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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 21 January 2022
New approach to teaching race in school divides New Mexico

By CEDAR ATTANASIO As- American because he has
sociated Press / Report for dark skin, while her mother
America was American because
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — A she has light skin.
proposal to overhaul New "Already, a cultural script
Mexico's social studies that said to be American
standards has stirred de- is to be light-skinned had
bate over how race should somehow seeped into my
be taught in schools, with preschooler's conscious-
thousands of parents and ness," Miller-Mutia said in an
teachers weighing in on interview.
changes that would dra- Many Democratic-run
matically increase instruc- states across the coun-
tion related to racial and try are looking to diver-
social identity beginning in sify those cultural scripts,
kindergarten. while Republican-run ones
The revisions in the state are putting up guardrails
are ambitious. New Mex- against possible changes.
ico officials say they hope California was among the
their standards can be a first states last year to make
model for the country of ethnic studies a graduation
social studies teaching that requirement. Texas passed
is culturally responsive, as debates elsewhere have tory, and geography more tions" in later grades. One a law requiring teachers to
student populations grow centered on the teaching inclusive of the state's pop- part of the draft standards present multiple perspec-
increasingly diverse. of enslavement of Black ulation so that students feel would require high school tives on all issues and one
As elsewhere, the move people, some discussions in at home in the curriculum students to "assess how so- Indiana lawmaker pro-
toward more open discus- New Mexico, which is 49% and prepared for a diverse cial policies and economic posed that teachers be
sion of race has prompted Hispanic and 11% Native society, according to pub- forces offer privilege or sys- required to take a "neutral"
angry rebukes, with some American, have focused lic statements. temic inequity" for opportu- position.
critics blasting it as racist or on the legacy of Spanish "Our out-of-date standards nities for members of iden- The education department
Marxist. But the responses conquistadors. leave New Mexico students tity groups. In a first for the in New Mexico is review-
also provide a window into "We refuse to be catego- with an incomplete under- state, ethnic studies and ing over 1,300 letters on the
how others are wrestling rized as victims or oppres- standing of the complex, the history of the LGBT rights proposed standards along
with how and when race sors," wrote Michael Franco, multicultural world they live movement also would be with dozens of comments
should be taught to chil- a retired Hispanic air traffic in," Public Education Sec- introduced into the curricu- from an online forum in
dren beyond the polariz- controller in Albuquerque retary Designate Kurt Stein- lum. November. The standards
ing debates over material who said the standards ap- haus said. "It's our duty to An Albuquerque pastor, were written with input
branded as "critical race peared aimed at catego- provide them with a com- Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia, from 64 people around the
theory." rizing children by race and plete education based on welcomed the change in state, mostly social studies
The responses have not bro- ethnicity and undercutting known facts. That's what her written comment, argu- teachers, and are to be
ken down along racial lines, the narrative of the Ameri- these proposed standards ing children see race early, published next spring with
with Indigenous and Latino can Dream. will do." and that learning about it revisions.
parents among those ex- The New Mexico Public The plan calls for students to in school can dismantle ste- Among the authors was
pressing concern in one of Education Department's learn about different "iden- reotypes early. When her Wendy Leighton, a Santa
the country's least racially proposed standards are tity groups" in kindergarten eldest child was 3, she said Fe middle school history
segregated states. While aimed at making civics, his- and "unequal power rela- that her Filipino dad wasn't teacher. q

NCAA adopts new policy for transgender athletes

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The tees. by the policy for the sport's and further strengthens student-athlete loses eligi-
NCAA has adopted a Under the new guidelines, national governing body, the relationship between bility based on the policy
sport-by-sport approach approved by the NCAA subject to review and rec- college sports and the U.S. change.
for transgender athletes, Board of Governors on ommendation by an NCAA Olympics." That flexibility is provided
bringing the organization in Wednesday, transgen- committee to the Board of The NCAA policy is effec- they meet the NCAA's new
line with the U.S. and Inter- der participation for each Governors. tive immediately, begin- guidelines.
national Olympic Commit- sport will be determined When there is no nation- ning with the 2022 winter "We are steadfast in our
al governing body, that championships. support of transgender
sport's international fed- NCAA rules on transgen- student-athletes and the
eration policy would be in der athletes returned to the fostering of fairness across
place. If there is no inter- forefront when Penn swim- college sports," George-
national federation policy, mer Lia Thomas started town President John De-
previously established IOC smashing records this year. Gioia said in a release. "It
policy criteria would take She was on the men's team is important that NCAA
over. her first three years, but she member schools, confer-
"Approximately 80% of is competing for the wom- ences and college athletes
U.S. Olympians are either en this season after transi- compete in an inclusive,
current or former college tioning. fair, safe and respect-
athletes," NCAA President The Board of Governors ful environment and can
Mark Emmert said in a re- is suggesting NCAA divi- move forward with a clear
lease. "This policy align- sions allow for additional understanding of the new
ment provides consistency eligibility if a transgender policy."q