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CommentsA Revolutionary Educator
Tucson teacher Augustine Romero under attack
How else to explain the way MacEachern has wielded a recent three-part series of opinion columns in the Phoenix broadsheet as a sort of verbal automatic weapon against Romero and his programs down in Tucson?
Essentially, MacEachern has branded Romero a latter-day communist (a curious tactic in the post-post-post McCarthy, post-Castro and pro-China era, but whatever) and painted him and his programs as, well, threats to our national identity.
In a column last month, MacEachern wrote: “That better way [of teaching students of color], as presented to students in Romero’s increasingly influential program, is, effectively, revolution. Or, if that ‘R-word’ strikes you as too edgy, resistance - a resistance against history and civics as traditionally taught…”
People outside of Arizona might not at first glance recognize the incendiary nature of such a statement by a prominent right-wing columnist. But in a state where nativist lawmakers such as Russell Pearce openly lobby to limit the teaching of history to “American only”; in a state that has enacted the nation’s harshest punishments against undocumented immigrants (fueling, by default, a growing fire of generalized anti-Latino sentiment here); in a state where many non-Latinos voice baseless fears of a “reconquista” by Mexicans, MacEachern’s portrait of Romero as a Che-toting revolutionary all but begs for the state’s conservative political establishment to place Romero squarely in their crosshairs.
But is it true, what MacEachern is saying? Is Romero some sort of an anti-American activist, plotting a hostile takeover of the state of Arizona by minority children?
According to Romero himself, absolutely not.
We caught up with him between meetings, and let him answer MacEachern’s accusations himself.
LP: Augustine, what do you think is going on with these negative stories about you in the Arizona Republic?
Romero: The mainstream media in Tucson, for whatever reason, has been very supportive. But up in Phoenix? It’s a different story. Doug MacEachern – well, let me put it this way. I think that education, as is the case with most things in culture at large, has to do with issues of power. From a power perspective, or a political perspective, there is a definite slant against us because this man personally fears what we represent to him.
Romero:He tried to put our Mexican American program into a very negative light. But I think it’s more a political issue for him than an ethnic one. He views us as progressives, and we are. We openly are. That’s threatening to him. Additionally, we are living in a time when, from the point of view of the media establishment, it’s okay to be anything but Mexican in Arizona.
LP: Well, what are you trying to do with your programs, exactly?
Romero: We’re trying to do three things. One, we hope to develop a sense of identity in our students. Two, we hope to develop a sense of purpose. Those two things together then allow them to develop a stronger sense of hope.
LP: Hope? Why does that matter?
Romero:So many of our students have never seen their lives or their history reflected in anything they’re learning in school, and that takes a toll on academic performance. That can lead to a real sense of alienation for them. What we’ve found is that there is an ancillary impact of the three goals, one we did not set out to achieve but that has been an amazing outcome. And that is that all of our students are having academic success. All of them. Our students outperform all other students in their school on the AIM standardized tests now. We did not expect that. That is what hope and a sense of belonging can do. It serves to motivate students to achieve in all areas.
LP: So, if you are having success reaching students, if they are succeeding, why this backlash against you?
Romero: They are trying to eliminate our program, plain and simple. They are motivated more so than anything by ignorance and, in some ways, racism.
LP:So, are you teaching kids to revolt? Is that what you’re doing?
Romero:No. We are teaching them to think critically. Early on, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this, when we asked students to think critically and analytically, a very common response would be, “Mr. Romero, tell me what to think.” My response was, “M’ija, you go back and you figure it out. I want to know what you believe, and why you believe it.” That’s what really trips the students out. They start evaluating their own thoughts and beliefs. I had one student tell me, “Romero, you trip me out, man. I lay in bed now, thinking about thinking.” I love that. He could not believe he was thinking about thinking.
LP: The press makes much of your photos of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Why do you display those? Are you a communist?
Romero:First of all, they’re wrong about Fidel. We don’t have any photos of Fidel anywhere. We do have Che, but the man with him is not Fidel, it’s Paulo Freire, the author of the book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.” We use that book for teaching. Che was an important figure in the history of Latin America, and one of the ways to empower Latino students is to talk about Latin American history. I think that when they mention Che in the Arizona Republic, it’s really only to try to evoke negative feelings or anxiety about me and my program, because Che was viewed as anti-American.
LP: Are you anti-American?
Romero: No. I am pro-student. I am an advocate of giving students multiple points of view, and letting them make up their own minds about where they stand. Our children are succeeding. Five of every six of them we interviewed for a research paper said that if it weren’t for our program they would have dropped out, or they’d be dead. So many kids and even their parents tell me that our programs have saved their lives. These are the disenfranchised among us. And we are saving lives, and they are succeeding. So, think about that. When a columnist comes out and says he thinks we should end a program that is having this kind of impact on minority students, what do you think they’re really saying?
In his series of Arizona Republic columns blasting Augustine Romero (the senior academic director for ethnic studies and co-director of the raza studies department for the Tucson Unified School District) columnist Doug MacEachern has made several misleading statements, according to Romero. Here are some of them.
