| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 626
|
|
|
WHEREAS, A report published in the December 2014 issue of |
|
|
the American Educational Research Journal found that students |
|
|
who took Mexican American studies courses were more likely to |
|
|
pass standardized tests and graduate from high school; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Conducted by the Center for the Study of Higher |
|
|
Education at the University of Arizona, the academic assessment of |
|
|
26,000 students showed a consistent positive relationship between |
|
|
taking Mexican American studies classes and student achievement; |
|
|
students who were among the district's lowest achievers before taking |
|
|
such culturally relevant courses improved even more than others; |
|
|
moreover, a similar 2012 study in the Tucson Unified School District |
|
|
also discovered significant advancement among participants; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The student population of Texas public schools is |
|
|
more than 50 percent Latino, yet the curriculum frequently fails to |
|
|
address the myriad contributions of Tejanos to the state and the |
|
|
nation in the arts, business, the military, politics, and other |
|
|
fields; although the histories of Texas and Mexico are closely |
|
|
intertwined, there are gaps in the knowledge of key subject matter; |
|
|
for instance, while Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated, the context |
|
|
of the Battle of Puebla in 1862 is not universally known; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A well-established field recognized by the Texas |
|
|
Higher Education Coordinating Board, Mexican American studies |
|
|
provide a more complete understanding of the history and culture |
|
|
of Texas and the United States and help students develop the |
|
|
critical thinking skills that are necessary to thrive in |
|
|
education and business; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
|
|
Legislature, hereby recognize May 1, 2015, as Mexican American |
|
|
Studies Day in Texas and encourage all parents and educators to |
|
|
learn more about the value of Mexican American studies. |
| |
|
|
Garcia, Rodríguez |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
|
the Senate on April 27, 2015. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |