Albuquerque bilingual teachers face discrimination and harassment, group claims
TYLER,TX - SEPTEMBER 11: Lourdes Carmona, a Spanish speaking first grade teacher, instructs a class on the Spanish pronunciations of the alphabet at Birdwell Elementary School September 11, 2003 in Tyler, Texas. Carmona, a native of Spain, was recruited 5 years ago to teach Spanish speaking youngsters reading, writing, and arithmetic in their native language, as there was and continues to be a shortage of bilingual teachers in Texas. Carmona and her husband, also a native of Spain, are both employed by the Tyler Independent School District and permanently live in the east Texas city. (Photo by Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – A Latino civil rights group says an Albuquerque middle school is mistreating its bilingual education teachers who face discrimination and harassment.
The New Mexico League of United Latin American Citizens said this week that former and current bilingual education teachers at Jimmy Carter Middle School have repeatedly complained about mistreatment. But LULAC state director Dennis Montoya says those complaints have been ignored.
Montoya says white principals have "harassed, belittled, and humiliated" former and current Hispanic teachers and the district fails to give teachers property material.
Montoya says LULAC has requested a meeting with district officials but have not gotten a response.
Albuquerque Public Schools spokeswoman Monica Armenta says Superintendent Raquel Reedy hopes to meet with LULAC in the immediate future to hear and address their concerns.
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