Nora Espinoza, NM Legis: Keep Mexican-American Studies Books Out Of Schools

NM state Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) proposed a memorial on Monday praising diversity in the state’s curricula and slammed Tucson’s decision to ban seven ethnic studies books from classroom use. Republican state Rep. Nora Espinoza (Roswell), a conservative legislator who is herself Hispanic, went off on a rant against the Latino intellectuals whose books were banished, saying they don't belong in New Mexico schools. Espinoza read out loud before the state House Education Committee one of Corky Gonzalez’s poems that contained the sentence “my culture was raped,” and implied the metaphor was not appropriate for young minds. "These are are extremely racist and hate books,” Espinoza said. She did not return phone calls or an email asking for comment.

The memorial -- New Mexico’s version of a resolution -- calls for the state’s school curricula to reflect “a spirit of acceptance and a celebration of different cultures and beliefs,” and encourages the support for the seven books and any others “that encourage New Mexicans to understand their cultural history while empowering a generation of youth who are proud of their heritage.”


Nora Espinoza, New Mexico Legislator: Keep Mexican-American Studies Books Out Of Schools


This is weird and sad that someone doesn't think their heritage should be celebrated.

I'm sorry but we should not be teaching Mexican-American studies in an American classroom. First of all there is no such thing as a Mexican-American. You are either Mexican OR you are American. You can be an American with Mexican heritage/ancestory but you cannot be a Mexican-American or an American-Mexican. All of these Hyphenated-American names simply go to show a divided loyalty, which is something we should not allow here in the United States. I have roots in at least a half dozen European countries but I don't consider myself a German/Irish/Scottish/Norwegian/etc-American. I'm simply an AMERICAN. Nothing more.

What is taught in schools is a state's issue. We are talking about New Mexico here. HELLO

66gardeners said:

What is taught in schools is a state's issue. We are talking about New Mexico here. HELLO

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New Mexico is part of the UNITED STATES. The fact that at one time the area belonged to Mexico is immaterial. Should Massachusetts teach British History? Should Louisiana teach French History? New York teach Dutch History? Nobody living in New Mexico currently was born while New Mexico was still Spanish/Mexican territory. GET OVER IT.

66gardeners said:

This is weird and sad that someone doesn't think their heritage should be celebrated.

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How did you arrive at that conclusion? I suppose the misleading article title doesn't help. Espinoza's argument is that these 7 particular books don't meet the goals of the state curriculum in reflecting "a spirit of acceptance and a celebration of different cultures and beliefs." Given that one of them is a thesis on critical race theory, I'd say she's right on at least 1 of 7.

Taylor said:

How did you arrive at that conclusion? I suppose the misleading article title doesn't help. Espinoza's argument is that these 7 particular books don't meet the goals of the state curriculum in reflecting "a spirit of acceptance and a celebration of different cultures and beliefs." Given that one of them is a thesis on critical race theory, I'd say she's right on at least 1 of 7.

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I am required to quote the title verbatim.

Tigger said:

I'm sorry but we should not be teaching Mexican-American studies in an American classroom. First of all there is no such thing as a Mexican-American. You are either Mexican OR you are American. You can be an American with Mexican heritage/ancestory but you cannot be a Mexican-American or an American-Mexican. All of these Hyphenated-American names simply go to show a divided loyalty, which is something we should not allow here in the United States. I have roots in at least a half dozen European countries but I don't consider myself a German/Irish/Scottish/Norwegian/etc-American. I'm simply an AMERICAN. Nothing more.

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We should teach important parts of history, regardless of who did them.

Wiseone said:

We should teach important parts of history, regardless of who did them.

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Yes, we should be teaching the History. That's not the same thing as what they appear to be wanting to teach in New Mexico. You can teach the history of that area without attempting to create a counter-culture effect while doing it. How about just teaching the facts and leaving it at that? If these kids want to explore the socio-political angles of it they can do it on their own time.

