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Texas ranks at bottom among border states on standards for Mexican history (cry me a rio)
http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/060606/sta_060606058.shtml ^ | Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | Associated Press

Posted on 06/06/2006 12:33:12 PM PDT by WestTexasWend

DALLAS (AP) - Texas ranked lowest among the nation's four southern border states in its standards for teaching Latin American and Mexican history, according to a national study released Monday.

The study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said on a scale of zero to 10, Texas scored a five - just above the national average of 4.2.

California, meanwhile, scored a 10. Arizona scored a six and New Mexico scored an eight, said Walter Russell Meade, a senior fellow for the council on foreign relations who conducted the study based on a review of state education standards.

"It's likely that the state of world history education is a little worse than the standards since there isn't required testing," Meade said. "The subject might not be getting the kind of emphasis that it deserves."

Pat Hardy, a member of the state board of education and a history and geography teacher for the Weatherford Independent School District, disagreed with the analysis.

She said Texas uses a "spiraling curriculum" to teach world history which has more depth than most states because it introduces concepts at different levels and expands on them later.

"They have to understand that our standards are written in strands," Hardy said. "Students have been exposed all along the way to all aspects of the history, the government, the economics, the culture of the world. I think it's brilliant. The Fordham Institute doesn't know jack about teaching."

But at least one Texas lawmaker said the state still needs to increase its standards.

"It's a sad commentary that Texas, a border state, that's history is so intertwined with Mexico and Latin America, ranks so low on the scale," said Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes.

Many states fared even worse than Texas, where Hispanics made up about 35.3 percent of the populace in 2003, according to the U.S. Census.

Thirty states have vague education standards for world history and Latin American and Mexican studies, said Michael Petrilli, vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

Alaska, Idaho, Missouri and Montana each received a score of zero for having "superficial or cursory" standards on how to teach World History.

"It's as if many states were not aware that there are countries and cultures south of the Rio Grande," Petrilli said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: alamo; aliens; goliad; gonzales; immigrantlist; sanjacinto; texas; texashistory; texasindependence
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To: WestTexasWend

61 posted on 06/06/2006 1:45:31 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: WestTexasWend

we kicked santa anna's butt... that's all I need to know.


62 posted on 06/06/2006 1:46:12 PM PDT by conservative physics
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To: Spktyr
LOL. Also reminds me of the famous story of a riot in a Texas town. The local sheriff requested the Texas Rangers come help out.

Later, a Ranger rode into town and went to the sheriff's office. The sheriff, in disbelief, said, "They only sent one Ranger?"

The Ranger answered, "You only got one riot, right?"
63 posted on 06/06/2006 1:49:17 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Free Iran! WARNING! Forbidden Cartoon: *-O)) :-{>. . . .)
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To: SaxxonWoods
Santa Anna was trapped in the area and captured the next day wearing woman's clothing.

Maybe he was a Mooselimb.

64 posted on 06/06/2006 1:51:57 PM PDT by metesky (Humans have been inhaling smoke since we lived in caves, yet we're still here. OK?)
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To: SaxxonWoods

"it's the only state that was once a country."

Except for Hawaii.

(descendant of Alamo Defender, here.)


65 posted on 06/06/2006 1:52:05 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: WestTexasWend
I used to have a t-shirt that said "LAREDO It's Not the End of the Earth but You Can See It From There".

BTW Texas made Mexico history! harumph!
66 posted on 06/06/2006 1:53:45 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: MeanWestTexan

Tip of the hat, you're right there pard.

Alamo decendant, you are probably decended from the "Old 300" in that case. Another tip of the hat...


67 posted on 06/06/2006 1:55:31 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Free Iran! WARNING! Forbidden Cartoon: *-O)) :-{>. . . .)
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To: VOA
That's just Southern courtesy. ..... Especially the part where a band of less than 10,000 marches up the same road from Veracruz to Mexico City and takes the country. TWICE. (Cortes and then the US Army)

Cortez's army of 600 was recruited in and sailed from Cuba and was later joined by another 1,400 men arriving from Cuba. The army totaled approximately 2,000 men when they captured Mexico City. So, we Cubans will claim braggin' rights for capturing Mexico with the fewest men. ;-)

68 posted on 06/06/2006 1:55:45 PM PDT by Polybius
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To: RobbyS

"the Revolution of 1910"

I agree with many of the posters here that if you study Texas history you pick up a great deal of the history of Mexico anyway. I do wish that more attention was paid to that revolution however as it did shape what is now modern Mexico. 1910 to 1920 was less than 100 years ago and the generation that went through that war have only in the last few decades died off.


