Feds' Funding for Mexican Education Ticks Off Texas Pro-Family Group
by Jim Brown
June 5, 2006
(AgapePress) - - This fall, two south Texas school districts will be offering Spanish-speaking students access to Mexican curriculum, teachers, and diplomas. A pro-family group based in the Lone Star State is expressing outrage over the program.An agreement reached between University of Texas president William Powers, Jr., and Mexican education officials paves the way for Texas students to use computers to study math and science courses in Spanish, while they learn English and social studies in their schools. The Donna and Edcouch-Elsa school districts have both received half-million-dollar federal grants to buy computers and pay for the online programs and train Mexican teachers.
Cathie Adams with Texas Eagle Forum says Texans should not be forced to pay for curriculum, teachers, and diplomas from Mexico.
"[N]othing could be more disappointing to taxpayers who are having to pick up the tab not only for the students that are their own children -- citizens -- but we also now are going to be picking up [the tab] and spending more money for those who are Mexican citizens," says Adams. The Bush administration, she contends, is "set on erasing our border with Mexico" with such programs.
And just because federal dollars are being used does not mean Texas taxpayers will not have to foot the bill, she says.
"Yes, we do have a president in the White House who is from our state," the Texas Eagle Forum spokesman notes. "But we are just as upset as [are] the people in Connecticut or the people in California about this [immigrant] invasion. Not only is it costing us as far as our education plan, but our healthcare is costing us -- and it is absolutely wrong for our federal government to not be securing our border."
Under the program, students who receive their diploma from Mexico would be eligible to attend a community college in Texas.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
