Tucson Unified School District and City of Tucson representatives, among them Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and TUSD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez, went door-to-door this morning to visit more than 300 kids, who have dropped out of school, hoping to persuade them to go back to school.
The two, alongside 46 pairs of volunteers, were out on the streets from 8 a.m. until noon for the second Steps to Success walk.
From a TUSD press release:
The first Steps to Success walk, held in July, visited more than 450 homes and brought 171 children back to school. Sixteen of those have already earned their high school diplomas and received them at Winter Commencement.
“We owe it to our students who have lost hope, who have slipped through our fingers, to reach out and help them find their way back to earning a high school education,” Dr. Sanchez said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to visit more families and meet more young people who need encouragement and who need someone to show them the possibilities.”
“Students need to know the community cares about their success,” said Mayor Rothschild. “Having volunteers come to your door, with staff, ready to get you back on track and enrolled in school, is huge. I’m very happy to participate in this second Steps to Success walk, and I look forward to participating in many more.”
Eugene Butler, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, says the initiative is about reclaiming Tucson’s children and being the inspiration that might help them return to a successful path.
TUSD has set up a Success Center on the Catalina High School campus, 3645 E. Pima Street, for students who wish to get information and assistance in completing their high school education. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
It has been proven that Mexican-American Studies and similar programs to it, in addition to the method to teach these classes, have helped the dropout rate among many demographics, as looked into by this 2012 report from the UA. Something to keep in mind as the district tries to fix its relationship with state education officials over the allegedly-in-violation-of-state-law culturally relevant curriculum.
This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2015.
Gee, and all the time I thought it was the parents responsibility to make sure their children went to school.
Who knew? I understand our mayor is now teaching adults how to cross the street. No wonder nothing gets done downtown, the politicians are too busy being “parents” to do the work of the taxpayers.
So if it’s proven that the Mexican-American studies help the dropout rates among specific demographics, does that mean if TUSD adopts a Radical Islamic program they could recruit up and coming jihadists?
Oh wait, they did take a boatload of money from a group sponsored by the Muslim Brotherhood (Qatar Foundation International) announced on July, 3, 2013.
In fact this is so worthy that US Representative Raul Grijalva said “This is a great opportunity for Tucson schools to lead the way in modernizing their curriculums and meeting the needs of the modern economy,” Grijalva said. “Arabic language and culture are a major global phenomenon, and helping students understand and study it at an early age is both wise and necessary.”
Isn’t it grand that TUSD Board President Adelita Grijalva and TUSD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez conference with communists, socialists, radical chicano separatists and even the infamous domestic terrorist Bill Ayers on how best to indoctrinate your children?
Does it really matter who got the kids back to school, the fact is if we get them back to school they have a better shot at life. We need to be proud of our Mayor and the team of volunteers going door to door.
Some day a business leader or other community leader will be asked about their success and say the turning point in their life was the day the Mayor or a member of his team came to their door and encouraged them to get back in school and continue their education.
Instead of pot-shots, congratulate the Mayor, it is that kind of care for our city that makes him a great asset to our community and state. Thank you Mayor Jonathan Rothschild it is that kind of leadership that makes Tucson a great city.
What a good thing Tucson’s mayor is doing here! And then to read the comments from the rightwing peanut gallery. ugh