Officials hear standards input

State education officials got an earful — both pro and con — from constituents weighing in about proposed new social studies standards for public schools that tentatively are slated to begin next fall.

The New Mexico Public Education Department held a virtual public hearing Friday afternoon to hear comments about the state’s first proposed update to social studies standards in 20 years. Public interest in the proposal is high because of the perception the standards are influenced by critical race theory, which espouses that race is a social construct and that racism is embedded in United States legal systems and policies.

The Logan and San Jon school boards, among others, last month petitioned the PED to delay or pause implementation of the new standards. Both superintendents said though critical race theory is not explicitly mentioned, they’re implied in the language.

Both superintendents also said district staff was already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t need new standards so soon when previous updates came after several years of training.

Despite the proposal’s considerable opposition, San Jon superintendent Janet Gladu indicated to her board during its meeting last week she was resigned about the PED implementing it.

“I take it that these standards are coming,” she said.

Each person was allowed to speak for three minutes during the Friday afternoon videoconference. After four hours, more than 70 had spoken, with at least 40 more waiting in the queue. A total of 40 spoke in favor of the plan, 26 opposed it, and seven expressed mixed or ambiguous views during the four-hour time frame.

Hearing officer John Sena said more than 1,000 written comments also had been submitted since public comments on the proposal began to be accepted in late September. The agency stopped taking public comments as of Friday evening.

A substantial number of people voicing their support of the new standards Friday had educational backgrounds or were minorities, especially those with African American, Hispanic, or Native American backgrounds.

State Rep. Elizabeth Thomson, a Democrat in District 24 in Albuquerque, said the updates are overdue. Speaking about issues of racism and history, she said teachers need to teach children “the good and the bad to make their own judgments.”

Roger Powers said the new standards would guide children to “respect identity and culture different from themselves.” He suggested the standards be posted online so adults can read them and learn from them, as well.

Elisa Sanchez, who said she is 81 years old, said she was happy to learn about the new standards, saying that “part of New Mexico history was erased” in education regarding Hispanics.

“It’s important that all of our kids in New Mexico are represented,” she said.

Jeremy Sment weighed in in support of the new social studies standards, and so did his student daughter.

“I don’t want our mistakes to be hidden from us,” the girl said.

Several commenters suggested that personal finance be taught as part of the cirriculum. Abenicio Baldonado, a former social studies teacher, said New Mexico is one of only five states that have not adopted personal finance education.

Another speaker, though supportive of the plan, suggested a review of it every five years by teachers and parents.

Julia Rose Lopez, a retired University of New Mexico professor who revealed herself as one of the 64 educators who helped form the new standards, said she is “very proud” of the work that was done but advised more professional development for the teachers who will implement them.

Several of the speakers who opposed the plan suggested delaying it, especially for new school board members who were elected this month so they have time to review it.

Robert Aragon, vice-chair of the New Mexico Republican Party, urged implementation of the new standards be delayed by at least six months so local school boards and parents can provide input.

“This seems to be a political process instead of an educational process,” he said.

Nicole Tivis, a member of the Roosevelt County Republican Party, said members of her community were “unanimous” against the proposed standards and that many are “afraid to speak out.”

Several people who opposed the plan, including a Black minister from Albuquerque, accused the standards of having a “Marxist” agenda.

Anne Doherty of Albuquerque urged PED officials to cut critical race theory from the standards, fearing it would turn children into “teacher-approved bullies.”

Valerie Fox said it would “marginalize those with different religious values and political views” and vowed to file a police report against school districts that teach certain types of sex education.

Gail McCoy of Cloudcroft said she believed the standards represent the “indoctrination of our children.”

“CRT teaches that our country is bad, and that shouldn’t be in classrooms,” she said.

Randi Krueger said many parents will pull their children out of public schools if the standards are enacted.

“The moment you mess with our children is when you get the horns,” she said.