"partisans who pretend to be educators"

"I have seen, firsthand, the damage done to our young students by partisans who pretend to be educators ... I have seen young students who, through classroom indoctrination rather than instruction, were incited to threaten and harass anyone who disagrees with their position."

So says Candidate Gabriela Saucedo Mercer in her never ending battle to fight the indoctrination of communism, marxism and socialism "or whatever you want to call it" to our young impressionable K-12 students. Not one to back down from a fight, Mercer spearheaded the attack on ideas and thinking in the classroom all by herself. "When you are targeting young, impressionable minds, starting from kindergarten, these children get lost," she said. What she is talking about is completely unknown.

Where the children are getting this information from, who the children are, and who is doing the targeting is unclear, but it's obvious to Mercer that somehow teachers are involved. "Somebody incited the children to take off from school," she said. "If I was one of the educators, I would tell my children to stay in class because you're supposed to be in class," Mercer said. "The teachers had the power to stop the students. They did nothing." Why the students wanted to leave, who they were, where they were allegedly leaving from remain mysteries, even after reading the Arizona Daily Sun article dated Feb 16 2012, Dateline Phoenix.

Mercer spoke at the capitol virtually without opposition. No one from Tuscon Unified School District came to the committee to either testify on the measure or dispute any of Mercer's contentions, the article says. "But several legislators said they were troubled by the wording of the legislation, questioning whether the word "partisan" was too broad."

The brouhaha was over teachers who promote "partisan doctrine" and "revisionist history" in the classroom, according to the article. It says that  SB1202 is designed to ensure that students are given a balanced view on what they are being taught. But teachers would be automatically fired and districts that allow it would lose state funding under the terms of legislation approved Wednesday [Feb 15, 2012] by a Senate panel.

Voice of reason Sen. David Lujan, D-Phoenix, said he fears unintended consequences.

"Any history, social studies teacher who asks their students to read books about any president of the United States could be determined partisan," he said. "And when you're putting a teacher's livelihood on the line, I think you're really chilling their ability to educate their students."

"The language here is so broad that you're going to stifle the education environment and kids' ability to learn," Lujan said. "Let's say they're talking in science (class) and a teacher throws out 'global warming That could be considered a partisan issue," he continued. Lujan said it should be up to students to decide if they accept the concept.

In support of the law Sen. Rick Murphy, R-Glendale said, "If they're talking about what's relevant to the class, I wouldn't see a problem with that ... But if they're talking about it in math, I would have concerns." Apparently he didn't consider a discussion in analysis of political statistics, for example.

Further investigation reveals that on her own website, Mercer quotes and links to this story , "Arizona Bill Designed to Stop Teachers Who Use classrooms to Promote Their Political Agendas", which explains that she "argued in support of [Arizona State Sen. Lori] Klein’s legislation ... during a state Senate committee hearing, at which lawmakers voted 5-2 to move the bill [SB1202] forward. Klein sponsored SB 1202 after hearing repeated complaints of “political indoctrination in the classroom,” according to Capitol Media Services. It remains unclear in either article what "Capital Media Services" means. "As the bill is written," Mercer's webpage states, "educators who promote “partisan doctrine” to students would be fired. School districts whose administrators knowingly allow biased lessons would lose some of their state funding."

On another Mercer page, the full text of her speech appears verbatim ...

Gabriela Saucedo Mercer addressed the Government Reform Committee of the Arizona State Senate. Senator Lori Klein sponsored legislation introduced by the Goldwater Institute, which allows parents to act to close failing schools. Saucedo Mercer came out in support of that legislation.

Senator Klein also collaborated with Saucedo Mercer on reform legislation that would prevent teachers from politicizing K-12 classrooms. The measure passed out of committee 5-2.

Speech delivered by Gabriela Saucedo Mercer to Government Reform Committee:

Good morning Chairman Murphy, Vice-Chair Klein and Committee members, I come before you today in support of the proposed amendments to S.B. 1202, which will prohibit partisan instruction in grades K through 12, S.B. 1203, which will create transparency in curriculum adoption, and S.B. 1204, which will create parental intervention options. I would like to begin by thanking Senator Klein for her support of real school reform and commitment to our state’s students.

