LatinxEdu National

06/03/2024

Confederate, white supremacist heritage dies hard.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared April 2024 as Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi, keeping alive a tradition that began in 1993.

05/15/2024

Friends,

I encourage all to listen to yesterday's May, 14, 2024 hearing that took place at the Texas State Capitol in the Texas Senate. For the record, out of 214 that submitted their registration requests, 148 witnesses testified.

At the end of the day after the testimonies were completed, Sen. Royce West acknowledged that those who spoke overwhelmingly expressed opposition to SB 17 and violations of freedom of speech to which Sen. Brandon Creighton literally had nothing to say in response. This is who is leading our state...

Specific to the layoffs within the University of Texas System, Chancellor Milliken shared that 311 full- and part-time positions were eliminated, translating into $25 million that became available to the system, upon closing 21 offices and terminating "681 contracts, programs and trainings."

At a noon-hour press conference involving various organizations, including NAACP, AAUP, and LULAC where I and others spoke, I referred to DEI and other harmful legislation as a "scorched earth" agenda.

As an aside, these are not my words, but RNC co-chair, Lara Trump, as you can see and hear for yourselves: "Lara Trump Threatens ‘Four Years of Scorched Earth’ If Trump Retakes Power: Sounds like a fun time for America."

I post below the following:

1) news coverage by Austin American-Statesman journalists, Sara Diggins and Lily Kepner;

2) an 8-minute press conference video by Rene Renteria;

3) a CBS Austin press conference video;

4) the testimony I delivered; and

5) testimony delivered by Cameron Samuels, a dear friend and amazing Gen Z youth leader who heads up Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT).

If you listen to the video, you'll notice just how tough yesterday was. However, as I posted this morning on Facebook:

"Love our students and young people whose testimonies were so powerful and soulful. Bill author Andrew Creighton and his party are unmovable. However, it must dawn on them every now and then the eloquence and unmatched force of our Gen Z youth that would give anyone with a heartbeat some pause."

Keep at it, Gen Z! You are a force to reckon with.

-Angela Valenzuela

References

Diggins, S. (2024, May 14 ). Texas Senate Education committee discusses protests at UT, SB 17, Austin American-Statesman.

Kepner, L. (2024, May 15). Texas Senate panel holds hearing on DEI, antisemitism. What UT chancellor said of protests, Austin American-Statesman.

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

05/10/2024

What a touching day today at the Latinx graduation that had to get pulled together in 6 weeks because Senate Bill 17 made cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that resulted in the cancellation of our students' graduation ceremony.

SB 17 is part of a larger scorched earth policy agenda that is very racist and fearful of a browning America. All should read mine and Dr. Zamora’s piece on the matter: Zamora, E. & Valenzuela, A. (2023, Feb. 13). "Anti-DEI Law Implementation Has Been a Disaster," Texas Observer.

Still, today we celebrated at the Austin Independent School District's beautiful Performing Arts Center, thanks in great part to student leaders associated with the organization, Latino Community Affairs, namely, Katherine Ospina, Luis Santos, and Liany Serrano Oviedo, as well as to Austin City Council Member Chito Vela and National LULAC that provided significant funding support for this event. The Texas Exes made possible an afternoon celebration for the parents and community.

Suzanne Gamboa with NBC Latino did her part, too, by bringing awareness to the predicament the students were in by informing everyone of their Go Fund Me campaign. They raised more funds than they needed such that the rest will go toward next year's graduation.

Seventy percent of those graduating, by the way, are first-generation students attending college, the overwhelming majority from humble origins. How shameful for UT and the legislature to set up barriers for students like these when they are literally our future.

My husband, Dr. Emilio Zamora and I had the pleasure of shaking the graduates' hands and sharing some remarks at the event, alongside student presenters, and a rousing keynote address by National LULAC President Domingo Garcia.

I just learned this evening that all of the students present today will get a free, one-year membership to LULAC! I look forward to seeing our students at our LULAC National Convention in Las Vegas this June!

I'm beyond thrilled that KXAN journalist Sarah Al-Shaikh honored me by using several of the photos I took today. Enjoy!

