Thread: MN: Mexico sends Spanish language books to schools, jails

Un regalo mexicano: Libros de texto
The Mexican government is donating Spanish-language textbooks for use in Minnesota.

Mary Kay Feltes will get a present Wednesday as part of an unusual foreign aid package from Mexico.

"I can't wait to open the box and see what's inside," said Feltes, assistant director of the Owatonna Public Library -- one of 82 organizations around the state that will receive a box of 55 Mexican textbooks.

The books will be given to school districts, libraries, community centers, universities and penitentiaries throughout Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.

The books, all in Spanish, are similar to those used in Mexico, covering everything from social sciences to mathematics. However, these books were produced by the Mexican government specifically for Mexicans abroad, especially the hundreds of thousands in the United States.

Feltes said the books will greatly increase her library's Spanish-language holdings.

Feltes said the books also should broaden the library's appeal to Owatonna's growing Latino population.

"I think people walking into the library need to see a little bit of themselves," she said.

Study aids

Although Mexican embassies and consulates have conducted similar book giveaways for years around the United States, this is the first time Minnesota institutions will get a full complement.

The Mexican government opened a consulate in St. Paul in June 2005 to address the needs of Mexican nationals in Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Dakotas. Last January, the consulate gave away about 9,000 books. This year, it will donate 11,165 texts, said Mexican Consul Nathan Wolf.

Wolf said the distribution of the textbooks will help strengthen the identities of Mexican nationals, especially children, and give them a better understanding of their history, culture and language.

"It's to support the kids at school, trying to give them something they don't get here," he said last week.

Chris Correa, director of curriculum and instruction for the Shakopee School District, said the books will help schools better address the needs of growing Mexican and Latino student populations.

She said Shakopee, which has more than 800 Hispanic children in its schools, has tried for years to buy materials that "value original cultures."It will be nice to get the Mexican perspective on world and historical events," Correa said. "This is a connection we've wanted to pursue."

Claudia Delgado, who works for Wolf at the consulate, said the materials also will be of use to other Spanish-speaking people, be they immigrants from other countries or U.S. residents studying Spanish. "It's us sharing our culture," she said.

Wonderful, propaganda, what next? is there no end, just how much do they think we can endure!!!

The books, all in Spanish, are similar to those used in Mexico, covering everything from social sciences to mathematics. However, these books were produced by the Mexican government specifically for Mexicans abroad, especially the hundreds of thousands in the United States

Uh-oh!! A legal citizen may want to check them out first. I don't want Aztlan being taught in the US!!!

I can understand having these books in a library along with other books about other countries. But, students in American schools do not need to be learning about the culture and history of one particular country. History, also, should be taught from the American perspective. What's next, WW2 from the Nazi perspective?

Uh-oh!! A legal citizen may want to check them out first. I don't want Aztlan being taught in the US!!!

Better do some research Neese. It is already being taught in schools across the country.

three words


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Originally Posted by dlm1968

Uh-oh!! A legal citizen may want to check them out first. I don't want Aztlan being taught in the US!!!

Better do some research Neese. It is already being taught in schools across the country.

Thanks, I feel better now.

Sorry to give you bad news. For that past year I have been wishing I could unlearn all that I have learned. I sometimes think life as a mushroom would be pretty good (kept in the dark and fed ****).

It is definitely true...Ignorace IS bliss.

If you want to research it for yourself just google chicano studies, not that it is just being taught in our universities. It is being taught in the lower grades too but it is harder to find information about that, you have to dig a little deeper.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS TRUE BUT I HEARD THEY ARE TEACHING OUR KIDS HISTORY THAT DISTORTS THE TRUTH, IN OTHER WORDS THE SPANISH VERSON IN STEAD OF THE ENGLISH!!!SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, THE ALAMO, THINGS LIKE THAT!!

The history taught in our schools is completely distorted. If you can get your hands on a current high school history book you should. You would definitely be getting and education of the worst kind just like the children of this country.