A State Board of Education member has asked a Spanish teacher to personally review a Spanish-language textbook to make sure it contains no slurs against the U.S.
The textbooks are a gift from the Mexican government to the state to help Spanish-speaking students learn English.
“I don’t have a problem with the gift, but I am worried if there is an anti-American slant,” said board member Marcia Neal, a Grand Junction Republican who took office in January. She said a friend who teaches Spanish agreed to review the book.
Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, raised a red flag about the books because of recent reports about inaccuracies in all kinds of textbooks.
“I asked, ‘Have these books been vetted? We’re using a foreign curriculum here,’ ” he said.
Mark Stevens, spokesman for the state Department of Education, said the books were checked.
The department has been using the Spanish textbooks for 12 years without any controversy until now.
Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, used to head the House Education Committee when Republicans were in charge of the legislature and the governor’s office. She said she can remember the book-giving ceremony being held at the state Capitol.
“We’ve never had a problem before,” she said.
Board member Peggy Littleton, a Colorado Springs Republican who took office in 2004, said she has had concerns about the books but “never followed through” until Lambert raised concerns.
“I don’t have any opposition to kids having access to these books as they acquire English, but we have to be careful,” she said. “I think they should go through local school boards.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
