Critical Thinking at a Critical Time
by Tony D on 10/28/13
Dual Credit programs are huge in
Houston, Texas, as they are in many cities across the nation. However, Texas is
poised to turn the Dual Credit System into a Graduation Factory for Mexican
American youth.
To make this happen, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) will have to
implement Critical Thinking at a Critical Time.
Texas State Board of Education MUST include Introduction to Mexican American
History and Introduction to Mexican American Literature for endorsement as
Advanced Courses and Dual Credit Course in 9th grade thru 12th grade. There
will be hearings on this in November, and then a vote a few weeks after.
This is a major issue because Dual Credit is big business in Texas. On any
given day, on any given community college, there are hundreds of high school
students satisfying Senior and even junior year high school requirements by
taking college courses at Community Colleges.
Most of these students are Latino. However, right now, Mexican American Studies
courses are not on the menu of what they can study.
MAS courses would provide our young with the Critical Thinking skills they need
to thrive on the college campus, and they will also be inspired to strive to
graduate.
I'm going to say something very radical here for professors.
Introduction to Mexican American Literature should replace English Composition
II in high school dual credit programs.
Right now in Texas there are huge pipelines from high schools to community
colleges. The problems is that the pipelines are not complete and do not
deliver our young to transfer to 4 year Universities and bachelor's degrees.
I have taught English at the high school-level. I have taught Composition I,
Composition II, and Introduction to Mexican American Literature for students in
Dual Credit programs.
So here are a few facts most people don't talk about:
The student learning outcomes for Comp II and Intro to Mexican American
Literature are similar. (You can compare them here: Comp II student outcomes. Introduction to Mexican
American Literature student learning outcomes.)
Educational institutions must remember that we are talking about very young
students who are still in still in high school.
High schools generally utilize "The Banking Method" where patterns
are presented to students, who then memorize them, and then students are tested
on mastery of the patterns. MAS Courses foster Critical Thinking by showing the
limitations of patterns, the evolution of new patterns, the identification of
new ways to devise patterns. MA’s courses provide a culturally relevant context
that helps Mexican American and Latino Students more fully grasp these
intellectual skills. Those traits are vital for succeeding in college.
Furthermore, our young are also excited and inspired by these courses, which is
another reason that all the research shows that graduation rates increase when
students take MAS courses.
MAS prepares Latino youth for success in college more than Comp II does.
It really is very basic. We must demand Critical Thinking at a Critical Time
for our youth.
www.MAStexas.org
