Texas Board of Education

[Locutus]

Oh and BTW, you can take this entire conversation and have it over on the God sucks thread, because I'll guarantee you that's the genesis of this shit. 

[Locutus]

"If the King's English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me!" A quote attributed to "Ma" Ferguson, the first female governor of Texas, in 1925.

Ooops!  I missed this one. 

Thanks Olias!  I've developed an iPhone app of stupid quotes attributed to different individuals and that one is going right in there. 

[Henry Hawk]

you started it!!...

[followsthewolf]

which brings up another topic, and why there should be vouchers...and that would take care of lot of problems.

this whole debacle in Texas seems pretty stupid, and another reason for non-Christians to jump on the Knock-a-Christian bandwagon.....I think there is bigger fish to fry than worrying about the word Captialism or Free Enterprise....but to defend Texas a tad, there is just as stupid crap going on all over the country....I'm not sure why this is even making the news....

For years Texas has been the tail that wagged the dog when it came to buying school textbooks. Texas was one of the few states that demanded state-wide textbook adoption; the local school boards had no control over the selection of the textbooks that the children in their district used in the classroom. The result is that Texas became an extremely juicy market for textbook publishers, and they modified their books to be acceptable to the state school board.

So what happened? The political/religious makeup of the board became critical in the editing of textbooks because, of course, the publishers wanted that account in the worst way (literally). Since there are relatively few publishers of high school textbooks, and, if several modify their books in order to sell them to Texas, the changed books were the only ones that many school boards were able to afford (large printing of books equals lower prices).

For many years, textbooks have been published with crappy science (especially)in them, and students have learned crappy science, since teachers in many, many school districts are threatened with loss of employment unless the book was taught.

As for myself, I can't think of very many places of greater importance that the issues should be dealt with than the ideas that are taught in our schools.

Because of the far-reaching effects of the results of these debates, I don't think it is stupid at all, unless you don't really care that what is taught is accurate.

Then we end up with groups like the Westboro Baptist Church.   

[Locutus]

Well it looks like the religious revisionist idiots won. 



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 10-5, the board preliminarily adopted the new curriculum after days of charged debate marked by race and politics. In dozens of smaller votes passed over the three days, the ultra-conservatives who dominate the board nixed all but a few efforts to recognize the diversity of race and religion in Texas.

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" to a section in U.S. history that requires students to explain major political ideas.

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 in a section about citizenship in a U.S. government class and agreed to require economics students to "analyze the decline of the U.S. dollar including abandonment of the gold standard."

Conservatives also included a plank to ensure that students learn about "the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s, including Phyllis Schalfly, the Contract With America, the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority and the National Rifle Association," The New York Times reported.

The leader of the conservative faction, Don McLeroy, pushed through a change to the teaching of the civil rights movement to ensure that students study the violent philosophy of the Black Panthers in addition to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolent approach. He also made sure that textbooks would mention the votes in Congress on civil rights legislation, which Republicans supported, according to the Times.

In economics, the curriculum revisions add Milton Friedman and Friedrich von Hayek, two champions of free-market economic theory, to the usual list of economists to be studied, like Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes. The board also replaced the word "capitalism" throughout the texts with the "free-enterprise system."

"Let's face it, capitalism does have a negative connotation," said one conservative member, Terri Leo, according to the Times. "You know, 'capitalist pig!'

Conservatives beat back multiple attempts to include hip-hop as an example of a significant cultural movement that already includes country music.

"We have been about conservatism versus liberalism," said Democrat Mavis Knight of Dallas, explaining her vote against the standards. "We have manipulated strands to insert what we want it to be in the document, regardless as to whether or not it's appropriate."

Republican Terri Leo, a member of the powerful Christian conservative voting bloc, called the standards "world class" and "exceptional."


Jack Plunkett / AP
Diana Gomez, left, and Garrett Mize, along with other University of Texas students, rally before a State Board of Education meeting in Austin on Wednesday.

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).

Numerous attempts to add the names or references to important Hispanics throughout history also were denied, inducing one amendment that would specify that Tejanos died at the Alamo alongside Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie.

A day earlier, longtime board member Mary Helen Berlanga accused her colleagues of "whitewashing" the standards and walked out of the panel's meeting in frustration. Berlanga voted against the standards on Friday.

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."

The three-day meeting that began Wednesday was the first since voters in last week's Republican primary handed defeats to two veteran conservatives, including former board chairman Don McLeroy, who lost to a moderate GOP lobbyist. Two other conservatives — a Republican and a Democrat — did not seek re-election. All four terms end in January.

McLeroy, a 10-year board veteran, has been one of the most prolific and polarizing members. The devout Christian conservative has been adamant on several issues, including that the Christian influences of the nation's Founding Fathers are important to studying American history.

In Texas alone, the board's decisions will set guideposts for teaching history and social studies to some 4.8 million K-12 students during the next 10 years. In almost six hours of public testimony on Wednesday, the board heard repeated pleas that the Christian heritage of the U.S. be reflected in the new standards as well as other requests that students learn more Hispanic examples of prominent historic figures.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35839979/ns/us_news-education/

[Locutus]

Can't be talkin' about how the US was founded on the principle of religious freedom.  That goes against their indoctrination of the children. 

