UNIDOS Audit: Ethnic Studies Students Call Out Disgraced Tucson Superintendent, Launch All-Night Vigil

Calling out Tucson Unified School District superintendent Dr. John Pedicone’s disgraceful act of going back on his public promise to “fight to the end” to defend Tucson’s Ethnic Studies Program against the “unconstitutional” ban passed by Arizona’s extremist legislature, the Ethnic Studies student group UNIDOS is reporting that the floundering school official told students in a special meeting today that he would not publicly support their acclaimed program.

Members of UNIDOS and their Tucson-wide supporters are now converging on the Tucson Unified School District building this evening for a peaceful all-night vigil.

Arizona state superintendent of education John Huppenthal is expected to release the much-delayed results of a discredited audit, which many observers believe to be the final step in terminating the Ethnic Studies/Mexican American Studies Program despite the TUSD’s own positive assessment and the Program’s unchallenged achievements in raising graduation rates.

Pedicone drew national embarrassment to Tucson for ordering the arrest of city’s elderly Chicana activist and educator Guadalupe Castillo, among others, at a May 3rd TUSD school board meeting for attempting to read excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail.” With an estimated 100 police in riot gear at the meeting, Pedicone’s now infamous mishandling of the board meeting and subsequent interactions with the Latino community and community at-large have been widely denounced. Last week, Ethnic Studies teachers called for Pedicone’s resignation.

In anticipation of Huppenthal’s audit, UNIDOS, which has led the protests against the state’s witch hunt against the Ethnic Studies program, issued their own audit, as well today. Finding that the MAS program has reversed national trends of drop-out rates and low achievement, the UNIDOS concluded: “Students in the program significantly outperform their peers on the state’s standardized AIMS tests.” The UNIDOS audit examined:

1. The Reminder: Mexican American Studies Statistics Show Program Works
2. Student Testimonies
3. Review of Tom Horne and State Superintendent John Huppenthal
4. Review of MAS Director and MAS Teachers
5. Review of TUSD Superintendent and TUSD Board
6. Next Steps: Pledge of Support

The UNIDOS audit also included testimonies from various college-bound students in the MAS program.

“Through Ethnic Studies I have learned to connect better with my culture and understand how I came to be, where I am, and value what i have. Through the classes I have learned how to be involved with my community and how to make positive change to the people around me. I have also built my confidence up when having dialogue with others and learned to critically analyze what is presented to me. Because of these classes, i have chosen to further my education and I will be attending the University of Arizona in the Fall with a Student Excellence Award. If it wasn’t for Ethnic Studies classes i would have probably disconnected from school. I hope others get the chance and the honor of taking these classes in the future.”-Denise Rebeil , Ethnic Studies Class of 2011, Incoming UA Student in Fall 2011

“Ethnic studies played a vital role in my success as both a student and a member of the community. It provided me with the quality education that allowed me to make a University of Arizona an option in my college career. Without Ethnic Studies I wouldn’t have the tools I needed in order to succeed at the university level.” -Gabriel Rocha, Ethnic Studies Class of 2010, University of Arizona Architecture student

“Ethnic studies has taught me to appreciate the diversity of all groups of people and to learn more about the history of my ancestors. The literature class taught me valuable writing concepts that I have used at the university level to pass my English courses.” -Magdalena Murguia , Ethnic Studies Class of 2010, U of A Creative Writing student

“Ethnic Studies opened my eyes to the reality of the world beyond me; a world that needs educated people to lead it and make decisions that will benefit those people who live daily injustices. I realized that it was my duty to go to college and be educated so that I could help and educate others about our world. Ethnic Studies made me realize that on the world scale I really am in a position of power and it’s in my hands to bring positive change to it. I know that my mission in life is to help people. To give a voice to those that don’t have one and this I realized because of what I learned in Ethnic Studies.”-Celina Centeno, Ethnic Studies Class of 2010, U of A Gender and Women’s studies student.

“Ethnic Studies made me a more well-rounded, open-minded student by presenting the history of my heritage and how it contributes to American society today. It did not cause me to feel oppressed or revolutionary, but rather the opposite– I feel more patriotic. The classes taught me to love who I am, embrace my culture and be proud to live in a country where people of all ethnicities have equal opportunity. “-Carmela Bourland, Ethnic Studies Class of 2010, Pima Community College Nutrition Studies student and future curandera.

“Ethnic Studies taught me American History through a refreshing perspective, a Mexican-American perspective. Not only was I able to learn about inspirational people like Cesar Chavez and the ways of ancient peoples who lived on the land we so easily take for granted, but I was most importantly able to learn about love. Ethnic Studies teaches love. At the end of each year it was quite apparent to me that as students we have learned to love the world around us, the people who live in it, and most importantly, ourselves. Love is accepting people or things for who and what they are, but still having a desire to create positive change. Thanks to Ethnic Studies, I am pursuing my education and was just accepted to New Mexico State University!” -Lisette Cota, Ethnic Studies Class of 2011, New Mexico State University Incoming Freshman Fall 2011

In their special meeting with Pedicone today, UNIDOS asked the superintendent to keep his word to the community and defend their acclaimed program. Pedicone reportedly refused to sign any of the below agreements from the UNIDOS request:

He REFUSED to write a public statement, as TUSD Superintendent, articulating opposition to Huppenthal if he finds our Ethnic Studies program out of compliance with HB 2281.

He REFUSED to support our teachers and make sure Lupita Garcia and other forces end their hostility directed against our MAS Staff (program director and teachers) and preserve our teachers.

He REFUSED to publicly recommend that TUSD sue the state for attempting to enforce a law that violates my students’ human right to access students’ culture and history.

He REFUSED to publicly recommend to the TUSD board to fully support the program by creating a resolution defying Huppenthal’s decision, if Huppenthal intends to change or eliminate our program.

He REFUSED to do everything in his power to remove any agenda items from future meetings that may change, weaken or undermine our Ethnic Studies program.

He REFUSED to publicly recommend that NO changes against the program take place whatsoever as there is a teacher’s lawsuit pending in the courts.

He REFUSED to publicly announce a plan to ensure that our Ethnic Studies program is not only preserved, but also expanded so that more students have access to such a successful program throughout the district.