66gardeners said:

NM state Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) proposed a memorial on Monday praising diversity in the state’s curricula and slammed Tucson’s decision to ban seven ethnic studies books from classroom use. Republican state Rep. Nora Espinoza (Roswell), a conservative legislator who is herself Hispanic, went off on a rant against the Latino intellectuals whose books were banished, saying they don't belong in New Mexico schools. Espinoza read out loud before the state House Education Committee one of Corky Gonzalez’s poems that contained the sentence “my culture was raped,” and implied the metaphor was not appropriate for young minds. "These are are extremely racist and hate books,” Espinoza said. She did not return phone calls or an email asking for comment.

The memorial -- New Mexico’s version of a resolution -- calls for the state’s school curricula to reflect “a spirit of acceptance and a celebration of different cultures and beliefs,” and encourages the support for the seven books and any others “that encourage New Mexicans to understand their cultural history while empowering a generation of youth who are proud of their heritage.”


Nora Espinoza, New Mexico Legislator: Keep Mexican-American Studies Books Out Of Schools


This is weird and sad that someone doesn't think their heritage should be celebrated.

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It is always great to watch the reps go all loco on freedoms when they want others to respect theirs.

Tigger said:

New Mexico is part of the UNITED STATES. The fact that at one time the area belonged to Mexico is immaterial. Should Massachusetts teach British History? Should Louisiana teach French History? New York teach Dutch History?

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As an answer to those three questions, i am pretty sure they still do, or at least i know they did 20+years ago. they did not teach them well, but they did teach them. They also did get into mexican history. Yes, there is a purpose to some of that. When we engaged in the iraq war because a certain dimwitted fool of a president thought the muslims in Iraq were the same as the muslims working with OBL and all other muslims i knew that was full of ****. This is because i actually knew the history of Islam and the middle east. It is sad when high school and some state college is far better at world history than ivy league schools the president attended, but that is life. perhaps if people were aware of how the middle east worked they might not have supported the completely BS war in Iraq.

Also, despite your love of america, we are not alone. knowing other cultures and languages helps students to understand their world better and make better decisions. Not everyone wants to embrace ignorance and live in a bubble without anything but assumptions and ignorance. School is a place for learning, not a place to avoid it. So yes those things should be taught, despite the reality some people wish to avoid it. you are free to go to a private school where you will be surrounded by falsehoods and protected from knowledge, and that is good enough for me. Public school should not be made to encompass an agenda of ignorance and idiocy.

Tigger said:

Nobody living in New Mexico currently was born while New Mexico was still Spanish/Mexican territory. GET OVER IT.

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yeah, why would you want to know the history and reality of one of the country's closest neighbors. That would never come in handy for anyone who just wants to sit in their room and ignore the existence of the rest of the world.

Tigger said:

Yes, we should be teaching the History. That's not the same thing as what they appear to be wanting to teach in New Mexico. You can teach the history of that area without attempting to create a counter-culture effect while doing it. How about just teaching the facts and leaving it at that? If these kids want to explore the socio-political angles of it they can do it on their own time.

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Nothing that they want to teach did not occur. Just because truth may be inconvenient does not mean you can ignore it.

They should also not learn English. that will work out great for them. Empower what? A youth that is proud of their heritage? Cool story. Let them feel empowered when they won't know all 50 states and how they came to be.

Also, teach them of the war over Texas from a Mexican perspective. That outta make these latino kids feel more attached to their adoptive country and grow up to love and respect their fellow countrymen instead of... I don't know, joining a racist group like La Raza.

66gardeners said:

Nothing that they want to teach did not occur. Just because truth may be inconvenient does not mean you can ignore it.

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These students are (THEORETICALLY) Americans. Therefore they should not have any concern about whatever "horrible" things might have happened to some Mexicans more than a century ago.

Tigger said:

These students are (THEORETICALLY) Americans. Therefore they should not have any concern about whatever "horrible" things might have happened to some Mexicans more than a century ago.

