From TPM:
The State Board of Education has adopted new social studies and history guidelines for Texas high school classrooms.
The standards have been given a more conservative bent by the board. They dictate how political events and figures will be taught to some 4.8 million schoolchildren in Texas and beyond for the next decade.
The standards also will be used by textbook publishers who often develop materials for other states based on those approved in Texas.
The debate has brought national attention to the effort, which this week featured testimony from educators, civil rights leaders and a former U.S. education secretary.
...conservatives scored a string of victories late Thursday, including a requirement that public school students in Texas evaluate efforts by global organizations such as the United Nations to undermine U.S. sovereignty.
McLeroy, one of the board's most outspoken conservatives, offered the amendment requiring students to evaluate efforts by global organizations including the U.N. to undermine U.S. sovereignty, saying they threatened individual liberty and freedom.
With little criticism from Democrats on the board, conservatives added language that would require students to discuss the solvency of "long-term entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare."
During the monthslong process, conservatives also have successfully strengthened the requirements on teaching the Judeo-Christian influences of the nation's Founding Fathers and attempted to water down rationale for the separation of church and state. If adopted, the standards will refer to the U.S. government as a "constitutional republic," rather than "democratic," and students will be required to study the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, including the abandonment of the gold standard.
In previous discussions, the board has added language heralding "American exceptionalism" and the U.S. free enterprise system, suggesting it thrives best without excessive government intervention. It also required students learn to about the Second Amendment right to bear arms specifically, in addition to the Bill of Rights. And they removed a suggestion that students learn about hip-hop as an example of a significant social movement.
They also agreed to delete a requirement that sociology students "explain how institutional racism is evident in American society."
Educators have blasted the proposed curriculum for politicizing education. Teachers also have said the document is too long and will force students to memorize lists of names rather than thinking critically.
Taking over school boards was one of the stated goals of the Moral Majority. They believed that if they could bring their religious viewpoints and moral beliefs into the public schools they could drag this country away from the "immorality" of the new millennium and back to their romantic ideal of the 50's. That would be the 1850's to be precise.
I have no doubt that Jerry Falwell is sitting in the hottest section of hell right now with a huge smile on his chubby face.
And if you think my point is mere hyperbole let me direct you to a this video which shows School Board member Cynthia Dunbar opening the debate over social studies with a very telling prayer.
Any questions?
G, I live in a Catholic country. This would not be acceptable at any event. We do not bring religion into any public events. WTF is wrong in America?
ReplyDeleteUtterly despicable and disgusting.
ReplyDeleteHow exceptional will these students feel when they are cowed by the intellectual, critical thinking and banking strengths of other nations in 10 years?
You live in a Catholic country????? What does that mean?
ReplyDeleteIt means I live in a country that practices RC. We would be falling down laughing before we would all get up and pray before work and expect other religions to follow suit.
ReplyDeleteI am so embarrassed for my state.
ReplyDeleteNo, we Texans are NOT as ignorant as this.
Screw you, Dunbar, screw you, Perry.
Not everyone is as ignorant as you in this great state.
I would take offence if anyone stood up before a meeting and said that. Leave your religion at home.
ReplyDeleteExactly right, soapydog. This is ridiculous and I too am embarrassed. Dunbar, Perry and more need to go!
ReplyDeleteThis is not education, it is indoctrination.
ReplyDeleteWe are gong to have to set up federal standards based on science, independent objective scholarship and separate from all religious dogma.
I wish Texas would leave the union. If their leaders hate the federal government so much, let's see them see up their own armies, their own monetary system, their own system and finances to deal with hurricanes. Let's let them take care of their own disabled and elderly. Let's let them become the fourth-tier country they seem to be intent upon being.
If Texans really don't like this foolishness, they could rise up and vote these clowns out, demand that the legislature revamp the State Board of Education.Maybe an IQ threshold measurement should be required to be on a local or state school board. Maybe they need to be sure the board members have at least graduated high school (which in Texas must not be much of an accomplishment, but it's a start). Oh, and that high school degree has to be a grade-based diploma, not just an attendance diploma. I have a feeling that all these clowns have - they just showed up, didn't work, didn't think.
If they want a fundamentalist agenda in the schools, then these folks should be monitoring religious schools, not public schools.
