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.
I'm pissed off as it is with many Texas school kids getting a day off on May 5th but not for San Jacinto Day.
"So, we Cubans will claim braggin' rights for capturing Mexico with the fewest men. ;-)"
Thanks for the info. I heard about Cortez's exploit in the PBS series
linked below. Pretty amazing stuff to pull off a military win with
those kinds of odds.
http://www.pbs.org/conquistadors/
The other three episodes were pretty good as well. (pretty amazing for PBS)
As for the Mexican-American War, I was suprised that PBS aired their series
on that conflict. I hadn't "connected the dots" until they related that
the US troops trod basically the same road from Veracruz to Mexico City...
and a city of large population like Mexico City couldn't recall history and
energize themselves to squash a force of under 10,000.
Ditto!!
Let's not forget the Battle of San Jacinto where we WON our independence from Mexico becoming the Republic of Texas.
Truthfully, as far as Mexican history goes here in Texas, it is not that we don't know...it's that we don't care. There's a difference. :)
These are the kind of people that made America great! God Bless Texas and God Bless America!
Commandancy of the Alamo--
Bejar, Fby 24th 1836--
To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world--
Fellow citizens & compatriots-- I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna--I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country
-- Victory or Death
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. comdt
Kind of my thinking - if Texas' history is so intertwined, the fact that Texas History is taught to all seventh graders should cover enough of Mexican history.
I like the "Cry me a rio!" bit, that was great, too!
Why would any American grammar or high school be teaching Mexican History.
We don't teach Brazil History or Chilean History.
I don't know much Spanish, but I know the ending to an imperative command is not "as".
That's very true.
I think the history of the Scots Irish in this country is way more important than Mexican history.
That is the truth! I've been there and seen it. Traveling throughout Mexico is really the only way to comprehend such a place -- a real introduction to the third world and its mentality. Go to Mexico, and you understand how much of the world is.
Yes, and people should not take that statement as a slam against the RCC --- it's a slam at the RCC in Mexico, which ain't the RCC any more than the official (and excommunicated) ChiCom RCC is the RCC.
Indeed, with immigration those flaws will leak North, and something to be very aware of.
"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."
This makes Texas above average!
I will agree with you there. In fact, if I remember correctly, most of the Alamo defenders were from the Southeast (Travis was a South Carolinian) which was heavily Scots-Irish.
I thought the same thing.
I don't think it hurts to learn about another country's history, but learning your own country's history should come first. It doesn't matter where your own ancestors came from, the history of the country in which you are a citizen is your history.
Since they think that Texas still belongs to Mexico, then that should suffice
Not only that, but it seems that our public schools are shortchanging our students in teaching our own history big time since most students haven't a clue how our (relatively young) nation works. Meanwhile, they're taught all kinds of liberal nonsense as the focus on the fundamentals continues to circle the drain.
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