For example, HB 2281 bans public schools (ostensibly including universities) from teaching classes that are "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group" and that foster "resentment toward a race or class of people."
Gosh...I guess that means that all those Arizona teachers have to TOTALLY revamp their history courses (US, European, and world)...and their art courses...and their music courses...and their English Lit courses...and their science courses...dang.
Check out some of these books for an alternative perspective on history and to see how schools have been "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group" for years:
Howard Zinn--A People's History of the United States
James W. Loewen--Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
James W. Loewen--Teaching What Really Happened
Also in this law, Arizona declares it wants its people to be treated like individuals (H.B. 2281 lines 6, 16)...good thing they have a new immigration law that targets large groups of people indiscriminately and regardless of any INDIVIDUALISM that may exist within those groups. Oh yeah...and the new rules say you can't teach in Arizona schools if you are from "BAHston" or "New Joisey" (The Arizona Department of Education is now screening teachers and suspending/reassigning those that are found to have accents). I get what they are supposedly trying to accomplish with this...but really though?
At least I can narrow down my potential retirement spots. Flagstaff is definitely off my list.
¡Hasta luego!
ps. Gov. Brewer might have signed the thing, but don't forget she serves an electorate and a law doesn't get to her desk without the state legislator
UPDATE (09/27/11): Policy may be ending.
See Also:
White History Month
What is a post-9/11 American?
Grateful for God's Favor
Freedom Writers
I really don't get it. I gather that (1) US schools have been teaching a biased version of history and other subjects for more than a century, (2) the new Arizona law is intended to make them teach history in a fair and balanced way, and (3) you DON'T like the new law?
ReplyDeleteThough fair teaching practices are of course great, this law is in response to and actually targets classes that teach "ethnic studies" courses (as though white people don't have an ethnicity?) that teach important perspectives of minority cultures and give sanctuary from an often caustic educational environment for members of the minority. It is a political thing that came about from a politician who has a problem with a very specific school district:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126782915
The law totally ignores the fact that majority has been creating "resentment toward a race or class of people" for centuries and fails to acknowledge that modern discrimination prevents the privilege of being seen as an individual for millions of people.
Ah, I see. I should have clicked on that first link to the NPR article. That explains a lot!
ReplyDeleteSo, it isn't the law that's the problem, it's the ulterior motive.
Well, maybe some good WILL come of it. Maybe you guys might ACTUALLY revamp those history textbooks.
So "Ethnic Studies" courses are for people of a particular ethnic group? I always had the impression that they were there to help people of OTHER races learn about ethnic groups who were DIFFERENT from them. I guess I still don't understand the US system.
Looking forward to further discussion....
The Cuddly One
Yeah...it's the motive and the potential to use it to do harm.
ReplyDeleteIt WOULD be totally awesome if they turned the law on its head and used it make mainstream schooling more open and fair.
As the classes, really they are for everyone and white people would probably benefit the most, but typically they excuse themselves and it ends up being mostly minority students in the classes. It's a shame. Great comment! Thanks!
Though fair teaching practices are of course great, this law is in response to and actually targets classes that teach "ethnic studies" courses (as though white people don't have an ethnicity?) that teach important perspectives of minority cultures and give sanctuary from an often caustic educational environment for members of the minority. It is a political thing that came about from a politician who has a problem with a very specific school district:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/templates/s...
The law totally ignores the fact that majority has been creating "resentment toward a race or class of people" for centuries and fails to acknowledge that modern discrimination prevents the privilege of being seen as an individual for millions of people.
Yeah...it's the motive and the potential to use it to do harm.
ReplyDeleteIt WOULD be totally awesome if they turned the law on its head and used it make mainstream schooling more open and fair.
As the classes, really they are for everyone and white people would probably benefit the most, but typically they excuse themselves and it ends up being mostly minority students in the classes. It's a shame. Great comment! Thanks!
Dang. Alabama reconsiders immigration law after white person gets arrested: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/28/1040553/-Alabama-reconsiders-immigration-law-after-not-brown-person-gets-arrested
ReplyDelete