I really cannot comprehend how these people think their kids are going to compete in a global society with this kind of curriculum. it's like they don't care about their kids being turned down for college because people from other states (or countries) have a more accurate and comprehensive curriculum. they're going to pay for this down the road, and they don't even give a shit because they're so stuck on their mythical ideologies.
ReplyDeleteso this is what will happen. in 10 years, they'll start bitching about how their kid was denied admission to a college and the out-of-state black kid or the foreign kid "got their spot." they won't put the blame where it belongs - with themselves.
education is a national security issue, and these people treat it so carelessly.
and I'm not talking about all texans, just the ones who are making these decisions.
Rather than make Texas jokes I, will respect those of you from Texas that are not happy with the biased education of their children.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Texans.
History is being rewritten all the time and we soon forget the past, the internet is proving a great tool for keeping track of recent events. Groklaw and SCO was a great example of the power of the internet and geeks. The Alaskan blogs showing Palins many faults was another awesome example of the power of the internet!
Gryphon great blog!
Not all the home-schoolers in Texas are nuts. Some of them don't want their kids condemmed to days filled with the bigotry and hate evidenced in this video. It is, in fact, HATE wrapped in a syrupy voice and high-sounding references. It would take a sturdy-minded child to withstand that brain-washing through a 12 year sentence to the public schools.
ReplyDeletelady, FUCK YOU. Amen.
ReplyDeleteI hope that intelligence will ultimately prevail here & that an organized boycott of any textbook companies that print this stuff will take place. I would pull my children from any school that taught this twisted version of history. What is wrong with these people & why aren't more people in Texas (& elsewhere for that matter)outraged by this?
ReplyDeleteGee, how long until Sarah the Retard makes a pronouncement from her statesmanlike Fakebook page about how great it is that Texas is re-writing history to get a 'rill Murkin' perspective?
ReplyDeleteI live in SC so I know this state will probably follow TX's goofy lead. Thank goodness for private, non-denominational schools in nearby Charlotte!
My son graduated from high school tonight. I'm so glad that he finished before this travesty in the telling of history had a chance to take effect. I hope other states will chose to reject those textbooks and instead choose a different textbook supplier. One that has actual, true history in it.
ReplyDeleteFor an interesting article that explains how this is NOT a christian nation, here is a good one:
http://www.nobeliefs.com/Tripoli.htm
It has many links to references to double check it's accuracy.
Behind every great liberal is a teenager who was lied to...Bring it on Texas...
ReplyDeleteIrish girl don't brag about the Catholics too much. We were either brainwashed or molested, not a very good choice
ReplyDeleteSeems like the SW states are in a race to out-stupid each other.
ReplyDeleteBehind every great conservative is a teenager who was mentally abused by his parents so they couldn't think for themselves. Bring it on Texas
ReplyDelete"I really cannot comprehend how these people think their kids are going to compete in a global society with this kind of curriculum."
ReplyDeleteYou assume they believe there is going to be a global society to compete in when these kids grow up. These are the people who believe we're in the end times. They're preparing their kids for the Rapture, not adulthood.
Behind every far right conservative is a brainwashed teenager with morally bankrupt parents teaching their children hate, intolerance and a skewed view of reality.
ReplyDeleteThis is why state standards should be developed by educators, not amateurs. School Boards, be they on the local or state level tend to be everyone except someone with a degree in education. And this is the core problem with education reform. Educators are never a part of it, let alone the primary drivers. They are observers.
ReplyDeleteIn California the state standards were developed by educators who are experts in their field, each group working on their subject area. The Board did not write or edit the standards. They simply approved or sent them back for revision. Once approved, they went to the legislature for an up or down vote. But the standards themselves were done by the experts, not the amateurs.
I'll tell you what is going to happen. Texas is not going to dictate to the rest of the country. They do not have the pull. First, California buys more textbooks. So other states don't have to be stuck with the Texas edition. They can choose the California edition. And I believe there is a third, standard edition that companies offer. (There are three major textbook suppliers.) Textbooks will be going digital within the decade if not sooner. It will be much easier for states to customize their textbooks once that happens.
And what of Texas? Well the students that will be indoctrinated into the right wing propoganda will eventually grow to be adults. And they'll find that their job opportunities outside the state will be limited by their warped and twisted education. No employer wants his company represented by someone who is perceived as uneducated. And the bias of the Texas schoolboard is going to result in exactly that, producing adults who are perceived as ignorant or uneducated by the rest of the nation. If they go outside of Texas, they risk being ridiculed or humiliated.