-Angela Valenzuela

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

05/10/2024

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

05/02/2024

Friends,

It's such a vast juxtaposition to be sharing with you our upcoming event, "Education with Heart: A Community Conversation," taking place this Saturday, May 4, from 10AM-3PM while simultaneously witnessing state violence and repression at this very moment at UT Austin. This is playing out on college campuses nationwide, as well, as we know.

Like my grandfather, who was a Baptist minister, used to say, "El diablo anda afuera," meaning that "the devil is running amok."

It sure feels like it. I hear students tell me that they are fearful, that they feel bruised, that they are angry, sad, and disgusted. And let's not let it get past us that this year's undergraduate graduating class sat out the pandemic four years earlier, seriously impacting life's milestones that the rest of us have taken for granted.

Atop this, our students here at UT are literally still coping with the shock of losing their programs, initiatives, mentors, and supporters as a consequence of Senate Bill 17 (Texas' anti-DEI bill), and now they are experiencing added violence, both symbolic and real.

So much dark, noxious emotion in the air right now. People speak in whispers, censuring themselves. Are we not still in a democracy where we all have a voice and are guided by democratic principles?

Que triste. How sad, especially when there is still so much good—and good to be had—in the world. I remain confident that there still exists a real promise of better days WHEN we commit to supporting ALL of our youth, particularly the most vulnerable. Why can't we not evolve as human beings and as a culture into an ethic that centers, instead of intentionally harms, young people? They are our future, our treasure, our joy.

Texas parents, I know that I speak on behalf of most, if not all, UT faculty that we love your children. What we are witnessing right now is way beyond the bounds of what should ever get considered as normal.

Ok, so now I'm putting out something into the atmosphere that is super positive, namely, Academia Cuauhtli's 10th Anniversary celebration! I've blogged on it occasionally since 2014. For those of us involved, it is a labor of love.🩷

Throughout the day, we will be speaking Spanish, English, Spanglish, and translanguaging, playing with language, celebrating bilingualism, and culture (see details below).

As the late poet and artist José Antonio Burciaga used to say, "La cultura cura," meaning that "culture heals." I can definitely say that Academia Cuauhtli is what has sustained our community through the years.

Open to the public. Welcome all!

-Angela Valenzuela

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This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

04/17/2024

Friends,

As you can view for yourselves here, I am very pleased to announce that my blog is ranked number 5 among the top education blogs in Texas. Glad I checked. When I shared this yesterday with my students, one of them expressed, "You got flex!"
Cool, so "I got flex"—a new expression for me.

This blog got going 20 years ago. Before that, I ran a listserv for 7 years. If you want to know why I blog, I invite you to read this Nov. 10, 2021 message titled, "A Personal Message on Why I Blog and a Word of Thanks by Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D."

Although I don't—and have never blogged—for pay or for recognition, I am nevertheless pleased that after 20 years of doing so, I am nevertheless getting recognition for this. I have to admit, I was somewhat shocked to learn that I'm a notch below the Texas Education Agency (Texas' state Department of Education) and above the Dallas Morning News, the Texas Tribune, as well as many other reputable blogs.

This could also all shift in a heartbeat, so I'm just showing my flex today. That's all. I promise to continue doing my best to put forth credible material and opinions into the blogosphere. This seems even more important as we enter into a world of AI where sources, authenticity, and authoritative perspectives matter more now than ever.

Moreover, I am fully aware of the global reach my blog has far beyond Austin, Texas, and the United States, to include such places as those highlighted on this day of April 17, 2024, from the past 7 days of page turns noted on this map. Even as I definitely have regular visitors, other places light up differently depending on what I'm posting. It would be amazing to someday regularly reach every corner of the planet. The power of the Internet, no less...

[CLICK TO BLOG TO SEE VISUAL]

In the meantime, abundant thanks to all my readers.

Y'all got flex, too! We all got flex! Muchísimas gracias!

Sí se puede! Yes we can!

-Angela Valenzuela

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

03/17/2024

Dr. Luis Moll was such an influential scholar and a beautiful human being. I feel so honored to have known him. May he rest in peace.

