Posted on 03/12/2010 1:20:27 PM PST by La Lydia
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas State Board of Education agreed to new social studies standards on Friday after the far-right faction wielded its power to shape the lessons that will be taught to millions of students on American history, the U.S. free enterprise system, religion and other topics. In a vote of 11-4, the board preliminarily adopted the new curriculum after days of charged debate ...
Decisions by the board — long led by the social conservatives who have advocated ideas such as teaching more about the weaknesses of evolutionary theory — affects textbook content nationwide because Texas is one of publishers' biggest clients.
As part of the new curriculum, the elected board — made up of lawyers, a dentist and a weekly newspaper publisher among others — rejected an attempt to ensure that children learn why the U.S. was founded on the principle of religious freedom. But, it agreed to strengthen nods to Christianity by adding references to "laws of nature and nature's God" ...
They also agreed to strike the word "democratic" in references to the form of U.S. government, opting instead to call it a "constitutional republic."
In addition to learning the Bill of Rights, the board specified a reference to the Second Amendment right to bear arms...
Conservatives beat back multiple attempts to include hip-hop as an example of a significant cultural movement that already includes country music...
Over the past three days, the board also argued over how historic periods should be classified (still B.C. and A.D., rather than B.C.E. and C.E.); whether or not students should be required to explain the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on global politics (they will); and whether former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir should be required learning (she will)....
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
FYI
Good for Texas!
Ping
Bravo to those who had the courage to stand and fight.
Although I find it hateful that they chose to ignore the sacrifices made by one-legged lesbians of color in WWI. Not.
Thank GOD that these people are the ones that hold sway over textbook content!
The author is horrified that there’s push-back against a radical socialist agenda . . . that’s she’s obviously in agreement with. There isn’t even a pretense of objectivity.
It's a sad day in American education when something such as the fact that the US is a republic has to be debated. When we deny the fact that certain Christian values and ideas are behind our Constitution and justice system etc. The secular left wants to expunge things from curricula even though it's significant and factual out of ideological reasons.
Education belongs in the hands of those that pay for it and whose kids are affected. Even the idea of what textbooks should contain and be used is something that is for the school districts to decide, not some amateur or politician in Austin or God forbid some day Washington when they gobble up that too.
Good for the other 47 states who use Texas textbooks.
“They also agreed to strike the word “democratic” in references to the form of U.S. government, opting instead to call it a “constitutional republic.”
SWEET!! That’s it, I’m coming home to Texas.
Nice impartial reporting from Buttociated Press.
How about the origins of terrorists bombing planes? Islamonazism has been with us for decades now.
“SWEET!! That’s it, I’m coming home to Texas.”
We’ll keep a light on for you. Just remember to yell “friendlies coming across the wire!!!” before you cross the border...
“We’ll keep a light on for you. Just remember to yell “friendlies coming across the wire!!!” before you cross the border...”
Will do!! :<)
Lone Star Bump
Berlanga also bristled when the board approved an amendment that deletes a requirement that sociology students "explain how institutional racism is evident in American society."
Even today?
Here’s a little side note from the meeting.
http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/politics-sex-religion-are-all-fair-game-at-344354.html
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