Much like we make fun of Sarah Palin regarding her beliefs in evolution, etc.
Imagine an entire generation of Sarah Palins, all with a Texas accent.
The late night talk show hosts will have a field day. Texans will be the butt of jokes for decades. Just think of every derogatory joke implying stupidity, etc that used to be attributed to a race, a gender, a culture, etc. and it will instead be about Texans. (Polock jokes will be about Texans, Blonde jokes switch to Texans, Redneck jokes be about Texans.)
Perhaps Texas should consider seceding now.
Anonymous at 5:27.
ReplyDeleteThere are national standards. We're not there yet but very close.
But there are two states that have NOT agreed to the national standards.
Can you guess who they are?
You guessed!
Alaska and Texas.
I was asked several years ago to give an invocation at a graduation. My husband spoke the words of Yellow Lark of the Lakota Sioux, from the back of the room:
ReplyDelete"Wau-kon Tonka.
Ho.
on scha-mau-lay yay
oh yeh te
wanne wa shencha
Ho!"
I then continued:
"Oh, Great Spirit who dwells in the sky,
Lead us to the path of peace and understanding.
Let all of us live together as brothers and sisters.
Our lives are so short here,
Walking upon Mother Earth's surface.
Let our eyes be opened to all the blessings you have given us.
Please hear my prayers, Oh, Great Spirit.
Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
Hear me! I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty
And make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
The things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
Hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
But to fight my greatest enemy -- myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
With clean hands and straight eyes,
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
My Spirit may come to you without shame.
All my Relations!
In Native American tradition, family...all my relations, is extremely important. All of you here today, both in this room and those who have traveled on further, are my family. Like it or not, we are all bonded in a very special way.
Lord God, please look favorably on this family group as we go forth, striding boldly or with tentative baby steps, with our entrepreneurial coaching skills to help our fellow Kentucky residents to make their way in attempts to provide a stable financial and family environment for themselves and coming generations."
There was more, and I'll spare everyone the rest of it, but the room full of Christians, other religions and atheists... were so moved...many were teary-eyed..,
I have been asked to give that invocation many, many times since then.
In 1999, Kansas Board of Education voted to teach creationism instead of evolution. They were very proud of themselves, until 2007 when moderate Republicans were able to take charge and change the curriculum.
ReplyDeleteMany people laughed at Kansas and warned them that they were putting their students at a serious disadvantage. Any student from Kansas, who was only exposed to Intelligent Design would not pass the science part of a SAT test. Not only would they not get into to college, they had no chance of a career in any of the medical sciences. Kansas thought more of promoting their religious beliefs than they thought of their own kids' future.
It's one thing if Texas wants to put their own kids at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, their text books turn out to be the standard in many other school districts. It is time to put them out of that business.
I shared that invocation because I just wanted to say that there is nothing inherently WRONG with giving and invocation.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, the invocation given by Cynthia Dunbar in the video is just so wrong on many levels, not the least of which is the fact she is a history revisionist.
I wold have no problem with her giving a Christian invocation, but she went way over the line.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has taken a bold stand against government over-reach and is not paying her property taxes, just like sarah.
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/05/michele_bachman_93.php
Wingnuts & Dingbats!
Everyone needs to check what books are your children getting at school.
ReplyDeleteAnon at 7.02.
ReplyDeleteI was not bragging about catholicism. In fact, I don't think much of it myself. The point I was trying to make, (and I think that I must have made it badly if you think I was bragging), is that living in a country that is predominantly made up of one religious faith, it would still be unacceptable to get up and pray (eg. a Catholic prayer) like that woman did before work. It simply wouldn't happen here. Religion has no place in the workforce.
Anonymous at 7:02 speak for yourself, bigot. You post this shit all over the internet. Why don't you just deal with your bitterness?
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for the teachers if they are forced to teach this crap. Hopefully, they will use the text books as an impetus for critical thinking and debate. This could be a real learning experience for the students.
ReplyDeleteUnintended consequences-
ReplyDeleteFew things inspire students to learn something as being told they "shouldn't" know something, or that someone is trying to manipulate them.
We have had some great discussions in class over these proposed changes. We check out what our text says, look at the TX argument/reasons, look at the counter argument, then students come up with their own positions after finding additional information.
