Put an End to “Ethnic Studies”
Ethnic Studies in Tucson divided students by race: African American students to Classroom 1, Mexican American students to Classroom 2, etc., just like in the old South. The students were taught “critical race theory.” This is their quote: “Unlike traditional civil rights, which embraces incrementalism and step-by-step progress, critical race theory questions the very foundation of the liberal order, including equality theory, legal reasoning, Enlightenment rationalism, and neutral principles of constitutional law.” Teachers should not be teaching our students to be opposed to Enlightenment rationalism and neutral principles of constitutional law. Ethnic Studies had a table that promulgates racial stereotypes by detailing the differences between “white individualism” (e.g. “white people interrupt a lot”) and “colored collectivism.” I wrote a bill that the legislature passed, prohibiting this kind of ethnic chauvinism in our schools. First as Superintendent, and then as Attorney General, I pursued the legal process under the statute, and this toxic program was eliminated. After I was no longer attorney general, a liberal ninth circuit judge cancelled the specific enforcement of the statute, but did not declare it unconstitutional on its fact. There needs to be another effort to enforce it, and if elected I will do that.