Ariz schools' ethnic studies program ruled illegal

Associated Press ^ | 12/28/2011 | JACQUES BILLEAUD

[Happy Valley Dude]

PHOENIX (AP) — An administrative law judge ruled Tuesday that a Tucson school district's ethnic studies program violates state law, agreeing with the findings of Arizona's public schools chief. Judge Lewis Kowal's ruling marked a defeat for the Tucson Unified School District, which appealed the findings issued in June by Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal. Kowal's ruling, first reported by The Arizona Daily Star, said the district's Mexican-American Studies program violated state law by having one or more classes designed primarily for one ethnic group, promoting racial resentment and advocating ethnic solidarity instead of treating students as individuals. The judge, who found grounds to withhold 10 percent of the district's monthly state aid until it comes into compliance, said the law permits the objective instruction about the oppression of people that may result in racial resentment or ethnic solidarity. "However, teaching oppression objectively is quite different than actively presenting material in a biased, political and emotionally charged manner, which is what occurred in (Mexican-American Studies) classes," Kowal wrote. The judge said such teaching promotes activism against white people, promotes racial resentment and advocates ethnic solidarity. Huppenthal has 30 days to accept, reject or modify the ruling. If he accepts the judge's decision, the district has about 30 days to appeal the ruling in Superior Court. "In the end, I made a decision based on the totality of the information and facts gathered during my investigation — a decision that I felt was best for all students in the Tucson Unified School District." Huppenthal said in a written statement. Messages left for a district spokeswoman Tuesday night weren't immediately returned. In the past, district officials have said they can't afford to the financial hit that Huppenthal's decision would bring.

[businessprofessor]

Thank you Russel Pearce! One small baby step against the racism of racial preferences and hate speech.

[JPG]

Raul Grijalva just reached for the Pepto-Bismol.

[martinidon]

Can we also ban other useless degrees in Colleges like Woman and Ethnic studies

[The_Media_never_lie]

Ethnic studies = grievance factories

[The_Media_never_lie]

Ethnic studies = grievance factories

[The_Media_never_lie]

Ethnic studies = grievance factories

[Hodar]

Can we also ban other useless degrees in Colleges like Woman and Ethnic studies

Back when Motorola was a company - before inept managment killed it - inept management created a series of classes that everyone was REQUIRED to take. Among them was "Women, Minorities and the White Male". Guess who was to blame for every ill that has ever plagued society? I signed the attendance sheet, and went home 'sick'. Got credit for the class, and spent the day doing something productive. Washed my car, went to a movies, and watched some TV at home.

[yarddog]

I am waiting for the Justice Dept. to file criminal charges against the administrative law judge.

[mtrott]

Wow, what do you know!! A judge who actually seems to have some concept that our rights are individual, not group rights. And that it is not acceptable to discriminate against or seek to marginalize whites.

[Mr Rogers]

Excellent news, but TUSD & Tucson will raise taxes if need be to fund an appeal. No matter how many bananas a republic has, it won’t be more corrupt and dishonest than Tucson.

[Mr Rogers]

“But TUSD board president Miguel Cuevas told KGUN9 News, “At this point we will review the direction of the administrative law judge. We believe that we are in compliance with this law, and we will take whatever path is necessary.”

“Richard Martinez, the attorney for plaintiffs in that case, told KGUN9’s Kevin Keen Tuesday evening that in his ruling, Judge Kowal did not examine whether the state law regulating ethnic studies is constitutional. Martinez said that is an issue in the federal case.”

http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/136287308.html

“The last time a decision regarding ethnic studies was left up to the board there were massive protests, particularly the night students chained themselves to chairs, forcing the cancellation of the meeting, delaying a major decision.”

http://www.kvoa.com/news/judge-rules-ethnic-studies-classes-violate-state-law/

[Signalman]

Time to flunk ethnic studies:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2823086/posts

[discostu]

TUSD hasn’t had a tax increase passed by the people in decades. Even when Amphi and SUSD get boosts passed in the same election, we’ve learned the lesson on TUSD.