Arizona Bans Ethnic Studies in Public Schools

(May 12) -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill Tuesday banning ethnic studies in public schools, less than a month after she signed an immigration bill requiring police officers to ask for proof of residency papers from anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant.

The law, which takes effect Dec. 31, bans classes that are designed for a particular ethnic group, promote overthrow of the U.S. government, foster resentment toward a particular race or class, or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."

Ross D. Franklin, AP

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill banning ethnic studies in schools.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said the bill was written to target a Mexican-American studies program in the Tucson school system, according to the Los Angeles Times. The 14-year-old program offers courses in standard topics like literature and history, but with an emphasis on Latino authors or history. It also has specialized courses with African-American and Native American emphasis.

Approximately 2 percent of the Tucson Unified School District's 55,000 students are enrolled in the program.

Sean Arce, who runs the Tucson program, said that students do better in school when presented with material that includes people who look like them.

"It's a highly engaging program that we have, and it's unfortunate that the state Legislature would go so far as to censor these classes," he said, according to The Associated Press.

But Horne, who is running for attorney general, says the program teaches Latino students that they are oppressed by white people.

"It's just like the old South, and it's long past time that we prohibited it," Horne told the AP.

The bill leaves it up to the state Board of Education or superintendent to decide whether a school violates the law. A school that does not comply could lose 10 percent of its state aid each month, and school districts can appeal the finding.