are the same rather than how we are different.
I am a naturalized LEGAL immigrant. I have zero sympathy for illegal immigrants, I don't care what race/country they are from. I think large majority of people outraged by this law and laws like SB 1070 are illegals. As far as I am concerned, their voice/concern can & should be ignored. I don't care how long they have lived here, it is not for foreigners, especially those who do not respect our laws, to decide what laws/policies we should have in our own country. What makes Latino different from other immigrants (and I am speaking in very general terms), instead of adopting to the life in America, they seem to hold the believe that it is America that needs to adopt to them. If any one needs ethnic sensitivity trainings and educations to learn tolerance, it should be them, not the white people who are, if anything, overly sensitive in today's society.
The fact that many immigrants need to learn to tolerate America (we are not even talking about to love America) says it all about how much things have reversed today.
Justin,
ReplyDeleteI'm not ignoring the reality of where things are today. I'm not "worried about people not being proud of their heritage" and I am aware of the incident at Live Oak High. While I felt those kids had every right to where whatever they wanted (as long as it fell within the school's dress code, of course), I think it was pretty clear those 5 students intended to cause a stir and simply add more fuel to this ethnically-tinged fire.
You said, "in today's environment, I think the need is more on teaching people on how we, Americans, are the same rather than how we are different," and I agree with you wholeheartedly. In fact, if you read my previous post in its entirety, I said if this country were more EDUCATED we wouldn't have these issues that pit our differences against each other, and make it so easy to polarize the American people. However, it's increasingly difficult to recognize the ways we are the same, when we aren't taught the history of how other ethnicities helped shape the America we live in today - their history is almost entirely ignored, plain and simple. And that's where these ethnic studies programs help to fill in that historical void.
You also say that you think that "what makes Latino[s] different from other immigrants [is that] instead of adopting to the life in America, they seem to hold the [belief] that it is America that needs to adopt to them." I hope you realize that it is sentiments like these that helped justify white/black segregation in America - and more importantly, it's simply not true. Sure, there are individuals who may think/feel that way, but the same could be said about ANY ethnic group - I personally know many Jewish, Irish, French and Indian (from India, not American Indian) who feel exactly as you mentioned. To group the "general" Latino population as you did is ridiculous and misleading. That would be like me saying that those who support these laws are "generally" racist, right-wing radicals who only care about keeping a white majority - BUT THAT WOULD ALSO BE WRONG, and for the record, is not what I believe. I think the majority of people outraged by this law (and laws like SB 1070) are Americans who are descendants of immigrants - legal and illegal alike. To, again, make the unfounded assessment that "it's only illegals who oppose these laws, and their opinions don't matter" ignores the fact that this kind of legislation is an attack on ALL ethnic groups in America, NOT just Latinos.
I cannot state enough that this is a country that was/is made up of immigrants. Education is the only way we will be able to overcome this political left/right dichotomy that focuses on our differences and seperates us so easily. Banning educational programs is NOT the way we're going to solve that problem.
Cristina,
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't agree with much of your opinion, you are at least responding with fair & logical arguments, and "worth having a real discussion" with.
When it comes to debate on illegal immigration, it is my believe that large majority of pro-illegal people are either illegal themselves who stand to benefit from pro-illegal policies, or people who simply do not believe American's right to protect its borders. Majority of people on your side hide behind racism to beat off any one who tries to legitimately discuss the issue of the sovereignty of a nation. Illegal immigration is not an issue that has anything to do with race what-so-ever.
Mexicans/Latinos single-handedly made illegal immigration a racial (more specifically, Latino) issule themselves. They are by far the worst offender of US immigration laws, both in terms of the total numbers, and even more offensive to legal immigrants like myself, their sense of entitlement. Mexico stands to benefit the most of all groups from illegal immigration, AT THE COST OF AMERICANS. I can understand why Mexicans (like Calderon) would fight for the "right" of illegals to be in US. I simply cannot understand why Americans (like congressmen applauding Calderon) would stand and support our country being pillaged by these foreign invaders.
