Douglas Questions Tashima’s TUSD MAS Ruling

On Friday, after Judge Wallace Tashima ruled that an Arizona law, A.R.S. 15-112, was unconstitutional, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas called on lawmakers to work with her to develop a constitutional law that would prevent educators from engaging in hate-based pedagogy.

In his ruling, Judge Tashima found A.R.S. 15-112, which prohibited classes that promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment towards a race or class of people, to be unconstitutional based on his belief that the law was passed for racist purposes. Tashima based his finding mostly on the racist rants by Douglas’ predecessor John Huppenthal.

“I am disappointed with the Judge’s ruling in this case. I am looking forward to a scheduled meeting with Legislative leadership next week. My first item on the agenda, will be to see if we can find a legislative remedy to the judge’s ruling,” said Superintendent Douglas in a press release.

“I am supportive of teaching history and cultural studies,” added Douglas, “but I don’t understand why the Judge felt he needed to strike down the entire law. The provisions that prevent tax payer [sic] dollars being used for classes that promote the overthrow of the United States Government or promote resentment towards a race or class of people, just sound like common sense to me. Those should stay,” concluded Douglas.

[Read Tashima’s finding here]

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