I want to give a special thanks to the Arizona Anti-defamation League (ADL) who has joined in the lawsuit to reinstate the Tucson Unified School District’s Mexican-American Studies program. In addition to the Republican Party creating anti-immigration laws, they have been instrumental in Arizona with their efforts to help us forget our indigenous Chicano history.
From the AZ Central:
The Anti-defamation League gets into the TUSD Mexican-American Studies act
The Arizona Anti-defamation League has joined in the lawsuit to reinstate the Tucson Unified School District’s Mexican-American Studies program.The suit challenges the interpretation of a state law forbidding political indoctrination in the classroom by state schools superintendent John Huppenthal. The law prompted the end of the TUSD Mexican-American Studies program… at least for a time. Now, by order of a federal judge, it appears to be bubbling back to the surface. But, the lawsuit against the state of Arizona goes on. And here is the top rationale given by the ADL for jumping on board:
“All signs pointed to the success of the MAS program including increased graduation rates and high student achievement,” said Bill Straus, Regional Director of ADL’s Arizona office. “Nevertheless, the State enacted and enforced a law with the intent of ending this program. Although state officials tried to sell this legislation as something that would benefit the larger community, a look at the legislative history clearly indicates that the real goal was anything but altruistic.”