As Arizona takes on new legislation to target illegal immigrants, the elimination of ethnic studies courses has become an accompanying issue.
If House Bill 2281 is passed by legislators, all middle and high school courses focused on ethnic groups will be banned throughout the state.
Critics in a Los Angeles Times article have described these classes as promoting “ethnic chauvinism” and the overthrow of the government. The piece also stated that teachers tend to promote ethnic solidarity versus integration into the larger community.
On the other hand, school officials said the courses highlight the history and culture of an ethnic community not normally covered in history classes. By studying minorities’ presence and contributions in U.S. history, students of all ethnic backgrounds can further their knowledge of different ethnic groups.
Tucson High School has the largest Chicano studies program in the nation, and of that district, 3 percent of the 55,000 students take courses in Mexican American studies.
When Tom Horne, the Arizona superintendent of public instruction, wrote a letter to the residents of Tucson, outlining objections to the program, he tried to sound like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in saying people should be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.
However SB-1070 directly targets people because of the color of their skin and HB-2281 is proposing a ban against developing students’ character by broadening their perspective on today’s multicultural society.
If the law is passed, it can be assumed that education in Arizona will regress by almost 60 years.
In not only attacking the immigration system within the state, legislators are attempting to eliminate education intended to promote diversity and tolerance among youth today.
While SB-1070 may be intended to rid the state of illegal immigrants, HB-2281 is trying to erase all culture and history pertaining to ethnic groups, so it may appeared they never existed.