State Rep. Bob Thorpe, a Flagstaff Republican, has introduced three education-related bills at the Arizona Legislature that target social justice courses, and DREAMers and have spurred activists springing into action.
One bill died before it was even voted on when House Education Committee Chairman Paul Boyer said he wouldn’t give the bill a hearing, citing a lack of support by Democrats and Republicans alike. HB 2120 would have cut state funding by 10 percent to colleges and universities that offer classes and programs that “promote division, resentment or social justice toward a race, gender, religion, political affiliation, social class or other class.”
Two more bills that have activists gearing up for a fight are HB 2260, which would prohibit students living in dorms from registering to vote, and HB 2119, which would withhold state funding from colleges that offer in-state tuition to so-called DREAMers, or undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors.
HB 2260 and HB 2119 had yet to be scheduled for a committee hearing as of press time.
The bill targeting social justice courses was meant to expand upon a 6-year-old bill that resulted in Tucson Unified School District eliminating their Mexican-American studies program. According to supporters of the law, the program fell into the category of classes that teach “resentment toward a race or class of people.” That law’s constitutionality is being challenged in court.
Thorpe, who declined an interview request from Tucson Weekly, told Capitol Media Services that classes and programs like “Whiteness and Race Theory” at Arizona State University and a “privilege walk” sponsored by the University of Arizona divide people and create resentment, but educators and activists disagree.
Equality Arizona, a statewide LGBT advocacy group, put out a press release calling for people to oppose the bill. These types of classes and programs don’t teach resentment, they teach history from a different cultural perspective, said JP Martin, one of the group’s members. He also thinks learning to see from another’s perspective makes us kinder.
Another group that put out a call to action was the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, a trans-advocacy group. When taught correctly, these classes shouldn’t create resentment, said Abby Jensen, vice president and general counsel for SAGA.
“One of the purposes of school, especially public education, is to teach our students, our youth, to live in the world,” she said. “Part of the ability to do that is an awareness of our society—the way things are, and sadly, that includes the fact that there is still racism and sexism and homophobia and transphobia.”
Mexican-American studies at Arizona colleges may have been affected by such a bill. Those classes teach about social justice issues as well as health and educational disparities, culture, history and contributions of the Mexican-American community to the U.S.
The bill was unclear and even contradicted itself, said the head of the UA Mexican-American studies Anna O’Leary. But some opponents fear Thorpe will rewrite the bill and try to get it passed again.
“When students come to universities, they come here for a reason. They come to learn about different perspectives and different ideas,” O’Leary said. “This is what they paid for. They paid to be challenged and to understand and work through those challenges to be better thinkers, to be an informed electorate, people who won’t be led astray by lies or false premises.”
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2017.
You mean like global warming?
What’s like global warming?
The hot air coming out of your ass which you are trying your damnest to disguise as actual commentary?
Try again, but make sure to clear the room first.
I used to think they came to college to get an education to secure a quality career. But now you say they come to learn about different perspectives? And to be challenged. Are you sure they know?
As they said in the movie, Stalag 17, “Are yuz indoctrinated, Are yuz good little Nazis?” Ja vol, mein Fuhrer Thorpe, we ist all indoctrinated. In Trumposity. One Trump is enough there Bob.
Republicans across the nation and in DC continue to take away rights from the people. They offer nothing constructive for America. so they trash it
“HB 2260, which would prohibit students living in dorms from registering to vote”
In what kind of fracking world are we living in, using whose fracking logic, that takes away the right to vote for students living in dormitories?
Let me guess, the Repugnicans are trying to prevent out-of-state students, who might be registered in another state, from voting twice — which is already against the law EVERYWHERE you fracking morons!
When will you get it through your thick, blood-flow restricted, red “Make America Great Again”
hat-wearing heads that the only people committing voter “fraud” are you guys trying to take every opportunity to restrict voters’ rights in America.
“Republicans across the nation and in DC continue to take away rights from the people.”
Which ones have already been taken?
Republicans are playing a “forest” game with this strategy of floating a bunch of bad bills, in the expectation that one or two will eventually pass, even if in watered-down form. Too many of their opponents are perceiving it as a “trees” game and are going to exhaust themselves by shouting in the streets and getting into a lather over each one. This is what the Repubs want, because they know if they can force a bill into law that even they know is bad, it will take lots of money and time and effort on the part of their opponents to file lawsuits to challenge those laws.
Marching/”raising consciousness” is fine, but one’s efforts would be better spent calling the offices of your reps/senators and giving them a hot ear, and also donating to groups like the AZ Center for Law in the Public Interest, the state chapter of the ACLU, the Sierra Club – all of whom have fought the legislature in court, often successfully.
Although I appreciate the idea of using the system and keeping things “civil”, contemporary Republicans have shown again and again they will use any means necessary to maintain and gain power.
The problem with contemporary Democrats is they are too tied up in their existential dilemmas and polarizing political correctness to realize that the existence of laws, human rights, justice, facts and science DO NOT EXIST for Republicans. How many more gun fights are the Democrats going to show up to armed only with a plastic spork?
The American people deserve better than these two bloated holdovers that have transmogrified and devolved into sad — and dangerous — puppets of corporate and special interests.
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
— John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
What a confused state you live in. Just last night I listened to Democrats state that they have “become the party of the poor and the wealthy, and thereby have lost the middle class.”
Where can you fit in?
The Ninth Circuit Court is now twisting in the wind as they have decided to legislate from the bench rather than interpret and uphold the USC. The next stop on that tour will be to split the Ninth up and take away their power.
Should have stuck to their oath. Career over.