Empress of Tucson

Tucson sits firmly in the heart of Baja Arizona and the Border Region. I’ve noticed a few things about living here. First, although business is conducted in both Spanish and English, our children are not required to be fluent in any language but the latter. I’ve often said, to anyone who will listen, that when I become Empress of Tucson that I will mandate that every child become fluent in both languages. No exceptions. Second, because this is the Border Region, our teacher education programs from San Diego to Houston need to reflect that. The University of Arizona doesn’t really do that, but it’s not alone. We need to belly up to the border with hands outstretched to our fellow educators across the border. One final thing. I have never heard of a field trip or a student exchange program from Tucson to anywhere in Mexico. Granted, there are all kinds of church youth groups dashing across the border to do some sort of project on summer mission trips. These are well meant, but the kids usually don’t mix it up much with the locals.

Since we live in the Border Region, why not make it work for us? It would be a whole lot cheaper than building that horrible wall.