Watch 2/15/2013: Subversive Learning on PBS. See more from Need To Know.

Need To Know

This week “Need to Know’ travels to Tucson, Arizona, where a years-long dispute over a Mexican-American studies program has tensions high.

Supporters of the program say it has helped re-engage at risk students and improved their test scores, while opponents contend the program encourages subversive thinking.

Graphic that outlines the current situation a with Mexican American Studies in Tucson. 

MAS. Mexican American Studies.

In a nutshell, MAS is no-MAS in every sense of the word. What the media calls a “return of MAS” is not a return of the MAS program that was killed, and thus the MAS program is no more; no MAS.

Yes, this is despite what just about 100% of the rest of the media is telling you, but never let a good controversy get in the way of the truth.

The answer to this dilemma is something that I suppose has to take its due course, and that would have been (in my opinion) for MALDEF to immediately appeal to the Ninth Circuit once again once it was put in the horrible situation of having to compromise with the guilty racist defendant. But I suppose we had to see what the Special Master and Judge Bury would do, and sure enough, they have left me disappointed for reasons I will now explain.

Former TUSD teacher's Mexican American Studies suit dismissed

Former TUSD teacher's Mexican American Studies suit dismissed

A lawsuit filed against TUSD by an ex-teacher who spoke out against Mexican American Studies has been dismissed, with both sides agreeing to pay their own legal costs and no damages awarded.

John Ward filed the defamation lawsuit in 2011, claiming false statements made by the then-director of Mexican American Studies Sean Arce and curriculum specialist Jose Gonzalez damaged his reputation as an educator.

The TUSD Governing Board approved a settlement agreement on Tuesday...