Banned Books: Tucson Middle School Students Become Heroes

Middle School Students, Wakefield's Ninos Heroes, celebrate Mexican American Studies at the university, with talk by Acoma Pueblo poet Simon Ortiz

By Brenda Norrell

Photos by Roberto Rodriguez

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Tucson middle school students became heroes when they walked out of their classrooms after Tucson public school officials banned Mexican American Studies and their books, including the book "Rethinking Columbus," written by Native American authors.

The suspended middle school students were invited, and attended, the Mexican American Studies class of professor Roberto Rodriguez at the University of Arizona today.

The young heroes were given a special gift, a talk by world acclaimed Acoma Pueblo poet, author and professor Simon Ortiz, professor at Arizona State University in Tempe.

Rodriguez said, "Students who were suspended from Wakefield Middle School in Tucson for walking out earlier this week spent the day attending Mexican American Studies (MAS) classes at the University of Arizona. So did a suspended Pueblo High School student.

"In the second class, they were treated to the words of world-renowned writer and poet Simon Ortiz. No sooner had they finished attending the last class of the day did the Wakefield students receive word that their suspensions had been lifted," Rodriguez said.

"They walked out to protest the dismantling of the Mexican American Studies program. Separate from attending classes, they also presented at the Centro on campus, explaining why they walked out," he said.

Another and bigger event is being planned on the University of Arizona campus to further educate the campus community about the dismantling of the Mexican American Studies by the Tucson Unified District Schools. 

"It's a small victory, though a victory nonetheless. Oddly, the board member (Michael Hicks) who introduced the resolution to dismantle the MAS prorgam, kept playing hide and go seek, not introducing himself to the students or anyone else. He would have been welcomed to speak to the students as they are powerful and would have been able to answer any of his questions," Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, Tucson school officials, responding to the media reports, have attempted to intimdiate and silence news reporters and bloggers who provided coverage of the seizure of the books and materials from the classrooms of the now-forbidden Mexican American Studies in Tucson public schools.

Rodriguez said, "The thing to remember is that they have actually dismantled a program, thrashed a discipline and banned not just the 7 boxed books. The actual number of books in the curriculum number more than 50." For a list, go to: http://drcintli.blogspot.com/2012/01/undocumented-mas-books.html

There is also an ongoing petition re the TUSD book banning. It can be found at: https://www.change.org/petitions/tucson-school-board-dont-lock-up-knowledge-return-books-to-students-now  

There is also an ongoing petition re the TUSD book banning. It can be found at:https://www.change.org/petitions/tucson-school-board-dont-lock-up-knowledge-return-books-to-students-now