New Auditors’ Shock Claim: Tucson Ethnic Studies Program Promotes ‘Peace’
- Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:22pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Tucson high school studetns chain themselves to desks to protest changing the ethnic studies program.
PHOENIX (The Blaze/AP) — An outside audit praised an ethnic studies program in Arizona as promoting peace and racial harmony, a dramatically different conclusion than that of the state’s schools chief, who says the course promotes resentment toward white people.
The report by the Cambium Learning Group said it found no evidence that the Tucson Unified School District’s program promotes racial tension.
“The auditors observed the opposite, as students are taught to be accepting of multiple ethnicities of people,” according to the 120-page report. “Teachers are teaching Cesar Chavez alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi, all as peaceful protesters who sacrificed for people and ideas they believed in.”
(Watch the students chain themselves to desks in protest of changing the program)
(Read shocking excerpts from the curriculum)
(See pictures of the riot police at the second meeting)
(Watch board members react to curriculum excerpts being read aloud)
(Tucson superintendent caves to the pressure)
The assessment comes days after Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal determined the program to be in violation of a new state law that says classes cannot advocate ethnic solidarity or promote ethnic resentment. In an announcement Wednesday in which he cited the audit, Huppenthal gave the district two months to make changes or face losing 10 percent of its annual state funding – or about $15 million.
Huppenthal told The Associated Press on Friday that he thinks the classrooms were warned that the auditors would be there and that the findings weren’t an accurate depiction of the program.
“We reject totally what they observed,” Huppenthal told The Associated Press. “We disagree that it was in fact an audit. We disagree with those findings being representative of ethnic studies classes.”
Supporters of the ethnic studies program have called challenges to the course attacks on Arizona’s Hispanic population.
Critics say the program demonizes white people as oppressors of Hispanics.
The battle over the Tucson program escalated as Arizona lawmakers passed the nation’s most stringent – and controversial – anti-illegal immigrant legislation.
Following a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice, a federal judge blocked the law’s key provisions – including requirements that police use “reasonable suspicion” as grounds to question a person’s immigration status. Arizona has sued the federal government over the ruling and the fight seems headed for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Critics say the law unfairly targets Hispanics. Supporters say the legislation is necessary to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing into the country along Arizona’s border.
Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed both the ethnic studies law and the immigration law in a two-month period last spring. Both were heavily supported by Republicans including Tom Horne, who was the schools superintendent at the time and had been pushing the ethnic studies measure for years.
Huppenthal, also a Republican, voted in favor of the ethnic studies law as a state senator and ordered the audit when he took over as schools superintendent.
The audit said that “all ethnicities are welcomed into the program” and that “all evidence points to peace as the essence for program teachings.”
“Resentment does not exist in the context of these courses,” auditors wrote.
However, Huppenthal said Wednesday that the reviewed course materials violate the new law because they “present only one perspective of historical events – that of the Latino people being persecuted, oppressed and subjugated by the ‘hegemony’ – otherwise known in this material as white America.”
Spokesman Andrew LeFevre said Friday that the auditors gathered information during “limited classroom observations and onsite interviews,” rather than from a profusion of text materials collected by a separate, intensive investigation by the education department that spanned several months.
LeFevre said that Huppenthal “used the totality of the information and facts gathered during the monthslong investigation to make his final determination.”
Among the program materials that Huppenthal said were in violation of the state law included passages such as:
“We will now see the real forces behind this so-called ‘manifest destiny.’ We will see how half of Mexico was ripped off by trickery and violence,“ according to a quote from a source called ”American History from a Chicana/o Perspective,” provided by the department.
“In the process of being colonized, we were robbed of land and other resources,” according to the quote. “We were murdered and lynched.”
The Blaze obtained copies of some of the shocking handouts back in April:
Auditors reported that the materials they looked at during their visits did not violate the law, but said that the district’s governing board should start looking at supplemental materials for the program and decide whether to approve them. The board currently only approves “basic text materials,” the audit said.
The auditors said they visited every school in the district with ethnic studies classes and sat in on them in pairs. They said all visits were unannounced, and that “there was no resistance whatsoever to the audit team.”
Tucson Unified School District Superintendent John Pedicone said Friday that the district board already is working on providing more oversight for course materials.