On Tuesday, March 5, the COE community learned that Dr. Luis Carlos Moll, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona, had passed away. Dr. Moll served the university for over three decades, touching the lives of innumerable local and international students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Moll’s acad...

02/13/2024

Many thanks to the Texas Observer for publishing this piece appearing today that captures the sad state of affairs with respect to the carrying out of anti-DEI policy at UT Austin. Please share widely.

-Angela Valenzuela

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

01/12/2024

Friends,

Do save the date for a March 2, 2024 Rally at the Texas State Capitol. In this era of prioritizing the so-called "culture wars" in the policy arena, what is getting neglected and sidelined are massive policy issues of the kind noted below that affect large segments of the U.S. population.

In Texas, consider the following:

"Poverty and Low-Wages: Poverty is a policy choice, reflecting both low wages and high costs of living. These two conditions make it hard to meet basic needs and easy to fall into debt. In Texas: Between 2018-2020, there were 11,831,000 poor and low-income people, accounting for 41.1% of the population."

To meet their basic needs, a household with two adults and two children needs to earn over $23/hour. However, the current minimum wage is just $7.25/hour. At this wage, an individual must work 124 hours/week to afford a modest two­ bedroom apartment."

No matter how high-sounding our state officials are in their rhetoric about Texas' economy, the reality is that tons of folks are desperate and can't make it without getting into crippling debt. They just can't.

I really appreciate what the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign (PPC), has been doing to shine a light on such gaping inequalities in our state, as well as in other states nationwide. His is a "National Call for Moral Revival.

Mark your calendars for March 2nd and make use of the many resources at the PPC website. This link takes you to a map of the PPC's work across the U.S. Once you pick a state, the website directs you to a sign-up link for your state. For example, here is the link for Texas so that you can remain regularly informed.

Thanks to Dr. Jesse McNeil for reaching out and sharing all this excellent information.

-Angela Valenzuela

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

01/07/2024

Matthew Cooke covers the story of Victor Leighton Ochoa from Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico, whom he regards a famous, albeit unknown, person in history. I couldn't agree more. Such an extraordinary life. Hats off to Matthew Cooke for this and other work he does with American Origin Stories. He was a Mexican-American gunslinger, and inventor, who got kicked out of the U.S. for pursuing the American dream. This despite being from what today is known as "Texas" and the "United States" (formerly Mexico) before it became part of U.S. territory. This must have resulted in a high level of cognitive dissonance for him at the time.

Here is what a brief AARP snapshot says about him:

"The next time you step off a train after arriving at your destination you may want to thank serial inventor Victor Ochoa. Born in Mexico in 1850, Ochoa earned a patent for the electric brake in 1907, more specifically for a process that uses magnetic attraction to slow the train. This invention led to safer mass transit systems, with the ability to transport more commuters.

A prolific inventor, Ochoa also is credited with the folding wing airplane (also known as the Ochoaplane), the adjustable wrench, the wind-powered generator and more. He was also a journalist and close friends with former President Theodore Roosevelt.

Ochoa was 57 at the time of his electric brake invention.

We should totally be teaching him in our K-12 public school curriculum. It would not just inspire, but fascinate our youth to learn about him."

I've been to Ojinaga in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, by the way, by driving through Texas' majestic Big Bend Country and then crossing the Rio Grande River on a boat. It's all very rustic. Its more developed sister city is Presidio, Texas. Both are so remote even still today that most Texans and Mexicans themselves will never visit either in a lifetime. It's easy to forget just how big of a state we are.

This is the first history I've ever read of anyone from Ojinaga. And geez, what a story! It teaches us about our own history as a country, too. I so enjoyed listening to this and learning about him and trust that you will, too.

-Angela Valenzuela

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

01/06/2024

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...

01/05/2024

This blog on Texas education contains posts on accountability, testing, K-12 education, postsecondary educational attainment, dropouts, bilingual education, immigration, school finance, environmental issues, Ethnic Studies at state and national levels. It also represents my digital footprint, of lif...