I am a naturalized Chinese immigrant. But I think it is only a cliche to say America "is country that was/is made up of immigrants". Tradition/history is not a strong arugment about what the CURRENT policy should be, otherwise we would still be a country of slavery today. Regardless, I think it is fine people should debate about what our immigration policy should be (who, how many, when, etc). What is crazy is that we even need to have a debate on what our policy should be on illegal immigration. The only debates we should have on ILLEGAL immigration (and I stress the word: "illegal") is how we can stop them from coming in in the first place, and how fast we should/can deport those that are already here. We should not need to have a debate on how to provide a path to citizenship, and how much of our resources can be access by them.
I think most of you are missing the real problem with this bill. When I first read it I didn't see a problem. I interpreted it as ensuring that any ethnic studies courses would be open to all students and I was impressed with the lines that specifically inhibit the bill from stopping ethnic studies.
ReplyDelete"THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT...COURSES OR CLASSES THAT INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF ANY ETHNIC GROUP AND THAT ARE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS, UNLESS THE COURSE OR CLASS VIOLATES SUBSECTION A...COURSES OR CLASSES THAT INCLUDE THE DISCUSSION OF CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS OF HISTORY...NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT THE INSTRUCTION OF THE HOLOCAUST, ANY OTHER INSTANCE OF GENOCIDE, OR THE HISTORICAL OPPRESSION OF A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE BASED ON ETHNICITY, RACE, OR CLASS."
Sounds good right? except that "unless the course violates section A." We should ask ourselves who decides what promotes the overthrow of the government or promotes resentment toward a race or class?
"IF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DETERMINES THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL IS IN VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION A..."
It turns out that the interpretation and enforcement of this bill is placed squarely in the hands of one individual, the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is no wonder Tom Horne loves this bill. It gives him the power to rid public schools of his pet peeve ethnic studies without the stumbling block of democratic process.
This means that you can't discuss the ramifications of this bill without discussing the biases of the Superintendent. Even if you support Tom Horne will you support the next "Dictator" of Public Instruction? Ethnic studies programs may only be the tip of the ice berg. What if the next superintendent decides that phrases like "white slave-owners" and "African slaves" promote resentment toward a race or class of people and insists on the ambiguity of just "slave-owner" and "slave?" This would not paint a realistic portrait of events. Or that any mention of our founding fathers' secularism promotes the overthrow of the government? America is after all "one nation under God." Could that argument apply to the teaching of evolution by natural selection?
This is the real problem with HB 2281.
Read Section 1(F): NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT
ReplyDelete7 THE INSTRUCTION OF THE HOLOCAUST, ANY OTHER INSTANCE OF GENOCIDE, OR THE
8 HISTORICAL OPPRESSION OF A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE BASED ON ETHNICITY,
9 RACE, OR CLASS.
Does this negate what the rest of the bill says since anything prohibed above could be considered as a course of oppression?
All this hatred is so disheartening. It is a simple program that teaches students about culture, critical thinking and what makes America AMERICA! Nothing that is written in this bill pertains to the ethnic studies curriculum within Tucson Unified School District. It's funny Left Coast Rebel that on your logo reads "Freedom, Abundance, Responsibility" when you seem to promote none of that and in fact contradict yourself.
ReplyDeleteJust because the word ethnic is attached, everyone assumes "Hey, their teaching our kids to be Mexican and overthrow our America!" NO! There are also Asian and Black American studies, but no one seems to make a big deal about those now do they? But because Mexicans are being educated about their history ALONG with American history, it become a problem all of a sudden. Now tell me, is that just a coincidence?
If Tom Horne or John Huppenthal so much as DARED to remove African American studies, the whole country would riot and the NAACP would be there faster than the time it took to write the bill! Because Latinos do not have a great support system in the U.S they are hushed, taken advantage of and oppressed.
And don't reply to me about Illegal Immigration, this is clearly NOT my argument. I'm tired of political authority throwing around harmful rhetoric that leads the public to create negative images about Latinos.
My heart hurts for America, it hurts for Arizona and it hurts for my people.