He and the board met Friday and decided to request a judicial hearing on the matter to get clarification about why Huppenthal says the program is illegal and what the district needs to do to fix the situation.
He said Huppenthal’s findings “defy the audit he himself commissioned.”
“At this point we don‘t believe we’re out of compliance, and the burden of proof is on the state superintendent,” he said. “You’re looking at a fairly significant audit that took place over the course of three weeks. I think you have to take that to heart.”
Pedicone has said that the district can’t afford to take a $15 million financial hit. “It’d be devastating.”
Sixty percent of the district’s 13,000 students are Hispanic, and 647 students in all were in the ethnic studies program last school year. About 90 percent of the program’s students are Hispanic.






















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Comments (93)
momsense
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:56pmAnyone for mandatory eye exams or brain scans? They’re sorely needed
Report Post »JamieWalker725
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:44pmE Pluribis Unum? Sadly, most kids (most adults too) Dont know it, don’t understand it, and don’t care.
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:44pmSounds like the audit was a sham. Wonder what an audit of the auditors would reveal? Stand fast, Mr. Superintendant.
Report Post »west1890
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:53pmSure it was a sham. They had advance notice of when the audit would occur, auditors spent less than 30 minutes in classes they did visit, and auditors were provided carefully selected written materials. It was a dog and pony show.
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:58pmAlso sounds like the guy in charge of the audit, Dr, Steve Gallon, has a dubious pedigree:
Report Post »http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2011/03/dr-steve-gallon-of-cambium-learning-group-to-lead-investigation-of-mexican-american-studies-program.html
west1890
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 3:37pmGood find Wordweaver! Thanks!
Report Post »Smug
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 4:05pmWORDWEAVER, Read your link. This whole thing stinks to high heaven. Someone needs to investigate the investigators………MSSMUG
Report Post »west1890
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:26pmSo interesting that one of the TUSD School Board members is Adelita Grijalva, daughter of Rep. Raul Grijalva (D. Az) who is co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:22pmCambium Learning Group is listed on NASDAQ, and just a few days ago someone took a 780K options position with this company. Under CLG’s Investor Relations it has a page“Corporate Governance”. There report would be a benefit to theor own bottom line, if they were to get some recognition from their recommendation, and someone has already done in the options market. In light of how well bundliers have done in the Obama administration. This is another backdoor way to make out like a bandit.
Report Post »mrsnick
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:17pmWhy cant they stop hating the country there all dying to get into?
Report Post »mramise
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:13pmThis socialism will develop in all its phases until it reaches its own extremes and absurdities. Then once again a cry of denial will break from the titanic chest of the revolutionary minority and again a mortal struggle will begin, in which socialism will play the role of contemporary conservatism and will be overwhelmed in the subsequent revolution, as yet unknown to us. …….Alexander Herzen
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:10pmWell, that’s just dandy and just the opposite of JESUS CHRIST WHO said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword….” Matthew 10.
They have slain themselves again.
Yay, GOD. Keep on uncovering the enemy. We bless YOU, GOD, and we thank YOU.
Report Post »jdog777
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:05pmFortunately… there is so much wrong with TUSD, the State will have little problems taking over the District if they want to. Just cancel the Marxist indoctrination and let the cards fall where they may. The radicals will take to the street and do what they do…. We need to do what we do and protect the merits of our Constitution and punish these people for their criminal behavior. This is a “call-out” the the high school aged kids of TUSD…. If you love your Nation and your Constitution, enroll in these classes with your recording equipment and kill this weed at its roots.
Report Post »HanginOn
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:02pmWhoever this group is, THEY DON’T MATTER! Everyone knows “ethnic studies” are pure racism and biased against whites. Groups like this “Cambium Learning Group” are nothing more than apologist ANTI-WHITE racist groups themselves. Enough of stupid people trying to pull pretzel logic to protect their own nefarious agenda! We aren’t buying this BS! They will NOT be tolerated!
Report Post »mramise
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:02pmThere has been a misunderstanding they do not intend to have their views known, yet. Please move along nothing to see…………..
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:01pmThis program only makes sense if you think of those people living in the area with hispanic Surnames not as US Citizens but as a conquered people living with but apart from the mainstream. I believe that the vast majority of Americans with Hispanic last names are proud to call themselves AMERICANS.
