ray salazar
An Ofrenda for Our Lady of Guadalupe from a Cancer Survivor’s Son
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco Tradition inspires faith but hope perpetuates devotion. On December 12, Mexican Catholics mark the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531 on a hilltop. Today, […]
Latino Voting Power Can Create Better Education Reform
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco Finally, Republicans and Democrats know that they need more than mariachis playing behind them to win the Latino vote. By now, almost everyone heard about the […]
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Are Not Available to Low-Income Latino Teens
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco I am an uncle to many nieces and nephews—too many to take on outings all at once. I sadly realize, also, that my life is too […]
Chicago Public Schools Teachers Gain and Lose in Strike
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco For the first time in my life and for the sixth day, I stood on strike by the high school where I teach. On August 31, […]
Julian Castro or Michelle Obama–Who Succeeded at the DNC?
Ray Salazar, NewsTaco Some people get excited by football. I hoot and holler and jump on my couch during key speeches such as last night’s at the Democratic National Convention. […]
With The Chicago Teachers Union, I Will Defend My Profession
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco Now, it looks like I will have lived through two Chicago teachers’ strikes: one as a student, one as a teacher. After months of contemplation, after […]
Back to School List: Things Not to Say to Latino English Teachers
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco … or “How Latino English teachers can respond to dumb comments” 1. Do you teach Spanish? I’d prefer not to. Besides, I’m not certified. 2. […]
American DREAMin’: Deferred Action for Undocumented Youth Begins
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco If we believe in the American Dream, we need to believe in the partial immigration reform that President Obama passed earlier this summer. On June 15, Secretary […]
Despite Violence, Low-Income Students Can Succeed in School
By Ray Salazar, NewsTaco As summer vacation reaches its end for most students, we are unfortunately forced to face the consequences of violence many elementary and high-school students experienced. Some […]
What Values Are Cell Phones “Installing” In Latino Teens?
By Ray Salazar When I taught seventh grade a year and a half ago, some of my twelve-year-old students had fancier phones than I did. I should not have been […]