I support these measures, due to my understanding that the disallowance of partisan books will be struck from S.B. 1202. As a community leader who has been actively involved in the issues facing the public schools in Southern Arizona, I have seen firsthand the damage done to our young students by partisans who pretend to be educators. I have seen young students, who through classroom indoctrination rather than instruction, were incited to threaten and harass anyone who disagreed with their position. I met with one young Latina, who described the anguish she felt every day, in a classroom where her and her family’s values were assaulted by a partisan teacher, who had no interest in sharing information, only in promoting his ideology.

The need to allow school stakeholders access to the curriculum in our schools is basic. Had the people of Southern Arizona had access to the curriculum used in TUSD’s Mexican American Studies classrooms, the community would have never supported them. As a matter of fact, since much of the curriculum has become public, enrollment in the controversial classes has been cut by more than half. Parents want what is best for their children, and they must be able to make informed decisions.

Parents must be empowered to provide the best possible education for their children. No one has a more vested interest in their children’s school than they. If their children’s school is failing, they have an obligation, and should have the right to work with their community’s educators in developing successful alternatives for their children.

On Monday Superintendent of Public Instruction Huppenthal delivered an address to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Legislative Education Committees. He spoke of (and I quote) “our challenge, our duty,” to make successful schools available to every parent and every child in Arizona. To that end, we must continue to support real education reforms and fight for parent empowerment.

Well, there you have it. Gabriela Saucedo Mercer, proponent of NON PARTISAN EDUCATION (whatever that means) teacher firings and disenfranchisement ... I have been unable to locate any argument in opposition to this bill at this time. It seems not only hard to believe but almost incomprehensible that a statewide law in the United States of America, in the year 2012,  that restricts teachers from teaching and endangers them with termination AND loss of credentials for the simple act of reading from a book would go unopposed ... Where are the cries for "jobs jobs jobs"? Where are the pleas for smaller government with less intrusion? I guess intrusion is OK as long as it involves "indoctrination". As usual, comments are open.

Here is the text of AZ SB1202, supported without opposition by Gabriela Saucedo Mercer:

Purpose

           Prohibits public schools teachers from using partisan books or any partisan doctrine. Prescribes penalties for teachers, school districts, and charter schools that violate the prohibition on partisan instruction.

Background

The State Board of Education (SBE) must prescribe a minimum course of study, incorporating Arizona’s academic standards, to be taught in Arizona public schools (A.R.S. § 15-701, 15-702).  School district governing boards must approve the course of study, including the basic textbook for each approved course and all other units recommended for credit before implementing each course in both elementary and high school in accordance with  minimum course of study prescribed by the SBE (A.R.S. § 15-721, 15-722). Additionally, pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-701.01, a governing board may adopt courses of study which are in addition to or higher than that prescribed by the SBE.

             Arizona Revised Statutes 15-535 states that who uses sectarian or denominational books or teaches any sectarian doctrine or conducts any religious exercises in school is guilty of unprofessional conduct and his certificate shall be revoked.

  There is no anticipated impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.      Adds that a teacher in any school district or charter school is guilty unprofessional conduct and the teacher's certificate will be revoked if the teacher does any of the following:

a)      uses partisan books, promotes any partisan doctrine or conducts any uni-partisan exercises in school;

b)      encourages, entices or otherwise indoctrinates pupils to promote or adopt, or both, the teacher's partisan or political viewpoints; or

c)      puts on public display a pupil's support for the teacher's political position in order to promote the teacher's position.

2.      States that an administrator in a school district who does not actively prevent or cease a teacher’s political or partisan activity in the classroom in a timely manner is guilty of unprofessional conduct and their certificate will be revoked.

3.      Adds that if SBE or the SPI determines that a school district or charter school fails to prevent or cease a teacher’s unprofessional conduct pursuant to this act, the SBE or SPI must notify the school district or charter school that they are out of compliance.