Report Post »mramise
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:58pmNothing to see please move along………….Nothing to see pplease move along…………
Report Post »sandy21957
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:55pmI‘m curious about the Cambium Learning Group’s political leanings. Are they aligned with Bill Ayers?
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:51pmthe actions of these students spoke louder
Report Post »than anything anyone can say about the cirriculum…
now you all be sure to feed the nice anchor babies all the pablum
they feel they deserve on the taxpayers dime and
watch this administration and their progressive lefty loonies
turn this country into the third rate, third world country
they have been instilling over these past 6 decades!
This did not happen overnight…
the third rail of education is
“values and clarifications” in lock step with “situational ethics”…
If you have any reason to doubt this
look at the standing of the educational system to any other country!
It used to be second to none
now it is …..what education?
the ignorance of our graduating students and
their frustrations with the system is well established and
yet we still have it full on and running…
the dummying down of America!
the sunset of greatness is just on the horizon!
compatriotshonor
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:50pmJohn huppenthal has an up hill battle here. Good luck to you.
Report Post »I would start with looking into the NEA, the national teachers association and find out why they allow these kind of people that teach anti-colonialism and racial austerity measures, to continue to be appart of thier teachers union. Is the teachers union are now the excepted neo-progressive union movement of re-indoctrination of propagandistic curves of basic education the right true move to keep our country uneducated to fall defenseless to future overthrownments, or, are you the saving entity of renewed spirit in the name of liberty the parents in this couuntry are looking for, keeping our children safe from psycological and sociological induced evil.
I and all the parents in this country want to know, what you are now, not who you are, because it seems you have failed.
Rfunk
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:48pmObserver how the students behaved when the course was cut? If this was so vital to them why could they not start a club privately to study this? The issue here is more about the fact that this class is being funded by the government. No moneys should be forked into this. No course like this should be taught in a public school. These are view points that you are welcome to subscribe to on your own after doing “your own” research. By the way…….Isn’t it interesting their parents allowed this? I would have grounded my child forever for behaving that way in a classroom. When is the last time we saw a group of kids behave this way when prayer, the bible, the Ten commandments, and other Christian items were outlawed from our schools?
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:19pmDo you really think the Adults who foment this work for nothing. Rabble Rousing is their stock and trade it’s their shtick, it’s how they pay the rent and put food on the table.Off campus is to unpredictable, you have to find a place to meet maybe pay some rent and sometimes 2 people will show up. It’s better/easier to just have the meeting in a open classroom after school.
Report Post »Buck_Ofama
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:48pmWhat a bizarre, unreal society we’ve become! Night is day, good is evil, false is true. An Alternate Reality of non-facts based on fantasies and wishes is becoming a competing model to explain reality.
We can’t muster the will to enforce our own laws and reject the false claims of illegals and their immigration hustlers.
Meanwhile, everything our fathers fought for in WW2 is slowly being killed off and replaced. Too bad our fathers aren’t here to defend what they fought for. Instead, a bunch of simps called the “Baby Boomers” is all thats left. What a lousy legacy for 200 years of an American Republic.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:04pmIt’s Called NEWSPEAK
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:47pmWho did the audit? Bill Ayers or Van Jones
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:42pmThey promote the same “peace” Islam does.
Report Post »Shellback
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 3:07pmOr did they misspell “piece” like the routine in the Mel Brook’s movie “To be or not to be”. They just want a little piece of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado.
Report Post »oldeagle101
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:37pmThese students should be learning American history…not this garbage.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:35pmThe invaders need to be treated as such………. this is a attack on our country
Report Post »suzy000
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:33pmWell it would be nice to say that above all, these students are STILL Americans…or are they? Come to think of it….how many are actual US citizens?
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:32pmThat’s a whole lot of anchor babies for the US taxpayer to support! How many more billions do we need to spend before we get rid of the real invaders?!
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:57pmdon’t tell them anything, they won’t know anything. refuse to pay for that, by any means possible , i/e earn enough that your exempt. life is still good here in the black market.
