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New Mexico State University |
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For the Secondary Classroom |
Lesson 18
Border Forum
Objective: Students will read, analyze, and synthesize news reports on a current border issues. Working in groups, students will prepare an oral presentation and written support documents which must clearly and accurately explain an issue to an audience which may be unfamiliar with the topic.
NCSS Standards Met By This Lesson: I, II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X
Introduction: Welcome to the heart and origin of the Border Studies Curriculum. For some teachers, this forum can by itself be a useful adjunct on any unit on U.S., Mexican, or border history. The amount of information (in English) on border news available on the Frontera NorteSur website is considerable and increases every month with each new issue.
Teachers may want to use the FNS Archives for a three- to five-day study on border topics such as drug trafficking and drug policy, violence against women, politics, economics and commerce, environment, health, etc. Other teachers may want to extend the forum to create a larger class and/or individual research project of three to four weeks, which may include class fieldtrips to sites discovered during Lesson 2, Border History.
The idea of making the news and analysis available on-line at the Frontera NorteSur website was the original impetus behind the Border Studies Curriculum. FNS is a highly professional and accurate news source, and as such its materials can be of use to students ranging from middle school to graduate school.
FNS is a border news site that covers nearly the entire U.S.-Mexico border. It is published by the New Mexico State University Center for Latin American and Border Studies (CLABS). For a free, email subscription to the site go to http://frontera.nmsu.edu/
How To Find Articles on Frontera NorteSur
Students may search for articles on any topic by going to the FNS website: http://frontera.nmsu.edu/
From there, click on the "Archives" button, then choose a year and month.
A PARTIAL SELECTION OF FNS ARTICLES AVAILABLE ON-LINE BY TOPIC
Drug Trafficking/Security
Mexico's
Forgotten Disappeared: The Victims of the Border Narco Bloodbath
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jan-feb04/feat1.html
Corruption in
Chihuahua Law Enforcement
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/july-aug04/feat1.html
Tijuana
Drug Cartel Continues on Despite Arrests (April 2002)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr02/secr.html
The Story
that Wasn't? Ciudad Juárez's Narcograves (February 2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/feb01/secr.html
Attacks
on Police Increase As Corruption, Violence Continues (June 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jul_aug00/feat2.html
Critics
Attack Failed Security Measures (May 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/may00/feat2.html
Army
Patrols Juarez as Violence Continues (April 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr00/feat3.html
The
Drug War: Paso Del Norte, July-August 1999 (September 1999)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/sep99/feat2.html
DEA:
Narco-Guerra in Juárez Not Over (May 1998)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/may98/598cart.htm
Environment
West Texas Cactuses
in Danger
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/feb03/feat1.html
The Sky Islands
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/nov02/feat2.html
Also: http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/nov02/feat3.html
&
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/nov02/feat4.html
Their
Backyard: Environmental Justice at Reynosa's La Laguna La Escondida
(April 2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr01/feat4.html
Environmental
Organizations in Reynosa & Río Bravo, Tamaulipas (April
2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr01/feat3.html
Citizens
Protest Re-Opening of Acid Plant (July 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jul_aug00/envi.html
Juárez
Has Toxic Waste Problems (December 1998)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/dec98/feat6.html
Border
Environment Special Report (May 1997)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1997/may97/597envi.htm
Border
Environment (October 1996)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1996/oct96/1096envi.html
Health
U.S. Medical
Students in Ciudad Juárez
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/dec02/feat1.html
The
El Paso Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Children in Danger (April
2002)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr02/feat1.html
Hospital
de la Familia: Health Care for Cd. Juárez (April 2002)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr02/feat4.html
Project
Juntos: A Successful Binational TB Program for Ciudad Juárez
& El Paso (July 2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jul01/feat1.html
Border Health (September 1999)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/sep99/hlth.html
Fight
Against Border Waste Sites Continues (February 1999)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/feb99/feat3.html
Border Health (November 1998)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/nov98/1198hlth.htm
Border Health: An Overview of Challenges Along
the U.S.-Mexico Border (November 1996)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1996/nov96/1196heal.htm
Human Rights
The Sierra
Tarahumara: Indigenous Peoples, Species and Forests Struggle to Survive
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr-may03/feat1.html
Tarahumara Community Activists Jailed
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr-may03/feat2.html
Mexico's
Forgotten Disappeared: The Victims of the Border Narco Bloodbath
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jan-feb04/feat1.html
El
Paso's Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring Project
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/nov00/feat3.html
The Fruit
of an Illegal Arrest (November 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/nov00/feat4.html
Living
on the Border and Your 4th Amendment Rights (November 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/nov00/feat5.html
Tarahumaras
Suffer At Hands of Drug Traffickers (February 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/feb00/feat1.html
Immigration
Immigration Update
2003: Human Smuggling, Migrant Deaths and Other Statistics
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/aug03/feat1.html
The Matricula Consular
Identification Card
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jun03/feat1.html
SWARM:
Southwest Alliance to Resist Militarization (October 2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/oct01/feat3.html
The Border Patrol's El Paso Sector (October 2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/oct01/feat1.html
El Paso's
Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring Project (November 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/nov00/feat3.html
Another
Long Hot Summer in Arizona (July 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jul_aug00/feat3.html
Border
Issues Heat Up in Southern Arizona (June 2000)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jun00/feat1.html
Crisis,
Maquilas, Scams Bring Migrants to Juárez (February 2000)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/feb00/feat5.html
Border
Farmworkers Demand Recognition (December 1999/January 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/dec99jan00/feat1.html
Region
Questions Border Patrol (August 1999)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/aug99/feat4.html
Crossing
the Border Illegally: A Risky Endeavor (May 1999)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/may99/feat5.html
Human
Rights on the Border: Part 1: A Perspective from the South (April
1999)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/apr99/feat2.html
Humans
Rights on the Border, Part 2: A Perspective from the North (April
1999)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/apr99/feat7.html
Politics
A New Vision of the
New Mexico-Chihuahua Border
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jul02/feat1.html
Special
Election Coverage (July 2000)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jul_aug00/feat1.html
1) Mexico Border States Unanimously Support Fox
2) What's Next for Fox On The Frontera: Immigration and Drug Certification
3) While Ciudad Juárez PRI Supporters Mourn Their Defeat,
Chihuahua Governor Says The PRI is Dead
Special
Election Feature (August 1998)
PAN Wins Battle for Juárez
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/aug98/898elizo.htm
PRI
Rides Voto Cruzado To Governorship
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/aug98/898gov.htm
Guerra
Sucia: Chronicle of a War (July 1998)
(A Detailed, Special Report on the 1998 Governor's Campaign)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/jul98/798dirt.htm
Special
Reports: Federal Elections (1997)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1997/aug97/897elect.htm
includes stories:
1) PAN Sweeps Juárez
2) PRI Tops PAN 5-4 in Chihuahua
3) Mexico Votes to End One-Party Rule
4) Analysis of the Federal Elections of July 6
Underage Drinking
Note: This perennial topic often shows up in "Border Health"
and "Border Politics" departments.