DAMMIT!!  I can't believe that in this day and age, assholes like this can get away with this kind of shit.  They're teaching kids incomplete information and in some cases, outright lies.  It's tantamount to child abuse. 

[Palehorse]

Can't be talkin' about how the US was founded on the principle of religious freedom.  That goes against their indoctrination of the children. 

DAMMIT!!  I can't believe that in this day and age, assholes like this can get away with this kind of shit.  They're teaching kids incomplete information and in some cases, outright lies.  It's tantamount to child abuse.

You ought to hear my daughters on this whole thing! They are madder than hell and seriously considering leaving Texas over this crap. When I tol them about the fact these changes influence other states as well they went nuclear!

I am NOT happy about the fact that this is the shit my grandchildren are going to be taught. . .

Sooner or later society will realize what a major screwup this is, and by then it'll be too late!

[The Troll]

  I heard that about half of the libraries in Texas have two books and half of them haven't been colored in.

  Also the Governor Rick Perry in Texas wants to secede from the union.  Good, we'll move up the border fence up to the top of the Texas border and then close it and in less than a year, Texas will be a state of Mexico.   

[Locutus]

I say let them if they're going to continue to influence school curriculum nationwide with this utter BS. 

[Henry Hawk]

all I have to say is, that school curiculum has been influenced for years by liberals..especially through out the late 70's...

THIS is a state issue, and from what I really see is, the main thing that conservatives from that state want is that free enterprise needs to be stressed it's importance on the developing of this nation..captialism has been used to describe 'free enterprise" and they do not think that THAT is a fair representation....and for THIS, I agree.

Now there may be other issues I am not aware of that might be overboard...I have only caught a couple of stories about this...and that is what I take from it...

[The Troll]

There you go again Henry,  your so easy.  But it's late, so I get you tomorrow.  Get some sleep so you will be alert.  I just love to pull your string.   No, No, liberals, liberals, taxes, taxes, gloom and more gloom and watch for that Boogie man under your bed.  Boogitity boogitity,  Goodnight.  The Troll

[LOsborne]

...what I really see is, the main thing that conservatives from that state want is that free enterprise needs to be stressed it's importance on the developing of this nation..captialism has been used to describe 'free enterprise" and they do not think that THAT is a fair representation....

This doesn't sound like a "capitalism" vs "free enterprise" semantics issue to me.

The revised curriculum (which plays up the Christian faith of the Founding Fathers, the merits of Joe McCarthy's anti-Communist crusade and the enduring historical importance of Phyllis Schlafly) has not yet been enshrined in textbooks.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/15/texas-textbook-wars-how-conservatives-might-teach-history/

I won't argue about the faith of the Founding Fathers, but you will talk a long time before you convince me McCarthy's crusade had any merit at all, or that Schlafly was more than a punchline on late-night television.

[The Troll]

Yes, free enterprise sound so good.  The Republicans are so good at changing the meanings of words.  Like estate tax to DEATH TAX.  Changing the word Liberal to a cuss word, look at the dictionary and see what the word really mean.  Changing the war against  radical Muslims to the war against terrorism.

   But look at the word free enterprise, the common man or woman working to start something for theirselves and start a business downtown.  They are really doing a good job.  Making money and keeping in their area.

   But look at the word Capitalism.  Some super big box stores like Walmart, Lowe's, Kohl's,  Meijer's and a whole lot more selling FORIEGN goods, come into a city and town build a shopping center on the outside of town and close down every FREE ENTERPRISE BUSINESS in the city and town.  Like Walmart, with a employee turn over of over 52%.  Paying minimum wages and shimming off the rest to sent it back to Arkansas.  Look at Noblesville and Anderson.  In Noblesville down town is nothing but lawyers and restaurants.  Words mean a lot of things.  The Troll

[Henry Hawk]

Yes, free enterprise sound so good.  The Republicans are so good at changing the meanings of words.  Like estate tax to DEATH TAX.  Changing the word Liberal to a cuss word, look at the dictionary and see what the word really mean.  Changing the war against  radical Muslims to the war against terrorism.

   But look at the word free enterprise, the common man or woman working to start something for theirselves and start a business downtown.  They are really doing a good job.  Making money and keeping in their area.

   But look at the word Capitalism.  Some super big box stores like Walmart, Lowe's, Kohl's,  Meijer's and a whole lot more selling FORIEGN goods, come into a city and town build a shopping center on the outside of town and close down every FREE ENTERPRISE BUSINESS in the city and town.  Like Walmart, with a employee turn over of over 52%.  Paying minimum wages and shimming off the rest to sent it back to Arkansas.  Look at Noblesville and Anderson.  In Noblesville down town is nothing but lawyers and restaurants.  Words mean a lot of things.  The Troll

if you don't like Walmart....don't shop there....if you don't want to work there, don't work there....things ARE what they are....we NOW live in an age where you need an education to gain employement of a decent salary...or you need to work a bunch of hours to get by...but it is a choice we all have to make and the opportunities are STILL there to be successful in this country...

we need to teach our kids the truths....and let them decide what THEY need to do to be successful....give them opportunities...

[Exterminator]

which brings up another topic, and why there should be vouchers...and that would take care of lot of problems.

Oh, so you don't want any tax dollars going to provide health care for those who don't currently have acess to it but you're ok with tax dollars being spent to send kids to religious schools?  Seriously?