The Pros And Cons Of Banning Chicano Studies

Chicano Studies has been taught in schools for many years now but there have been recent debates on whether Chicano Studies should be banned or stay available at schools. Many believe that Chicano Studies has played a beneficial role to student’s success while others strongly disagree. I will be presenting both sides of the issue on whether they are for or against banning Chicano studies classes. I propose that the two sides of this argument might be satisfied with Chicano Studies having regulations in a way that it may not be too liberal and just enough conservative. Chicano studies originated in the late 1960’s and 1970’s during the Chicano Movement. This program was set into place to focus on Mexican-American history in hopes the students

According to the data base form The Struggle for Chicano Liberation states, “The Graduation rates rose well into the 90% and the dropout rates were the lowest it had been in years. Students were excited to be in school and took their education seriously as they went on to bigger and better achievements after graduation” (Pollack 1971). But this program did not come without opposition. In 2011, the state of Arizona started a lawsuit against the school district claiming this ethnic history class was unconstitutional as it was un-American and taught un-American ideas. As students, faculty, and schools are fighting to keep their program or to revoke it, it’s has become an intense debate.

There are many reasons that supporters of Chicano Studies think the classes should stay available to students in schools. Statistically, “out of 100 Chicana and Chicano students who start elementary school, only 46 graduate from high school, eight receive a bachelor's degree and only two earn a graduate or professional degree...Less than one Chicana and Chicano of the 100 earns a doctorate” (Marquez 2006). This statistic is important because it shows the how much Chicano students have struggled in school at every grade level. Compare these

According Tom Horne, the desire to ban the Tucson school district’s Mexican American Studies and other ethnic studies programs in the state is because the program promotes "ethnic chauvinism and racial resentment toward whites while segregating students by race…The job of the public schools is to develop the student's identity as Americans and as strong individuals. It's not the job of the public schools to promote ethnic chauvinism." (Huppenthal 2012). This is important because it shows the violation schools are teaching in Chicano Studies or other ethnic studies classes. It is teaching students they are an oppressed minority rather than endorsing ethnic solidarity. Another reason why people seemed to want to ban these classes is that it promotes Resentment toward a race or class of people. Margaret Dugan also states, “there is ethnic studies, which uses curriculum and books, textbooks that there’s, to me, very disturbing information. For example, one of the books they use is called “Occupied America,” which teaches these students in this country was once Mexico and, if they rise up and take it back to can be their country, once again”(Dugan 2010). This is important quote because students taking Chicano studies should not be encourage to be against America nor try to rise up and be disloyal to the country they live in. This can also sprout the idea that they