Students need to be shown that the textbooks is merely at starting point for information- a bit like the Cliff Notes version of our past. A whole lot of cool stuff is left out, both out of the need to keep the book under 10 pounds, and (tin hat time) because people made decisions as to what was important to include. This has ALWAYS happened. (Check out some old textbooks to see how history was presented!)
Way more effective in teaching history is to use the text, then evaluate the information. Whose story is it? From what perspective? Whose story is missing? What was our own local position? Why was that information included? Is it supported by credible and reliable sources?
How do other texts treat the same topic?
Yes, a group wants to eliminate Jefferson from the Enlightenment standard, but there will be a whole lot of teachers with the question "Should Jefferson be included in the standard?" or, "How did the Enlightenment writers eventually impact other countries such as the United States? And these teachers will be encouraging students to look at ALL arguments- including YouTube videos of the TX group and people who support them. Students will evaluate these sources for reliability, authority and bias.
When students write their position, they also have to include the best argument from an opposing viewpoint, then refute that argument before defending their own.
History is full of controversy, and that is what makes it exciting. For students, the controversy needs to be immediate. And, the more whacko and heated, the better. Immigration, ethnic studies, xenophobia, nativism, patriotism, civil rights and liberties...all have been issues in the past as well. Might as well start by reading the headlines today and working back.
The clip of Palin "answering" Beck's question about her favorite Founding Father was a great lesson prompt. Consensus of the classes- she didn't know they were all very different. They weren't able to tell whether she would be more Hamiltonian or Jeffersonian based on her other comments. (my thought- she'd be more like the reps who quit and went home, but that's just me.) They didn't know why she had said Washington if the question was concerning a founding father of the Constitution. Palin was just the prompt- the lesson was a great review in the complexities of establishing a new government, regional differences, economic divisions, philosophical debates- the REAL stuff.
Students need to know there are people who WANT them to sleep in history because that is how sheeple are made. When people make dumb comments about the past, in class we don't say they are dumb people, but rather they "slept in history." Admittedly, the past few years, the GOP has provided a lot of prompts, but the dems have contributed as well.
I know this is long, but I do want to point out that there have always been people like the TX board, but they stay behind the scenes doing their damage. I am glad they are out in the light where they can be called out and publicly criticized. All of us should be questioning at all times what history our young are being taught.
And just as important is giving them the skills to critically analyze and evaluate information, whether 200 years old, or from this morning.
HistoryGoddess.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great comment. I have been following the Texan text book massacre for the last few weeks and I am horrified at what has been going on. It is so good to know that you feel students will evaluate the information given to them, and follow up and come to their own conclusions.
Sort of OT, but I feel in view of one or two comments made in this thread,I need to clarify my position as an outsider looking in at American politics. I am not here to gloat or brag. God knows we have enough problems in Ireland. Our economy has been devastated (my husband has to work abroad and I rarely see him). We have also gone through "the troubles" in NI where Catholics and Protestants killed each other over religion. So I am shit sick of religion being used as an excuse in politics.
It is not fun to turn on the tv or radio one afternoon and discover that Omagh has been bombed, with up to 29 people dead, including a woman pregnant with twins.
Don't go there.
What's a little eugenics between friends?
ReplyDeleteSo, I guess this is what some folks mean by
ReplyDelete"states rights." What those pushing this nonsense want is the right to do Texas children a disservice by giving them a distorted view of this country and of the world at large. American history consists of both proud and not-so-proud moments, as the history of any nation does. Acknowledging problems or imperfections gives us the opportunity to address them and better ourselves as a nation.
The United States itself is constantly changing in many ways, including the dramatic increase in racial and ethnic diversity, and if this kind of indoctrination Texas espouses took hold on a national scale, we would end up being a second-rate or third-rate country. The founding fathers could not have begun to anticipate the country this one has become. Along with being multi-racial and having people of various religions, it has also become a superpower.
However, their belief in the separation of church and state is one of those that have more than stood the test of time. They knew only too well how disastrous the results of mixing the two can be, and we also have modern-day examples in countries like Iran and Afghanistan.
If any of those children who will undergo the indoctrination described above attempt political careers as adults, they will be in for a very rude awakening. However, as the country continues to change, they will find that their elders did them a disservice by
feeding them an ideology completely at odds with reality. But I suspect that will happen in the course of everyday living.