In case you’ve missed it there have been a number of news items out of the State of Arizona the last week or so. Last week Governor Jan Brewer signed AZ SB 1070, a controversial bill that allows for individuals to be detained and questioned about their immigration status. Critics have warned that this amounts to little more than racial profiling and a violation of civil rights. Some activists have called for a boycott of the state in order to show their displeasure with the law which will take affect in 90 days.
Just yesterday the Arizona Legislature passed a law that makes it illegal for schools to have ethnic studies programs or courses. Now there are some items in the bill that probably make sense to include:
-courses shouldn’t advocate for the overthrow of the government;
-promote resentment to a race or class of people.
But the measure also outlaws courses based upon the following:
-courses that advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of people as individuals;
-courses that are designed for a particular ethnic group
The law does include provisions for Native American students (because there are federal laws that AZ must comply with) and courses based upon academic potential or English proficiency.
The big question is how do these laws affect the educators and students in Arizona and what type of impact it will have on the educational system. Do these laws amount to a form of racism or forced assimilation? Is this the right path, the future of education in the United States? How will it impact future students and the future role of higher education? Does it impact you?
We’d love to hear your feedback on these issues so feel free to comment. You can also listen to University of Arizona students speak about AZ SB 1070 and how it affects them and their communities on cnn.com. It’s a great piece with news and thoughts directly from those impacted.
You can read AZ SB 1070 that deals with immigration issues here.
You can read HB 2281 about ethnic studies courses and programs here.
