Quezada to
Huppenthal: ‘Stop bullying school kids’

“Superintendent Huppenthal announced today that he is asking the federal government to pay for the education of unaccompanied children who cross the border. The timing of his announcement is suspect in light of his political campaign. In reality, he is using these children as an opportunity to grandstand, and he should stop pandering to extremists at the expense of students.
“In 2012
Superintendent Huppenthal ended the Tucson Unified School District ethnic
studies program, which fostered cultural awareness and
promoted understanding, respect and success among Latino students. The
program led to higher test results and to increased graduation rates among
Latino students. In June, he was criticized for writing anonymous blog posts
attacking families that utilize public assistance and calling for the elimination
of Spanish-language media. His announcement today has no real impact
because schools are not allowed to monitor the immigration status of students.
All of this demonstrates that he is prioritizing an extremist agenda over the
needs of our students.
“Our constitution
clearly states that we have a responsibility to educate all kids. Arizona
schools and teachers must be empowered to fulfill that responsibility,
regardless of the immigration status of students and their family members. Our
teachers, parents and communities want all our students to have the same
opportunities to succeed. It is time for Superintendent Huppenthal to recognize
that it is vital for the future of our state that all students are prepared for
the increasingly global economy. The bottom line is he has to stop bullying
these school kids in an attempt to score political points.”
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