Association of Raza Educators

San Diego

"The greatest humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves..."

Paulo Freire

Association of Raza Educators
P.O. Box 740337
San Diego, CA 92114
info@associationofrazaeducators.org

About Us

Who Are We?

The Association of Raza1 Educators arose as a response to the continued stereotyping and violation of the civil and human rights of the Raza community, and specifically to the anti-Raza hysteria created by the passing of Prop 187 in November of 1994. Furthermore, the current and increasing legislative proposals such as Propositions 209 and 227; HR 4437; NCLB; tracking of students and Zero Tolerance Policy is a phenomenon which continues to alienate the Raza community from educational institutions. Our Raza history, economic contributions and political experiences in the land of our ancestors have been conveniently neglected by textbooks and politicians for too long. This neglect makes us scapegoats every time there is an economic recession or a politician’s need to blame someone for society’s problems.

Although historically natives to the southwest, we are not seen as an integral part of the overall community, but rather aliens and strangers in our own lands. This alienation and rejection makes us victims of racism, poverty, ICE, police brutality and the everlasting “push-out”² of Raza students from high schools and universities. It is therefore imperative, if we are to move forward, we address these issues in an organized and consistent fashion using critical pedagogy which facilitates democratic schooling, in order to achieve critical consciousness. Our communities must be organized and informed in order to take effective action against those elements, politicians, corporations, political organizations, and state institutions³ which are responsible for the oppression of our community.
1Raza: term for all Latin American people.
² “push-out”: term used for institutional policies and practices which places students on a pathway towards dropping
out of school.
³ state institutions: all education and penal institutions.
ª Raza Studies: Inclusive, but not limited to, Chicana/o Studies; Latin American Studies; and Central American Studies.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Association of Raza Educators is hereby established to better realize the preservation of the rights and liberties of the Raza community.

Because education is essential to the preservation of civil and human rights, and provides the foundation for all progress, political and economic, must be a basic right of all people. Making this right a reality is the fundamental objective of A.R.E.

Whereas, Raza has been and continues to be ill served by the educational system within the United States, we are bound by our profession, as students and as parents to ensure the educational advancements of our community.

GOALS:

Promote higher education opportunities for Raza students in order to empower students so they become agents of social change in their communities.
Make school districts accountable for the state of affairs in which Raza students find themselves.
Seek legal remedies in cases of educational neglect or abuse (Historical cases – Brown vs. Board of Education) by school districts.
Demand verifiable improvement of our children’s academic achievements.
To work towards the establishment of Raza Studies4 at all levels of the educational process beginning in elementary and continuing through college.
Support and advocate for parent and student rights in their dealings with the school systems.
Support or develop private and community control of educational centers and programs designed to improve the educational advancement of Raza.
Actively oppose any politician, organization, corporation, or individual whose actions adversely affect our community.
Review and write relevant curriculum which portrays the contributions of our Raza to society.
Provide a forum which supports the educational community.