El
Paso Mayor Refuses to Apologize (April 2000)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/apr00/feat1.html
Deaths
of El Paso Teens Lead to Dispute Between Sister Cities (March
2000)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/mar00/feat1.html
Council
Closes Cantinas, Causes Controversy (May 1998)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/may98/598bar~1.htm
Violence Against Women
Federal
Investigator Finds No Evidence of Serial Femicides In Juárez
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/may-june04/feat1.html
From North to
South: A Trail Blazed in Femicide and Impunity
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/sep-oct03/feat1.html
Lawyer
for Suspect in Juárez Murder Cases Dies in Police Chase
(March 2002)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/mar02/feat2.html
Bodies
of Eight Young Women Found, Two Men Allegedly Tortured into Confessing
to Deaths (November 2001)
[Scroll down to find related articles]
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/dec01/hmrt.html
Joint
Task Force Six: Military Support for the War on Drugs (October
2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/oct01/feat2.html
Shades
of Juárez: The Search for the Missing Women of Chihuahua
City (October 2001)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/oct01/feat4.html
Women's
Quality of Life A Border Concern (June 2000)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/jun00/feat4.html
New
Year Brings Few Changes: NGO's Demand Answers, Three Murders Take
Women's Lives
(February 2000)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/feb00/feat4.html
Burials
On The Border: Conference Investigates Violence Against Women
(November 1999)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/nov99/feat6.html
Who's
Telling The Truth? The Murders of Women in Cd. Juárez (May
1999)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/may99/feat1.html
FBI
Reviews Cases of Murdered Women (April 1999)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/apr99/feat3.html
Border
Reacts To 184 Murdered Women (March 1999)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1999/mar99/feat1.html
Another
Expert Explains Murders of Women (September 1998)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/sep98/998mujr.htm
PAN
Government Defends Investigations Into Crimes Against Women (August
1998)
www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/old_1998/aug98/898mujer.htm
Also see song lyrics for Tori Amos' "Juárez"
from the CD, To Venus and Back (1999):
http://www.angelfire.com/de/somestuffs/songinfo.html#6
Other websites that contain information and news on the U.S.-Mexico Border:
The Americas Program of the Interhemispheric Resource Center
(a good site for policy analysis)
http://www.americaspolicy.org/
The Borderlands Encyclopedia (this source has lists of dozens
of relevant websites)
www.utep.edu/border
NMSU Library Border & Latin American Information
http://lib.nmsu.edu/subject/bord/index.html
Materials/Preparation: The teacher may either print out the relevant news articles from the FNS website or have the students print them out for themselves.
New stories on all border news topics are added every month.
Considerable time may need to be planned at the school computer lab for the research and printing of articles. Students will also need time to research resources available on other border-related sites such as those listed above.
Teachers also need to consider what materials may be necessary to help students put together their news documentary or other formal presentation.
Instruction/Practice:
The idea behind the forum is simple. Students can download articles on their topic of choice from FNS, read and analyze them, then get together with other students interested in the same topic to prepare a forum. This method ensures that every student will participate in the project. Teachers can assist groups by asking questions and sharpening their understanding of the issues.
The precise method of the forum is properly left up to the teachers. However, the forum should contain both oral and written components. Groups should prepare a highly readable handout for the class which outlines the important points of the presentation and provides the class with a concise, accurate introduction of the topic at hand. The handout must be typewritten, and ideally should provide some graphics and/or statistics, in addition to relevant quotes.
Some formality should be placed on the forum presentation itself. Students could present the information in the form of a news documentary, with all the professional trappings. They might also choose to present the information in the form of a debate, or a performance, or some other formal manner which involves the participation of all students.
The tone of the entire project from start to finish should be very professional. For this lesson, students are in the roles of both teacher and journalist as they teach and inform the rest of their class. They are expected to exert a high level of accuracy, completeness, integrity, and mastery regarding their topic. Teachers may request to see rough drafts and lesson plans and other documents to verify the group's progress and understanding.
Closure: The formal presentation with written introductory
handout concludes the Border Forum. Time should be allowed for
questions, and students in the audience should rate the group's
presentation using a rubric of criteria, such as:
Clarity
Completeness
Professionalism
Accuracy
Interest
Extensions: Clearly, the Border Forum can be extended into individual or group research projects for the final Border Project.
Updated October 14, 2004