Roberto Cassá rejects ADP's history textbook accusations as 'reckless'

Roberto Cassá, director of the Dominican Republic's General Archive of the Nation (AGN), has dismissed accusations by the Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP) against history textbooks for 5th and 6th grade as "temerarias" (reckless) and "deshonestas" (dishonest), suggesting the union's president likely hasn't read them Source: Listín Diario. The books, produced under AGN responsibility, cover topics from the island's prehistory to the late 20th century, with 21st-century issues treated marginally Source: Diario Libre.

The accusations

The ADP claims the textbooks "desnaturalizan" (denaturalize) Dominican history, allegedly aligning with a "Agenda 2030" and promoting "desnacionalización" and fusion with Haiti. Cassá calls these "fantasías" (fantasies), asserting the authors relied on documents and historiographical traditions Source: Diario Libre. He has written a document refuting the claims, citing specific content from the 5th and 6th grade books Source: Listín Diario.

The defense

Cassá emphasizes the books were developed by a multidisciplinary team—including editors, pedagogues, and psychologists—and follow the official curriculum with textbook freedom Source: Diario Libre. He highlights that the 5th grade book includes materials on Juan Pablo Duarte, whom he calls a "demócrata radical y revolucionario" and "patriota cabal," and covers La Trinitaria's role in independence Source: Diario Libre.

The dispute

While Cassá insists the accusations are unfounded and harmful to education, the ADP has not yet publicly responded to his remarks Source: Listín Diario. The controversy underscores tensions between the teachers' union and academic institutions over how national history is taught.