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on June 19, 2011 at 1:31amIf you want to know history from an Mexican perspective, enroll in a school in Mexico. If you enroll your child in an American school to take advantage of the freedom therein, then teach them the history that made freedom possible! It DID NOT come from the Mexican government! It DID NOT come from America REPRESSING the Mexican people (the Mexican government did that). Our freedoms are based on our individual, and when necessary, our collective ability to maintain them. We got lazy. The majority of Mexicans don’t want America to turn into a Mexican state. The minority who are dependent on the government tit are going, “Yeah, I have a better life than I did in Mexico, and so does my family. AND I DON”T HAVE TO WORK!!“ America was never meant to be a ”welfare state” . It was always “The Land of Opportunity”. We need to bring it back to opportunity and do what needs to be done to people who fail. Let them fail.
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:30pmThe 5th Column of Auditors says, no problem here.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:42pmIndeed.
We see the progressives and socialists along with their influence at the worst (or for them their best) in seeking to undermind all that America stands for…I have to wonder now if Obama and his cronies seek to cause a war of aggression with Mexico or a civil war along ethnic lines for the ‘event’ they will need to crack down completely?
Report Post »oldasdirt
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:46pmTell the lie long enough,it will be belived.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:47pm“Teachers are teaching Cesar Chavez alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi, all as peaceful protesters who sacrificed for people and ideas they believed in.”
Are they teaching about Washington, Adam, Franklin .. etc … no I don’t think so … typical INDOCTRINATION of children countinues thoughout or PUBLIC schools … please people save your children HOME SCHOOL!
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:48pmThey must have hired the same people who say Islam is the religion of peace.
Report Post »Thomas
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:54pmThose Auditors need to be investigated.
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:54pmlisten children all the mexicans trying to over throw the us is a peacefull exercise of great magnitude, we commend you, now go vote, for poncho of course. Villa for prez. crips in congress and bloods in the senate. yea, eeeeee!!! (Yea should sound like dean.)
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:00pmYou know when they put people on the trains in Germany, they were told they would be reunited with there families, and they were.
Report Post »Bear
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:02pmMy tax dollars should go to U.S. History,Math,Reading and the Sciences,period! If you want to learn about the Country you LEFT,, then you have parents to give you this heritage and your own free time,,not on my U.S. tax dollars! Where are the German ethnic classes,the Japanese,French,Indian,Australian,Irish ect…Are we saying the Hispanic parents are to stupid to give their kids a knowledge of their heritage but every other ethnic group can? Look how bad the Irish were treated but they are teaching their children to Love America not over throw it, and are not using tax dollars to teach their kids about their families past! Sounds to me like its a way to mobilize all the Hispanics and ethnic groups ( plus young white female,, America haters) to have a group hug on hating America and to join the Socialist Movement,,Your a bunch of Stupid,Liberal,Hippie Morons!
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:03pmsorta like Islam is the religeon of peace–as long as the infidels submit
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:05pmJust proves what ICLEI’s agenda is for our country……unfortunately we ALL have bought into their propaganda. Left, Right, Democrat, Republican, Hispanics, Blacks, Whites………right now we look like a bunch of stupid lemmings!! ALL OF US!!!
Report Post »(When you read Numbers 22: you see everyone knows that man cannot curse what GOD has blessed!! Translation…no one can take down the United States from outside…….. BUT, if you can get them to turn away from the principles they are to live by, GOD will correct them himself, and they can be destroyed.)
How do you accomplish destroying this country……turn everyone against each other!! Left against Right….Black against White….Hispanics against everyone else…..A house divided against it’s self CANNOT stand!!!
All of us need to realize our hands are not clean either…….we’ve been played!!!!!
The only way we will survive is to: Hebrews 13:1 ¶ Let brotherly love continue.
TomFerrari
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:08pmActions speak louder than words – look at how the students behaved / acted out when they were told their hatemongering class was being cancelled.
Proverbs 22:6 “raise up a child in THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, and when he is old he will not depart from it”
The oppposite is also true, if you raise up a child in the way he should NOT go, when he is old he will not depart from it either.
WE MUST TEACH OUR CHILDREN WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG!
This sectarian humanism and hate-mongering is destorying our children and our future!
We MUST NOT SURRENDER to the political pressures of special interests and activists and their hate-mongering.
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:30pmMLK and Gandhi I get, but how in the hell does someone like Chavez who has brutally assaulted not only his people rights but physically end up in the same category as them? Independent auditor my rear.
