I can’t offer you any advice on the Texas situation but I can say “Knock ‘em out Larry!!”
Houston Chronicle
January 13, 2009
Texas will not compete for a potential $700 million in federal grant funding for schools, Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday, because it could give Washington too much say in deciding what the state’s students should learn.
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Texas Curriculum
January 11, 2010
In 2010, Texas school districts will be faced with new open source textbook materials,
also known as online content. The transition to digital content represents a dramatic
step forward for Texas classrooms. But the same oversight, review and regulation that
the state has always used with print materials should apply to digital and online content
as well. To continue reading, click here
Click here to learn about Innovations in Reading Instruction
Click here to learn about Publisher-Developed Instructional Programs
Click here to learn about New English as a Second Language Materials
“Open Source” Textbooks Are Reason for Grave Concern
Here is what I found... good luck!
http://thedailycougar.com/2010/02/26/panel-examines-reform-of-states-social-studies-curriculum/
Thanks, Larry
Great job, what time?
Pray for America’s Freedom
Wow, very cool. The reason that Texas should NOT take the bait of federal money is that it will drive what textbooks we use in our schools...and that is a MAJOR factor, if not the top factor, in the decline of American Education.
Math is something I know a bit about, and here are a couple of things to look at:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/28/fuzzy-math-a-nationwide-epidemic/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI
The bottom line is that curricula like Everyday Math is so BAD...that parents are FORCED to get their kids remedial help (either teaching the kids themselves, tutors, or after school learning centers...which you might note ONLY use traditional methods). Therefore, we DO NOT want to burden parents with this additional expense (or time needed), when the kids should be learning in school, instead. It’s just too expensive for Texas parents...and many parents, particularly minority parents, cannot even get their kids the help they need to counteract these programs, and their kids simply do worse and worse.
This is a start...I’m sure I’ll come up with more today.
LS...that was in North Carolina only, not Texas/nationally.
I think the feds should set a minimum standard of what kids should be taught as merely a guide. Anything in excess should be at the states’ (or parent for homeschooling) discretion. The Dept of Education should be seriously downsized and the money divided up among the states by what percentage of the US population lives in each state.
I think the feds should set a minimum standard of what kids should be taught as merely a guide. Anything in excess should be at the states’ (or parent for homeschooling) discretion. The Dept of Education should be seriously downsized and the money divided up among the states by what percentage of the US population lives in each state.
FOX was reporting this morning that the Board of Education will consider history beginning only in 1877 and no one is sure what part Perry is going to play in all of this. Not sure of any sources to go to but perhaps they know something we don’t. My grandchildren go to private schools and the parents have a huge say so about what is taught and their history course includes study of a long time before 1877.
I’d recommend that you call Brian Russell who is in a run-off for State Board of Ed.
I’d recommend that you call Brian Russell who is in a run-off for State Board of Ed.
Texas and textbooks are very important for the entire country.
The large markets of Texas and California pretty much determine what textbooks are available to the smaller markets.
It is cost prohibitive to tailor textbooks to each state.
Lynn Cheney used to do a lot of stuff with textbook revisionism. Back when Reagan was president and I didn’t even know who she was, I found an abridged article by her in Readers Digest from I think the Wall St Journal.
It’s the only thing I ever cut out and saved, and it’s basically about how so much is left out of history texts because somebody is always insulted. It inspired me.
I read a book by Diane Ravitch about how both the left and right so waters down literature as to destroy its value. Here is also an interesting article.
http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2004/july04/history.html
This is a subject that interests me very much. Years ago I began homeschooling because my son brought home a Steck-Vaughn AMERICAN geography book where all they could do was talk about Africa and the Aztecs, and they chose a person from each region of the country to teach geography - incredible choices like Rosa Parks, Elinor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, John Muir, Sequoya.... not that they weren’t remarkable people, but is the list a little... one-sided?
Also his history book. The chapters on the pilgrims started out with that they didn’t allow women’s rights, and there was no mention of religion at all.
I decided I didn’t want my kids learning that kind of history.
Our curricula is broken into four main standards.
1. civics, government, human rights
2. geography, people, environment
3.economics, innovation, technology
4. history, culture, perspectives.
By 8th grade these areas are to be covered.
I. Standard 6.1 US History America in the World
* Three Worlds Meet (beginning to 1620)
*Colonization & Settlement (1585-1763)
*Revolution & Reform (1754-1820)
*Expansion & Reform (1801-1861)
*Civil War& Reconstruction (1850-1877)
II. Standard 6.2 World History/Global Studies
*Beginning of Human Society-Paleolithic and Neolithic ages
*Early Civilizations & emergencfe of Pastoral Peoples (4000-10000BCE)
*Classical Civilizations of the Mediterranean World, India & China (1000BCE-600CE)
*Expanding Exchanges & Encounters (500 CE-1450CE)
III. Standard 6.3 Active Citizenship in the 21st Century.
* Recognize causes and effects of prejudices on individuals, groups, and society
*Recognize the value of cultural diversity as well as potential for misunderstanding.
Let me tell you I let them know that it would be extreamly difficult to follow that last standard without teaching the time periods between the 1920-2001.
There was an idiot in the paper today who said, “30% of the people in Texas believe dinosaurs and humans existed at the same time”.
Don’t bring that up.
What time will your interview be aired?
Here is a link to what is required right now per TEKS http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter113/index.html
The dreaded TAKS tests are based on these required skills.
I would imagine that the textbooks would follow those required TEKS.
I haven’t heard a word about the change regarding US history.
Will be rooting for you LS.