APELC Class Notes
APELCers, we discussed the issue of “ethnic studies” in TUSD high schools and Arizona House Bill 2281 and how these might apply to your revision of free-response 3. The texts we read are linked on your class page, and, in the interest of fairness, here’s the site of teachers fighting the state to keep the program in schools: SaveEthnicStudies.org. You had the opportunity to work on your theses and consider your sources; some of you used your time wisely while many did not.
I wanted to post the following notes on Friday, but the post was already long enough, so here’s more on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a very important SCOTUS decision that appeared to confute certain campaign finance laws and that came up during our discussion about government and trust our last two classes. In fifth period, Alyssa commented on the freedom this decision permitted foreign corporations to fund US elections and sent along this article: “The GOP’s foreign fans”. And today, also in fifth, Emery reported her informal, online research on various southern Arizona candidates including Ruth McClung and Raul Grijalva, and Jesse Gabrielle Giffords and Jesse Kelley, and I’d encourage you to do the same. If you want to know more about the election, and I hope you do, see the 2010 Arizona Voter Guide at AZ Central and Arizona’s page at Ballotpedia.
For more on this election cycle, I hope that you might surf to the NPR series “Message Machine: Fact-Checking 2010 Election Ads”. It’s a great set of reports that attempts to keep both sides honest (if that’s even possible); last Wednesday’s piece, “‘Cookie-Cutter’ Ads Dominate, Coast-To-Coast”, was particularly interesting and amusing.
Check your class page for homework details, and I’ll see you next class.
More on Prop 100
With about two and a half weeks until the May 18 vote, I wanted to post some links to information about Proposition 100, the first being the proposition page itself: 2010 Special Election Ballot Proposition 100 at the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. This is an important resource because this page details many of the arguments for and against the proposition espoused by individuals, communities, organizations, and enterprise. Ballotpedia also has an information page on Proposition 100.
Two groups, one in favor of the Proposition 100 and another against, have dedicated websites that advocate their positions: Yes on 100 and Ax the Tax, Arizona. And finally, here’s a recent story that aired locally: “UA researcher studies prop 100″.
During a discussion in English 9 a couple of weeks ago about the proposition and education financing, Kody asked “What started all this?” The budget situation in Arizona has been particularly problematic for the last several years, and was labeled the worst the country in 2008. But in regards to the immediate issue of financing for education, you might read this story from AZCentral.com: “GOP budget proposal slashes funds for Arizona education”. (Those future economists and policy-makers should examine this phenomenal resource: A timeline of news and stories about Arizona’s budget history for the 2000s. The search can be adjusted for years in question and results desired.)
I really encourage you to inform yourselves.
See you soon.
Civics
News of pending cuts to education financing across the valley and state and the budget decision made by the Amphitheater Governing Board last night engendered rumors and misinformation all over campus Monday, yesterday, and today about possible consequences for the next school year, Proposition 100, and so on. It’s my purpose as an educator in my discipline to help you become critical consumers and producers of language, and to that end, as you’ve experienced this year, I’ve always encouraged students to go beyond their assumptions and critically examine as many sides of an issue as possible to develop informed opinions. So here’re links to two stories from today’s Star that are worth reading if you’re genuinely interested in civic engagement (you may find the readers’ comments worth reviewing, too):
- “For districts across city, it’s a night of bitter cuts”
- “Sales tax hike: job generator or burden on Arizonans?”
And you might also read the April 13, 2010, Governing Board Budget Presentation that details how the proposed-now-accepted cuts will affect you directly.
The current recession, this tax referendum, and the state’s political zeitgeist have provided remarkable opportunities for you to experience robust democracy in action at a local level. You Dorados will be inheriting your birthright, that is, citizen-participation in this nation and this world very soon; indeed, some of you will be voting for the first time in your lives in a little over a month. So inform yourselves and talk all sides of these issues over with the adults in your lives and your friends. It’s in your best interest and you’ll help generate more light than heat.
See you at school, kids.