MacEachern myth: In Romero’s classroom hangs a “ poster of the godfather of the revolution himself, Fidel [Castro].” (Arizona Republic, February 16, 2008)
Truth: The poster in question is actually of the late Brazilian educator and former Harvard professor Paolo Freire, according to Romero. Freire was a Christian who worked in Geneva as the special education advisor to the Council of Churches. Note to MacEachern: Not all bearded Latin Americans are Fidel Castro.
MacEachern myth: “The $2.6 million ‘ethnic studies’ program in the Tucson school district is an umbrella program for four separate departments: “raza” (Hispanic) studies, African-American studies, Pan-Asian studies and Native American studies. Raza studies are by far the largest.” (Arizona Republic, February 16, 2008)
Truth: Only $600,000 of the $2.6 million goes to raza studies, according to Romero. To receive “by far the largest” amount, the overall budget would have to be less than $2.4 million. Furthermore, placing the terms ethnic studies and raza is quotes is stylistically incorrect according to the Associated Press Stylebook, a verbal slight of hand that indicates MacEachern’s personal lack of respect for the programs.
Reader Comments:
It is incredible that in this day and age, there are people in positions of power who can oppress the minds of our youth. Doug MacEachern's voice is powerful and there is no doubt he recognizes his influence. But the underlying tone is to oppress education. The question for him is why does he feel threatened with a form of education that can empower our youth? What is threatening about a young individual who is provided tools to work in the real world? In business, those individuals who question procedure, challenge markets and can adapt to change are those and most importantly provide solutions or options to problems are the most valuable. This is the underlying theme for the education Mr. Romero is teaching. Why not help those who are at a disadvantage? Because our Mexican-American children are responsive, and are being taught the ability to question is the real threat to individuals like MacEachern.
It is too easy to hide behind big words like "revolution" and invoke images of a communist leader.
He should acknowlege the growth of this program and the positive influence this type of education has created among our children. Do not be afraid Doug, be proud of children who will be a strong influence in our community.
I guess MacEachern couldn't find anything in his own community to rant about. I'm so tired of the right-wing ideologues in Phoenix trying to push their hate-mongering down the throats of Tucsonans. There's a reason I moved away from the metro Phoenix area over 20 years ago, and people like MacEachern are that reason. If MacEachern is so bent on limiting the minds of children, let him focus on his own community. My children actually attend TUSD, and I don't want the likes of MacEachern deciding what and how they will learn.
It certainly is a "racist" program! Even MECHA's Constitution states its purpose as the "Liberation of Aztlan"! And two days ago the Mexican Consul in San Diego stated this land was Mexico and will be Mexico (he is very mistaken!)(according to some poem some woman made up). The truth is that Mexico only owned the SW for all of "24" years after Mexico stole it from the Spaniards (Spain is in Europe and all "mestizos" are part European) who owned it for far longer (300 years) and Spain stole it from the American Indians (who are different races from Mexican Indians (MEXICANS =AZTECS AND MAYANS WHO WERE NEVER UP HERE, DUH!). THe American Indians tons of whom hate Mexico and Mexicans for the cruel way they were treated by the Mexicans - owned the SW for thousands of years. So Mexico has no right whatsoever
to this land. The schools that are teaching the kids that this land belongs to Mexico and teaching them to hate the "gringo" is teaching hate and revolution. Doug MacEachern is correct. And you don't teach kids to do better by teaching them their "ethnic group" is better than everyone else's! This is not the way of this country. The real racism is in Mexico where Mexico treats their indigenous like dogs, does not require them to go to school, steals their land - is it any wonder they always have bandannas on afraid the Mex. gov't will find out who is protesting. The Aztlan movement has even admitted the closest thing to their ideology is communism. Who do you thing you are fooling? Millions of Americans know all about your movement and that is why Che is on his office wall! And Freire is known for being a socialist! Romero truly is oppressing the minds of our youth. And by the way, they are not "undocumented immigrants": "immigrants" according to the law are people who come "legally". They did not forget their documents: they SNUCK IN! That is known in immigration law as "illegal aliens". Get your terms right or do you call "burglars" - "uninvited guest"?
Speculation, speculation and just speculation fueled by racism and hate toward Romero and his program.I can also speculate by saying that hispanics are being persecuted the same as the Jewish people were during the Nazi era. However that will be an exageration of the facts. The anonymous person who wrote against Romero and his program does not state the sources of the "facts". The bottom line is the fear of having hispanics get educated and get elected to the house of representatives and congress. A uneducated hispanic is easier to manipulate, perform low paying job (cleaning yards or toilets) or end up in gangs.
I believe in the existance of a higher power with a superior law that judges "all" individuals by the motives of their hearts, not so much by the appearance of their deeds. The pharisees missed the point by sticking to the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. They were guilty of leading masses on the wrong path using the letter of the law as an excuse to cover their heate and greed. Like Jesus said "he who is without a sin thorw the first stone" "because mercy thriumphs over judgment"
I happen to be an educator in TUSD and Augustine Romero is NOT a teacher. He is a director; he knows very little of what it is like to be in the classroom today, and your article insults for "real" ethnic teachers. In fact, Augustine has very little to do with educators unless they are Hispanic.