Arizona De-Balkanizes Public Education: Out With Ethnic Studies

The Arizona legislature is on a roll.  First, requiring that presidential candidates submit proof of eligibility in order to get their names on the ballot; second, enforcing the immigration laws left unattended by the Feds; and now, making it illegal for public schools to teach ethnic studies.  You may wonder why.  With respect to the latest bill, Arizonans have justifiably come to the conclusion that by teaching narrowly focused ethnic studies, educators are balkanizing the American people. Finally, at least one state plans to loosen the shackles of literal segregation by focusing on shared values rather than our differences. And to that I say, Hallelujah!

Arizona Legislature Passes Bill Banning Ethnic Studies Programs

After making national headlines for a new law on illegal immigrants, the Arizona Legislature passed a bill Thursday that would ban ethnic studies programs in the state that critics say currently advocate separatism and racial preferences. 

The bill, which passed 32-26 in the state House, had been approved by the Senate a day earlier. It now goes to Gov. Jan Brewer for her signature.

The new bill would make it illegal for a school district to teach any courses that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."

The bill stipulates that courses can continue to be taught for Native American pupils in compliance with federal law and does not prohibit English as a second language classes. It also does not prohibit the teaching of the Holocaust or other cases of genocide.

Schools that fail to abide by the law would have state funds withheld.