City Councilwoman Regina Romero Has Opinions on Education, Particularly TUSD’s Deseg Plan

1. I think there is definitely an ethnic pride angle to MAS studies, and given that Latinos make up the majority of students in TUSD, it seemed that these classes could make the learning environment unfriendly to white students. I think some Latinos might think, “good”, whatever it takes to help Latinos achieve. I would have no problem with more expanded sections on Mexican Americans in US history classes (along with others), but certain groups shouldn’t have special classes tailored for them, America is too diverse.

   If whites are a minority in TUSD now, and if white graduate rates fall, would it be OK to have “White Studies”, beyond US History, but which imply that whites have been victimized by affirmative action for decades and need a level playing field and special services? Would it be fair to make these classes electives and pass around the word that Latino classmates are unwanted in these classes?

   Nobody would tolerate white supremacist literature in TUSD, and so if a MAS book is arguing for resentment and political action against another . . . doesn’t seem different to me.

   There are good parts to MAS, getting kids graduated, but that doesn’t mean that we should ignore classes which teach resentment and to see everything through the lens of racism. Asians face racism as well, and yet achieve at very high levels, without special classes. In the end, we have to decide that we are all Americans, and we should take the same classes and speak the same language, english. Italians, French, Germans, gave up their language, and some of their culture to be Americans, in part by learning English which is becoming the international language. (I speak Spanish almost fluently, but realize that Latinos who don’t know English are disadvantaged in the US and abroad. Kids in Europe almost ALL learn English, most via watching television.)

2. Ms. Romero takes us one step closer to an all-Hispanic Tucson government. To my fellow Americans who invaded this area, perhaps we need to embrace the way things are becoming, or go back to America.

3. Regarding MAS, if it was such a successful program, why not let it prove itself by having it as an elective. If students were truly interested in taking this course, they would take it as an elective. Once it truly proved to be a successful course then implement it as part of the core curriculum. In my opinion, actions like this segregates us more. I am an immigrant myself who came to this country at age 9 and later became a naturalized citizen. I do not agree with the way the program was dismantled but also do not agree with students’ actions and demands.

   Off the subject, in general, in my opinion, it appears that the undocumented are beginning to have more rights than citizens/residents in this country.

4. As for Bilingual education, how is TUSD supposed to service all languages spoken at each school? Why is she segregating only the spanish speaking students when there is a large number of other languages spoken in TUSD? I understand the need to get rid of the 4 hour English classes, but there also needs to be a desire for students to learn English in schools. Spanish speaking students do not see a desire to learn it because of bilingual education, whereas students of other nationalities have to assimilate because they are not given the opportunity to speak their own language. Stop babying some students.

5. MAS was an elective. Some people spout off without knowing any facts, whatsoever.

6. Since the only viable, sustainable FUTURE for Tucson is as a relocalized bio-region encompassing the area from northern Sonora to northern Pima County, I would suggest that ALL students learn and are taught in English AND Spanish!

   Forget the bullsh*t about “nations” — that’s the dying paradigm…

7. I think that Latinos should be integrated into main stream US society. English, when you look at native and secondary learners, is spoke by 1.5 billion people. Spanish is just spoken by about 390 million native speakers, plus 60 million secondary learners. Believe me, everybody in foreign countries wants to learn english, New York and London are the major financial centers, and English is (or has) become the international language, it is spoken everywhere.

   More importantly, English is spoken mostly in the places where Latinos are underepresented, i.e. the halls of power, and businesses around the globe, highly prestigious schools, so you can see why parents of Latinos would like their children to learn english to better their prospects. Vincente Fox, I believe studied at Harvard, and Chinese political leaders send their children to top American schools, such as Harvard and others.

   To give their children the best shot at a good future, wealthy families, and powerful families of politicians around the world aren’t flocking to Mexico to send their kids to school there.

   The history of Mexico is interesting, but there shouldn’t be this presumption upon Latinos part that their culture is somehow superior to American culture, which is much more heterogenous than Mexico. Mexico’s police solve perhaps 10% of homicides, and there is rampant lawlessness . . . immigrants come to the U.S. to start over, not necessarily to simply carve out ethnic conclaves where they don’t feel the need to assimilate.

   There are American Indians, Asians from all different countries, Russian, Europeans, and folks from central/south American countries other than old Mexico. The US should not spend money to cater to one group.

8. um, anonymous- many european children, and plenty of others worldwide, DO learn english in school, as a second or third language- and they start way before secondary school…

9. Man, we need more educators and education specialists on chat boards. This is a lot of hearsay opinion (like school board Hicks& grand wizard Pedicone)… enough! Science (studies) shows that bilingual/bicultural children have healthier (more active, versatile) brains, so why the racism. US schools have taught US “exceptionalism”/”superiority” for decades, no whites ever raised resistance. Now a program reveals Chicano History and culture, makes students feel secure in school, raises their grades, and it is accused of “promoting resentment.” That is backward-thinking. Stop consuming the ignorant hate that racist Republicans feed you! Come on people, do some homework, check your racisms (micro-aggressions towards Mexicans/Latinos) and get with the 21st Century! The MAS program was amazing (as hundreds of education specialists around the nation judged), bring MAS BACK!!!

10. Grand Wizard Pedicone? Why do proponents of MAS so easily categorize opponents as racists, and see everything in racial terms. I would disagree that US schools have taught “exceptionalism” for decades, standard US history books cover the Civil Right struggle, everything, in an academic matter. Here is what some experts (on wiki) have to say about MAS studies.

    ” What is most arresting about critical race theory is that…it turns its back on the Western tradition of rational inquiry, forswearing analysis for narrative. Rather than marshal logical arguments and empirical data, critical race theorists tell stories — fictional, science-fictional, quasi-fictional, autobiographical, anecdotal—designed to expose the pervasive and debilitating racism of America today. By repudiating reasoned argumentation, the storytellers reinforce stereotypes about the intellectual capacities of nonwhites.”

    Doesn’t sound like serious academic study, but more like “feel good” classes that spoon fed ethnic pride to Latino students. Totally inappropriate if white, or asian, or other students had such ethnic pride classes, should be the same for Latinos.

    I agree that Republicans sometimes make racist comments, but MAS folks reject liberals as well, from wiki,

    “A critique of liberalism: CRT scholars favor a more aggressive approach to social transformation as opposed to liberalism’s more cautious approach, favor a race conscious approach to transformation rather than liberalism’s embrace of color blindness, and favor an approach that relies more on political organizing, in contrast to liberalism’s reliance on rights-based remedies.”

    Most everybody has mixed blood (I do), and affirmative action will be made illegal by the Supreme Court, as it has in several states, THAT is the 21st Century where all children are evaluated by the same standards.

11. It’s a good thing nobody is listening to this woman.

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