The Tucson Unified School District has been given 60 days to adhere to a new state law that no longer allows classes like Mexican-American studies to be taught.
Arizona’s new public school superintendent, John Huppenthal, in agreement with the previous superintendant, has told the Arizona school district that if they fail to comply with the new law he has the power to cut federal funding by 10 percent ($15 million).
Last week, the school board renewed its commitment to teaching the courses to its students, but said they were seeking to find a compromise, as they are not trying to break the law.
Huppenthal believes classes concentrating on specific ethnicities are doing a disservice to students. He believes the students are being taught to see the U.S. and its white population as villains and that they will grow to see themselves as oppressed. Also, Huppenthal says the schools’ curriculum needs to change, as the district is not performing at an acceptable level.
“These minority students are being consigned to a lesser future,” Huppenthal said. “They deserve better.”
