Beck:Students “Chanting” In Favor Of Program Were “Revved Up By Former HippieRevolutionaries.”From Beck’s TV show:
BECK: We told you about a story out ofArizona. Andthe top education official said yesterday that the ethnic studies program — you remember, the one we told you about thatcalled for the overthrow of the United States government and had these studentschanting for it because they were all revved up by former hippierevolutionaries. Thesuperintendent said that course violated a newstate law that if they don’t cut the class, they risk losing 10 percent oftheir funding, about $15 million. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 6/16/11]
AZ Schools Chief Declared Tucson Program In Violation Of StateLaw.Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal said that theTucson Unified School District had 60 days to appeal his ruling that thedistrict’s Mexican American studies program violated three of the four criteriain a new state law, to come into compliance with the law. Huppenthal claimed that the program “promotesresentment towards a race or class of people”; “is designedprimarily for pupils of a particular ethnic race”;and “advocates ethnic solidarity instead ofthe treatment of pupils as individuals.” [ArizonaDaily Star, 6/16/11]
Huppenthal’sOffice Commissioned Audit Of Classes In Tucson Program. From a CambiumLearning Inc. audit of classes in the Tucson Unified School District’s MexicanAmerican Studies Department (MASD):
This document constitutes the final reportfor the Curriculum Audit of the Tucson Unified School District Mexican AmericanStudies Department. The Arizona Department of Education, the GoverningAuthority within the scope of its policy-making sanctions, commissioned saidcurriculum audit. [Cambium Learning Inc. Page4, 5/2/11]
Audit Found No Violations Of Criteria That HuppenthalCited.From the Cambium audit:
No observable evidence exists thatinstruction within Mexican American Studies Department promotes resentmenttowards a race or class of people. The auditors observed the opposite, asstudents are taught to be accepting of multiple ethnicities of people. MASDteachers are teaching Cesar Chavez alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. andGandhi, all as peaceful protesters who sacrificed for people and ideas theybelieved in. Additionally, all ethnicities are welcomed into the program andthese very students of multiple backgrounds are being inspired and taught inthe same manner as Mexican American students. All evidence points to peace asthe essence for program teachings. Resentment does not exist in the context ofthese courses.
The majority of evidence demonstrates thatthe Mexican American Studies Department’s instruction is NOT designed primarilyfor pupils of a particular ethnic group. As previously indicated, every currentcourse syllabus states; “At the core of this course is the idea that ALL peopleshould not be required to give up their ethnic and cultural traditions in orderto become part of mainstream American society. People have the moral and legalright to maintain the knowledge and identification of their own race,ethnicity, culture, traditions, history, and language. Culture is a majorindicator in the ways in which individuals communicate, seek assistance, seekrecognition, intellectually process and disseminate information and itsignificantly impacts the way individuals learn.”
No evidence as seen by the auditors exists toindicate that instruction within Mexican American Studies Department programclasses advocates ethnic solidarity; rather it has been proven to treat student[sic] as individuals. [Cambium Learning Inc., Pages55, 59-60, and 63, 5/2/11]
AuditConcludes That MASD Classes Raise Student Test Scores, Increase GraduationRates.From the Cambium audit:
There is a positive measurable differencebetween MASD and the non-MASD comparison group of students. Data indicates thatthe graduation rate of students in the MASD program is higher than those not inthe program. High school juniors taking a MASD course are more likely to passthe reading and writing portion of the AIMS [Arizona's Instrument to MeasureStandards] subject tests if they had previously failed those subtests intheir sophomore year. Consequently, high school seniors enrolled in a MASDcourse are more likely to graduate than their peers.
In light of the data collected and reviewed,student achievement is due to the sense of pride that develops through theiraccomplishments with highly effective teachers. Many research-based practicesthat promote enhanced critical thinking and high-order comprehension ofdifficult topics is in place and used on a daily basis. Regardless of program,teacher effectiveness achieves results. Effective practices in combination withthe motivation to learn for a purpose relevant to students create these results.Students learn to be proud, regardless of ethnicity, and are motivated toexceed and excel. [Cambium Learning Inc., Pages49-50, 5/2/11]
AuditRecommends Keeping Program With Modifications. From the Cambiumaudit:
Recommendation 3: Maintain Mexican AmericanStudies courses as part of core curriculum for high school courses: AmericanHistory, American Government, and Literature.
It is with genuine anticipation that thiscurriculum audit report will provide the impetus for all stakeholders toreevaluate and unite in a workable consensus. The audit team is optimistic thatgiven proper attention to the areas requiring improvements in the MexicanAmerican Studies Department and Tucson Unified School District, as cited bythis curriculum audit, the expectation for increased student achievement forall students of all ethnicities will increase over time. The curriculum auditwill provide entry points on how to correct and improve the ethnic studiescurriculum offered from the Mexican American Studies Department. [CambiumLearning Inc., Page 69, 5/2/11]
Audit Found “No Observable Evidence” State Law Was Violated. Fromthe Cambium audit:
During the curriculum auditperiod, no observable evidence was present to suggest that any classroom withinTucson United School District is in direct violation of the law A.R.S.15-112(A). Schools associated with MASD courses promote a culture of excellenceand support a safe and orderly environment conducive to learning. Teacherscollectively are building nurturing relationships with students and work toimprove student achievement and attendance as identified in numerous focusgroup interview sessions. A culture of respect exists and students receiveadditional assistance beyond the regular classroom instruction to support theiracademic learning. As a result, students from many ethnicities are physicallysitting in Mexican American Studies Department classes and are learning thatdifferent perspectives are valuable, that Americans come from many backgrounds,and that being an American means that all people are accepted. If this programwere revised with significant modification and made available to more students,it is likely there would be even more diversity of students within thecourses. [CambiumLearning Inc., Page 63, 5/2/11]
Beck: “This Is A Class That Separated People. … If You WereMexican, You’d Go Into That Class.” FromBeck’s radio show:
BECK: These students are angry,and they are pounding on the — they’ve taking over the council chambers. Andthey’re sitting where the council sits. And they are protesting that the classis being reconsidered. It’s Mexican studies or whatever, and they want torestore it. This is a class that separated people, so you would be — if youwere Mexican, you’d go into that class. If you weren’t, you would stay in theother. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 4/28/11]
Beck Falsely Claimed Program Was Mandatory. Becksaid of the program: “School officials had the nerve to suggest that teachingchildren to try to reclaim American land from Mexico is a kind of aquestionable concept. Not of course questionable enough to cancel the class.No, no, no. Just questionableenough to make sure the class is an elective rather than mandatory.”In fact, the program’s classes are electives. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 5/5/11; Media Matters,5/6/11]
Beck Called Class “Racist,” “Communist,” And”Treasonous.” From Beck’s radio show:
BECK: By the way, before we getinto this, the superintendent in Arizona, in Tucson — that racist, communistclass — that the kids took over the city council –
PAT GRAY (co-host): Don’t forgettreasonous.
BECK: Treasonous. They’reteaching our kids to overthrow the United States government, and that is not anunderstatement. This superintendent has backed down from his stance where hewas going to change the curriculum. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn BeckProgram, 5/19/11]
