Dallas Parents Upset Over Hiring of alleged Racist Principal
By Tony Castro, VoxxiA group of Latino parents in Dallas backed by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is fighting the hiring of Kamalia Cotton, a suburban elementary principal, who has been involved in the mistreatment of Hispanic students at a previous school.
LULAC joined a campaign opposing the hiring of Kamalia Cotton by the Lancaster school system, which overlooked the allegations of discrimination by Latino parents at a nearby Dallas school.
Those families had included undocumented immigrants who said they feared deportation if they complained about alleged mistreatment.
“[Kamalia Cotton] created a very, very hostile and toxic environment against parents and kids,” said LULAC regional director Rene Martinez, who retired last summer from the Dallas school district as a community outreach coordinator. “The parents in Lancaster got a raw deal in getting someone like her. Our children deserve better.
“This woman was allowing teachers to abuse, degrade, and bully children. She was arrogant and
Mariachi Music Gaining Credibility in Texas Schools
By Jason Margolis, New America Media/PRI’s The WorldMariachi music is a quintessential sound of Mexico. But in Mexico, it’s a style of folk music that’s never been taken all that seriously and certainly not among music educators. It’s considered bar music, unworthy of academic study. But it’s becoming a different story just north of the border in Texas.
Click here to listen to an audio version of this story.
The story of mariachi music in Texas schools begins with Belle San Miguel Ortiz.
“There are several names that they’ve given me, from godmother to the queen of the mariachis, to la madrina, which is the same thing,” said Ortiz. “I was the very first teacher of mariachi anywhere in the world.”
That’s a tough thing to prove. But Ortiz stands by that claim. “A lot of people will say you’re not the first. Yes, I
MALDEF Wins Case In Texas For Poor & English Learner Kids
By Hope Gillette, VoxxiThe Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) has won a pivotal court case against the State of Texas regarding inadequate school funding for low-income and English Language Learner (ELL) children.
The ruling stated that “the Texas public school finance system is arbitrary, inequitable and inadequate under the Texas Constitution and [...] low-wealth school districts lack local control over their tax rates,” reported MALDEF in an media statement.
The ruling was handed down by Judge John K. Dietz of Travis County District Court after more than three months of testimony.
“The State has left many Texas children behind by blatantly defying its constitutional duty to fully support their education,” said David Hinojosa, Southwest Regional Counsel for MALDEF, who delivered the closing arguments