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Keep kids in school, move rodeo to weekend

Need more education in the wild west

TUCSON -- TUSD students went to school yesterday on President's Day, but get two days off at the end of the week for a rodeo.

Nothing against the rodeo, but kids should be in school Thursday and Friday.

Could it be that TUSD administrators still shut down schools for rodeo two days a year primarily to save money?

Shutting down schools for two days for the rodeo reduces education time and causes child care problems for working families.

Why not have the rodeo parade and main rodeo events on the weekend?
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Anonymous said…
It's also troubling to me that our daughter, at a mostly progressive TUSD primary magnet school is taught a somewhat violent cowboy/cowgirl song in anticipation of Rodeo Days. Body movement is also taught to go along with the words. For example, when the cowkid is "rootin and tootin" with his/her "sixpack" the child is shown to go 'bang, bang' with the fingers and hand in the classic shooting position. The last flourish is the blowing off of gun smoke at the tips of the fingers.

I have been witnessing kids in her class pointing at each other and going 'bang, bang!'

While I and some other parents are trying to process all of this, we recall the incident several months ago when a middle schooler in Arizona was suspended for merely drawing a gun.

Arizonans are clearly in a cultural crossroads over our state's 'cowboy' legacy. Many experts have determined that cattle and arid deserts are not compatable, and gunslinging is not appropriate in a world where we daily endeavor to reduce violence in our communities.

I should hope the govenor, the AZ legislators, TUSD, and concerned parents and caregivers give a serious second thought to how we 'celebrate' our cowboy legacy. Some legacies, I contend, should remain entirely in the textbooks of history.
Tue Feb 19, 08:44:00 PM
Curtis Dutiel said…
Violent cowboy songs??? Oh, Puhhleeze. My 6th Grade Teacher, Mr Ludwig @ Cragin Elementary, used to have us singing those old cowboy campfire songs. not one of us became violent killers. They are a part of Southwest cultural Heritage.

AS far as Rodeo vacation goes, it is a Tucson tradition. It is not like it is suddenly sprung on parents, students and teachers.
Wed Feb 20, 05:25:00 AM
Daniel R. Patterson, Editor said…
Poor education is also a part of SW 'heritage' and Tucson tradition, a part that must change.

Kids need more time in school, not at the rodeo on school days.
Fri Feb 22, 11:39:00 AM
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