Let's Talk New Mexico 6/14 8a: Research shows when students learn about their own culture and history in school, it can keep them engaged, boost self-esteem, and improve academic performance. Some public schools offer Mexican-American Studies and Chicana and Chicano Studies courses to a small number of students, but most of New Mexico’s Hispanic and Latino students still don’t get that opportunity. Did you take classes like these? What did that mean for your educational experience? Are public schools in New Mexico doing enough to offer those types of classes? We’d like to hear from you! Email LetsTalk@KUNM.org, tweet #LetsTalkNM or call in live during the show.
Guests:
- Veronica Medina, Chicano Studies teacher at Albuquerque High School
- Elizabeth Ruiz, University of New Mexico student and El Centro de la Raza Student Success Leader
- Dr. Diane Torres-Velasquez, Latino Education Task Force and Associate Professor at UNM
- Marco Sandoval, founder of Story Riders program
Learn more:
- Ethnic Studies: A Movement Born Of A Ban (NPR, Aug. 2017)
- Some Texas Schools Plunging Into Mexican-American Studies (San Antonio Express-News, June 2018)
- Benefits of Mexican-American Studies Reaffirmed In New Analysis By University Of Arizona (Education Week, 2014)
- Arizona's Ban On Mexican American Studies Was Racist, U.S. Court Rules (The Washington Post, Aug. 2017)