Report Post »iheartusa
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:54pmYesterday, my 8 year old nephew, who is in a dual language program at school (English-Spanish) made an outrageous statement to me. He said “Did you know the United States stole California from Mexico?” I said WHAT? He said, “there was a greedy Mexican president who sold it to the U.S. real cheap and kept all the money for himself”! I was floored! Who told you that? He said “My teacher, Mrs. Bueno”! Of course, I gave him the TRUE history lesson and told him next time he is told this lie, to ask that person if they know what the 1848 Treaty of Gualalupe Hidalgo was about. Folks, this happened in Washington State, about as far from the Mexican border as you can get! There are MANY people out there perpetuating this lie and MANY more who believe it. If you want to make a difference in our ridiculous immigration policies, please go to http://www.numbersusa.com and join up and get involved!
Report Post »chazman
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 2:15pmWhat the duece, man …
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 2:27pmThe outside Auditor could also be the same company that sells not very successful businesses, the plaques that are engraved with, voted best business of the year for $25.00
Report Post »HEARDENOUGHCRAP
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 2:49pmThey are allowed to SUBSTITUTE this garbage for AMERICAN HISTORY? The fact is, this IS the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and THEY are on US soil. Those that came here ILLEGALLY, have joined those that believe THEY have been victimized, (commonly known as riding the gravy train), and expect….no DEMAND their “rights”. What do they believe their “rights” are? Among them is the “right” to FREE High Speed Internet; spacious, modern, FURNISHED homes; medical care; and post secondary education. Just about EVERYTHING those of us that WORK for a living have to pay an exorbatant rate for, they DEMAND for FREE. If they don‘t want to learn the TRUTH about the country they’re raping, they don’t HAVE to stay here. LOVE it or LEAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That also goes for the Obamanation!)
Report Post »NOKOOLAIDDRINKER
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 2:58pmI just looked up the Cambian Learning Group (the “auditors” used for the study). According to Wikipedia the are an educational software and hardware company, concentrating on math and science.
I can’t see where that makes them an expert in this area or qualifies them to perform the study. Don’t know who owns them or whether they have a hidden agenda. But I do question their judgement as to the evidenced ciriculum. It is obviously seditious in content and nature, and any true American can see that.
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 3:26pmI don’t believe that, either way the city proved that it broke the law and must be thrown out: http://tiny.cc/kzm6w
Report Post »MiketheTrucker
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 3:29pmCan we “transplant” Tucson next to Havana?
Maybe we could include the states of Kalifornia, NY, OR, WA, MI, and the D.C.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 3:59pmAn independent auditor reviewed the material. How much did that cost? If the superintendent who is payed loads of money to decide these matters is not allowed to do his job, than what is the point. Progressives have snaked their way into every part of our children’s education. It is time for more charter schools that have the freedom to teach American values. Support John Kline in his efforts to make way for more charter schools.
Report Post »DirectlyUnPCman
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 4:18pmJust start shooting them. You know it will be what we have to do in the end, if we chose to live on.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 4:26pmWHO ARE THESE AUDITORS? What are their names and where do they live? Do they even live in a border town. Doubt it.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
kelly
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 4:41pmSnowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:42pm
“I have to wonder now if Obama and his cronies seek to cause a war of aggression with Mexico or a civil war along ethnic lines for the ‘event’ they will need to crack down completely?”
That’s a good point many are wondering about besides you. Rush thinks Obama is puposely trying to destroy the country so he can make it as he wants it into a socialist utopia.
I’m just doubtful this administration understands that creating a collapse of the present system is what many millions are waiting for, because they have regrouping plans of their own and are hoping for civil war.
He would be playing right into their hands. Supposedly this influence reaches into Congress and the Pentagon both.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 5:04pmwow ..what a surprise,a school system that wants to destroy the USA…time to wake up people…last chance in 11/12…
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 7:20pm@ Hifi74, you are thinking of Hugo Chavez, the dictator. They are teaching about Caesar Chavez, the mexican immigrant who campaigned for unionized fruit picking.
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 8:08pmA thoroughly unbiased audit team, right?
Report Post »green_manalishi
Posted on June 19, 2011 at 11:06amKilling white people is peace, now you understand. When a white man , woman or child is socially justified than the killing urges of their opressors are at peace until onother white man , woman or child comes along. Remember Babi Yar.
Report Post »