69 posted on 06/06/2006 1:56:21 PM PDT by nomorelurker (wetraginhell)
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To: SaxxonWoods

You're related to Deaf Smith? Now that's cool.


70 posted on 06/06/2006 1:59:40 PM PDT by Ranald S. MacKenzie (Its the philosophy, stupid.)
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To: SaxxonWoods

Yes, but the Old 300 are the newcomers in the family.

Original Texas ancestor was kicked out of Spain in 1492/3 and made it to Mexico, then Texas, not too long after that.

Ranch still sits on the Spanish land grant (which my grandmother (age 103) still has).


71 posted on 06/06/2006 2:04:53 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: Ranald S. MacKenzie

"You're related to Deaf Smith? Now that's cool."

Thanks. Good stock if I do say so myself. He was quite a man.


72 posted on 06/06/2006 2:06:15 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Free Iran! WARNING! Forbidden Cartoon: *-O)) :-{>. . . .)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Awesome roots.

Our original "league of land" is out of the family, but I have the copy of the Spanish Land Grant, signed by Estevan F. Austin, John Austin, and Samuel M. Williams. It's dated August 3rd, 1824. (Just happen to have it in front of me.)


73 posted on 06/06/2006 2:10:26 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Free Iran! WARNING! Forbidden Cartoon: *-O)) :-{>. . . .)
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To: WestTexasWend
I didn't take Canadian history either!

I'm just sure they teach Texas History in Mexico!I have been to Mexico countless times but they will never be bothered by me again. Spent my last peso in Mexico.

74 posted on 06/06/2006 2:15:41 PM PDT by lonestar (Me, too--Weinie)
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To: SaxxonWoods

Shame on you! You get a C+ for today's Texas History lesson! :)

This apparently was a real incident: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/texas_rangers/

***

"The often cited "One Riot, One Ranger" appears to be based on several statements attributed to Captain McDonald by Albert Bigelow Paine in his classic book, Captain Bill McDonald: Texas Ranger. When sent to Dallas to prevent a scheduled prize-fight, McDonald supposedly was greeted at the train station by the city's anxious mayor [who had sent for a company of Rangers], who asked: "Where are the others?"

"To that, McDonald is said to have replied, "Hell! ain't I enough? There's only one prize-fight!"

***

The interesting thing is that history records that Ranger McDonald *did* successfully supress the prize-fight and potential riot - alone.


75 posted on 06/06/2006 2:17:04 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: WestTexasWend
I think it should be taught that the survivors of the Alamo and Goliad were executed and their bodies burned.
Other than that, the a$$ kicking we gave them at San Jacinto should be enough.
76 posted on 06/06/2006 2:18:21 PM PDT by 12th_Monkey
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To: SaxxonWoods

Too cool.


77 posted on 06/06/2006 2:22:38 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: Ptaz
A proud moment that I can look back on is when my youngest took a full level High School American History course about nine years ago.

I waited until six or eight weeks into the course, after giving him an atta-boy for the initial selection of the course, and the I asked him to rate the course and instructor.

He replied, "Well dad, most of the class is finding it fairly tough, but since I have spent my life sitting at the dinner table with you, I have found it mostly just basic review.

78 posted on 06/06/2006 2:24:51 PM PDT by KC Burke (Men of intemperate minds can never be free....)
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To: Spktyr

LOL!


79 posted on 06/06/2006 2:28:24 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Free Iran! WARNING! Forbidden Cartoon: *-O)) :-{>. . . .)
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To: Red Badger
All the history of Mexico I need to know is contained in the PLACEMATS AT THE LOCAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT..........

Your local resaurant has placemates? I feel so cheated.

80 posted on 06/06/2006 2:29:10 PM PDT by girlscout
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