Why ethnic studies and not culturally relevant?

The purpose of this website is to document grassroots activism in Arizona after the Mexican American Studies Programs was banned with the Arizona House BIll 2281.  Scholars, have agreed, that students who participated in the MAS program did overall better in school and were more likely to attend college.

This is by no means saying that ethnic studies is better than having a more broader culturally relevant curriculum. This website is meant to document a particular time in Arizona in which a law banned a curriculum that was beneficial for students in Arizona,

Arizona House Bill 2281₁

THE LEGISLATURE FINDS AND DECLARES THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL PUPILS SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO TREAT AND VALUE EACH OTHER AS INDIVIDUALS AND NOT BE TAUGHT TO RESENT OR HATE OTHER RACES OR CLASSES OF PEOPLE…

A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL IN THIS STATE SHALL NOT INCLUDE IN ITS PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION ANY COURSES OR CLASSES THAT INCLUDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. PROMOTE THE OVERTHROW OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

2. PROMOTE RESENTMENT TOWARD A RACE OR CLASS OF PEOPLE.

3. ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR PUPILS OF A PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUP.

4. ADVOCATE ETHNIC SOLIDARITY INSTEAD OF THE TREATMENT OF PUPILS AS INDIVIDUALS.