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Using that logic, it seems you want ONLY modern America "Goodspeak" history taught. History is full of horrible things that cultures have done. Why would you treat America any differently just because its the truth. No culture has been perfect.

TheNextEra said:

Using that logic, it seems you want ONLY modern America "Goodspeak" history taught. History is full of horrible things that cultures have done. Why would you treat America any differently just because its the truth. No culture has been perfect.

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I have no use for ANY curriculum that wants to teach that America is/was this terrible country that just forces its will on everyone else because that's BS.

Tigger said:

I have no use for ANY curriculum that wants to teach that America is/was this terrible country that just forces its will on everyone else because that's BS.

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Teaching FACTS about the actions that America has done (good or bad) is not teaching that America is a terrible country. Facts are Facts. And teaching about actions (whether they are good or bad), is part of learning history. Niether of which is saying America is bad. As I pointed out NO CULTURE has been perfect.

Tigger said:

I have no use for ANY curriculum that wants to teach that America is/was this terrible country that just forces its will on everyone else because that's BS.

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Are you saying the United States did no wrong in its entire history?

Unitedwestand13 said:

Are you saying the United States did no wrong in its entire history?

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He's saying he will not let facts dictate his opinions.

TheNextEra said:

Teaching FACTS about the actions that America has done (good or bad) is not teaching that America is a terrible country. Facts are Facts. And teaching about actions (whether they are good or bad), is part of learning history. Niether of which is saying America is bad. As I pointed out NO CULTURE has been perfect.

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The problem is that we don't teach just FACTS. Instead we teach the touchy feely emotional garbage as well. Instead of teaching "US Government Relication of Natives" we teach about "The Trail of Tears". We totally forget to teach the idea that the natives were a conquered people we refused to assimilate to the conquerors society.

Unitedwestand13 said:

Are you saying the United States did no wrong in its entire history?

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Very little, especially compared to most other nations.

Tigger said:

The problem is that we don't teach just FACTS. Instead we teach the touchy feely emotional garbage as well. Instead of teaching "US Government Relication of Natives" we teach about "The Trail of Tears". We totally forget to teach the idea that the natives were a conquered people we refused to assimilate to the conquerors society.

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Oh so you want to teach the authoritarian view instead. Sorry you don't get to dictate that, society does.

Tigger said:

The problem is that we don't teach just FACTS.

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What are the facts, Tigger?

That forest fairies exist and only rare people can see them?
That The Fates control our lives and even the Gods cannot control them?
That women should get beaten?
That killing cops is better than being subject to the justice system?
That homosexuals deserve the death penalty?
That smoking pot deserves the death penalty?


Or did you just make all that crap up yourself and the educational system really has nothing to do with wackjob positions?

Seriously, dude, you making claims about "facts" and what the educational system should teach is sketchy at best.

TheNextEra said:

Oh so you want to teach the authoritarian view instead. Sorry you don't get to dictate that, society does.

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Which is why American Society needs to be burned down and rebuilt from the ground up.

Tigger said:

New Mexico is part of the UNITED STATES. The fact that at one time the area belonged to Mexico is immaterial. Should Massachusetts teach British History? Should Louisiana teach French History? New York teach Dutch History? Nobody living in New Mexico currently was born while New Mexico was still Spanish/Mexican territory. GET OVER IT.

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1. They were talking about teaching Mexican-American history, not Mexican history. (although they should also teach Mexican history since it their neighbor and they were once part of Mexico)

2. Having grown up in NY State, I can tell you that the history of the Dutch in the state was taught (in the 1960s and 70s), as it should have been.

3. History cetainly should include events that happenned befoe people were born.

Tigger said:

Which is why American Society needs to be burned down and rebuilt from the ground up.

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No it just needs authoritarians such as yourself to leave and find someplace more suitable. Until then, enjoy this society giving the middle finger to your ideas lol.