To Ban or Not To Ban

Ethnic studies in the curriculum of academia have been a hostile debate in the Tucson Unified School District in regards of Bill HB 2281.  Arizona Bill HB 2281 passed on May 2010, it prohibits schools from offering courses at all grade level that are designed for advocating a particular ethnic group, promote resentment or advocate ethnic solidarity over treating pupils as individuals.  Tom Horne and Michael Eric Dyson appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 discussing Bill HB 2281. Tom Horne opposes ethnic studies and supports HB 2281 because he believes that the study of any particular ethnic group creates anger by educating students only of oppression and focusing on the “downer-side” of things, which leads to resentment towards the government. In Horne’s opinion, students are being narrowly taught about the race that they have been born into, and that schools should educated students how to focus on individuality of a person rather than their race.

 Dyson argued in favor of Ethnic Studies stating, ethnic studies are rife in American history. Ethnic studies are necessary to learn the true history of America because there has failure to mention/acknowledge of the oppression of ethnic groups in American history. According to Dyson, it is beneficial to learn about groups whom been oppressed in American history because it brings a better understanding of the greatness of the United States showing how different ethnic groups came to be relief of their oppression. Dyson goes on and stated, “Without dealing with the downer-side of things we can’t deal with what’s up.”

Horne argues that such course separate students and therefore should be ban, but in my personal opinion students may benefit from taking ethnic studies that is different than their own heritage. Ethnic studies allows students from all background to not only learn about other ethnic groups outside their own, but it shall help students broaden their knowledge and understanding of others culture/heritage. A better understanding of other ethnicity allows groups to avoid misunderstanding and more room for acceptance of each other.

I would have to disagree with Horne and Bill HB 2281, in my opinion the ban of ethnic studies would cheat students of not only their heritage/culture, but also America’s history by not implementing substantial information of other ethnic groups in the curriculum. I believe that Ethnic Studies is beneficial for those whom are willing to learn and would like to understand more about not only your own heritage but also others. The United States is a land of opportunity, but by banning Ethnic Studies the land of opportunity turns into a land of limits.

-430 W