Arizona schools' ethnic studies program ruled illegal

[The Northerner]

PHOENIX—An administrative law judge ruled on Tuesday that a Tucson school district's ethnic studies program violates state law, agreeing with the findings of Arizona's public schools chief.

Judge Lewis Kowal's ruling marked a defeat for the Tucson Unified School District, which appealed the findings issued in June by Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal.

Kowal's ruling, first reported by The Arizona Daily Star, said the district's Mexican-American Studies program violated state law by having one or more classes designed primarily for one ethnic group, promoting racial resentment and advocating ethnic solidarity instead of treating students as individuals.

The judge, who found grounds to withhold 10 percent of the district's monthly state aid until it comes into compliance, said the law permits the objective instruction about the oppression of people that may result in racial resentment or ethnic solidarity.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2011/12/27/ariz_schools_ethnic_studies_program_ruled_illegal

[COLGATE4]

1. Administrative Law judge is the lowest form of life in the judicial hierarchy.

They are not even required to be attorneys. Look for this to be appealed.

[marmar]

2. Yep. ..... This is pathetic.

[lonestarnot]

12. Stupid fucker racist bastard!

[DeathToTheOil]

3. Arinaziona

Heil Brewer!

[Ptah]

4. Your link is broken.

Here's one from Tucson:

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/education/precollegiate/tusd-s-ethnic-studies-found-in-violation-anew/article_b6785438-c721-55e7-a1c1-feb8f618b233.html

TUSD's effort to appeal a decision that said its Mexican American Studies
program violates state law has failed.

The administrative law judge - Lewis D. Kowal - who presided over the appeal
upheld Arizona school chief John Huppenthal's determination about the program.

Kowal also found that grounds exist to withhold 10 percent of the district's state
aid, which amounts to about $15 million a year, until it can come into compliance.

Kowal did not touch on whether the program was effective, rather his focus was
on whether it promotes racial resentment, is designed primarily for one ethnic group,
and if it advocates for ethnic solidarity.

-----------------

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. This was expected, the Federal challenge will be interesting to watch

Right now it is being fought on procedural grounds and the school district is not a party to it.

[SoapBox]

6. I would like to know more about this "judge"...

It would answer many questions, simply by knowing the affiliation of the judge and does he support Tzar Brewer?

[Ecumenist]

7. I'm not surprised...AT ALL!

Arizona is the most fucked up state I have EVER been to and I've visited family in the deep south. I have NEVER in my life been exposed to such overt racism INCLUDING being pulled over by the INS and having my residency questioned. (I'm african American, albeit a bit exotic looking but black all the same). I have been going to phoenix, actually Goodyear to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and I can well and truly say that I HATE Arizona.

[47of74]

8. I actually breathed a sigh of relief that I didn't get transferred to Arizona

I really didn't feel like living in the same county as Joe "Der Führer" Arpaio.

[Fredge]

9. Why

Would an ethnic studies program be illegal... -.-

[surrealAmerican]

10. because they passed a law against it ...

... a law designed to alienate and oppress minorities. They need to get rid of that law.

[LadyInAZ]

11. I live here...

Arizona is backwards state... allows big companies to hide behind firing workers without just cause, it separates ethic groups in schools thru poor education or miss-informed information... it distributes middle class unemployment to a embarrassing amount under all other states... extreme prejudices in middle class jobs given more to whites then other groups... it doesn’t provided its residence with clean drinking water or proper social services benefits... every resident must buy it... most crimes either go unpunished or basically unsolved... many people who do work in retail have no clue what the product is about... police department is slow to react... sometimes can take hours to show up at a scene... Arizona government system is behind the times... but they think because its on the internet they r with the times... but most country changes don’t take affect here until someone from Washington pressures them to do so... so it doesn’t surprise me of the school system violation... most policies is just... we will do it our way... not the countries way... for most part they get away with it... many people complain about how government and business are ran