4.      Specifies that if SBE or the SPI notify a district that they are out of compliance and they do not comply within 60 days, the SBE or the SPI may direct the Department of Education (ADE) to withhold up to ten percent of the monthly apportionment of the district’s state aid and requires the ADE to adjust the apportionment accordingly.

5.      Permits the SPI to withhold monies from the date of determination of noncompliance until ADE determines the school district is in compliance.

6.      Adds that if a school district superintendent, a school district governing board or a charter school governing body knew or should have know and ignored a teacher’s unprofessional conduct pursuant to this act, that school district or charter school is subject to the penalty provisions of this act.

7.      Requires ADE to pay for all expenses of a hearing pursuant to this section.

8.      Becomes effective on the general effective date.

========================================================================= The issue is so laughable, The Daily Show did a piece on it...

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========================================================================= After posting this item I did indeed find a piece in oposition to the bill, and another.

Sen. Lori Klein

 In "Two Arizona education bills draw criticism from teachers" posted by KTAR-FM 92.3, author Taylor Summers clarifies that "two bills proposed by Sen. Lori Klein are raising eyebrows in the education community."  SB 1202, "would prohibit teachers from bringing in anything that would constitute as a partisan opinion to the classroom." The other bill, SB 1203 "would prevent teachers from using unapproved sources as teaching materials in the classroom. Currently, teachers are allowed to use those unapproved sources as supplemental materials, as long as those sources are eventually approved over the course of the school year. However, the new bill would require teachers to get approval for any sources they use and post them online." According to Project Vote Smart SB 1202 did pass committee but did not pass the Senate, losing 16-14. Project Vote Smart does not list any information on SB 1203. Further investigation reveals "Capital Media Sources" to be this article from the Yuma Sun.

Additionally, "Ariz. Bill Would Fire Teachers for Bringing ‘Partisan’ Opinions Into the Classroom" adds that "State officials contended the program promoted reverse-racism, and the law prohibits classes designed for a particular ethnic group or which “promote resentment toward a race of class of people.”

It goes on to quote Mercer as above, “I have seen, firsthand, the damage done to our young students by partisans who pretend to be educators.”

I still find all of this very disturbing ...But wait, there's more ... The "indoctrinating" materials that were the focus of Ms. Mercers wrath include a piece called "Plagues and Pilgrims, The Truth About The First Thanksgiving" and "Conquest and Colonization". Another item, titled "Social Justice, Resistance and Latino Literature" claims to satisfy the Senior English Graduation Requirement.

Online Conservarag "The Blaze" offers these "Shocking Excerpts from Tuscon's Mexican Studies Curriculum". Apparently taken out of context, these materials appear to tell history from the point of view of the Mexican. Further investigation reveals a group called Tusconans For Sound Districts offer that "The public is often confused as the issue has been framed by ideologues and an uninformed press. According to School Board member, Dr. Mark Stegeman, “Among these, only the Raza Studies program offers an extensive independent curriculum, beyond language courses. Controversy has focused mainly on that curriculum.” All of TUSD’s other minority service departments under the misnomer “Ethnic Studies” offer a holistic approach to the needs of their unique students. Mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and language assistance are offered by the three other “ethnic studies” departments.

In the article "Panel approves ban on ‘partisan doctrine' in class",  Mercer acknowledges that existing state law, passed largely with TUSD in mind, already makes it illegal to have programs that promote racial hatred. While the district denied its programs fit that definition, officials agreed to scrap the program last year amid threats by the state Department of Education to slash 10 percent of its funding. But she said there are those in the district who are effectively skirting the ban by preaching and teaching some of the same messages. Mercer said that was proven when the governing board voted to end the ethnic studies program to save the state aid. “Somebody incited the children to take off from school. If I was one of the educators, I would tell my children to stay in class because you're supposed to be in class. The teachers had the power to stop the students. They did nothing.” I am glad that finally makes sense ... sort of. Seems like a lot of  hooey over a few pieces of paper .... Comments are still welcome.