On Jan. 17, the Tucson Unified School District released a statement saying that no books had been banned, despite some reports to the contrary.
An excerpt of the statement follows:
Seven books that were used as supporting materials for curriculum in Mexican American Studies classes have been moved to the district storage facility because the classes have been suspended as per the ruling by Arizona Superintendent for Public Instruction John Huppenthal. Superintendent Huppenthal upheld an Office of Administration Hearings' ruling that the classes were in violation of state law ARS 15-112.
The books are:
NONE of the above books have been banned by TUSD. Each book has been boxed and stored as part of the process of suspending the classes. The books listed above were cited in the ruling that found the classes out of compliance with state law.
Every one of the books listed above is still available to students through several school libraries. Many of the schools where Mexican American Studies classes were taught have the books available in their libraries. Also, all students throughout the district may reserve the books through the library system.
UPDATE 3/13: Currently, there are 112 copies of the books available to students through the library system.
Here is the breakdown of how many copies of each book are in school library collections:
500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures edited by Elizabeth Martinez – 36 copies
Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement by Arturo Rosales – 36 copies
Message to AZTLAN by Rodolfo Corky Gonzales – 18 copies
Critical Race Theory by Richard Delgado – 8 copies
Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire – 5 copies
Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years by Bill Bigelow – 5 copies
Occupied America: A History of Chicanos by Rodolfo Acuna – 4 copies
A total of 40 copies of two titles (Message to AZTLAN and Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement) remain in the book warehouse, available for libraries if requested. All other books that were collected from schools have been distributed.
Students all around Southern Arizona have been doing their part to help the American Heart Association these last few months. Their outstanding efforts were recognized during the 2018 American Heart Association Heart Walk at Reid Park in Tucson, Saturday night. More than twenty children were applauded for raising around $40,000 for the cause.
Students all around Southern Arizona have been doing their part to help the American Heart Association these last few months. Their outstanding efforts were recognized during the 2018 American Heart Association Heart Walk at Reid Park in Tucson, Saturday night.
One thing is certain, tens of thousands of parents will be forced to scramble to find out what to do if enough teachers walk out.
One thing is certain, tens of thousands of parents will be forced to scramble to find out what to do if enough teachers walk out.
Police responded to a report of a shooting at Cabo del Sol apartments on the southwest side Saturday night, according to a spokesman for Tucson Police Department. The complex is located near W. Drexel Road and S. Midvale Park Road.
Police responded to a report of a shooting at Cabo del Sol apartments on the southwest side Saturday night, according to a spokesman for Tucson Police Department. The complex is located near W. Drexel Road and S. Midvale Park Road.
Officers responded to a gas station in midtown Tucson for a report of an armed robbery Saturday night. Police found the suspect shortly after arriving at the Circle K near Prince Road and Oracle Road, according to Sgt. Pete Dugan, a spokesman for Tucson Police Department.
Officers responded to a gas station in midtown Tucson for a report of an armed robbery Saturday night. Police found the suspect shortly after arriving at the Circle K near Prince Road and Oracle Road, according to Sgt. Pete Dugan, a spokesman for Tucson Police Department.
Verne Troyer, an actor famous for his role as Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" trilogy, has passed away.
Verne Troyer, an actor famous for his role as Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" trilogy, has passed away.
Four people were killed and four others were injured in a shooting at a Waffle House in Antioch. A white man wearing nothing a green jacket went into the restaurant and started firing a gun resembling an AR-15. Police are still searching for him.
Four people were killed and four others were injured in a shooting at a Waffle House in Antioch. A white man wearing nothing a green jacket went into the restaurant and started firing a gun resembling an AR-15. Police are still searching for him.
Sawyers watched her Florissant, MO, home go to auction Thursday. The highest bidder was her former attorney.
Sawyers watched her Florissant, MO, home go to auction Thursday. The highest bidder was her former attorney.
A customer at the restaurant took the gun from the suspect, who then took off his coat and fled the area.
A customer at the restaurant took the gun from the suspect, who then took off his coat and fled the area.
Crystal Tadlock is not happy about the fine she said
Crystal Tadlock is not happy about the fine she said
There's a batch of eggs under recall for a dangerous bacteria and at least one family in the Baton Rouge area says it was affected. Chances are some of those eggs might be in your fridge.
There's a batch of eggs under recall for a dangerous bacteria and at least one family in the Baton Rouge area says it was affected. Chances are some of those eggs might be in your fridge.