Texas Education Board cuts Thomas Jefferson out of its textbooks
Texas Education Board cuts Thomas Jefferson out of its textbooks
The Texas Board of Education has been meeting this week to revise its social studies curriculum. During the past three days, “the board’s far-right faction wielded their power to shape lessons on the civil rights movement, the U.S. free enterprise system and hundreds of other topics”:
– To avoid exposing students to “transvestites, transsexuals and who knows what else,” the Board struck the curriculum’s reference to “sex and gender as social constructs.”
– The Board removed Thomas Jefferson from the Texas curriculum, “replacing him with religious right icon John Calvin.”
– The Board refused to require that “students learn that the Constitution prevents the U.S. government from promoting one religion over all others.”
– The Board struck the word “democratic” from the description of the U.S. government, instead terming it a “constitutional republic.”
As the nation’s second-largest textbook market, Texas has enormous leverage over publishers, who often “craft their standard textbooks based on the specs of the biggest buyers.” Indeed, as The Washington Monthly has reported, “when it comes to textbooks, what happens in Texas rarely stays in Texas.”
I think their pants might be a bit too big, leave it to some nut to try to put their particular brand of crazy on Texas/Texans! BTW, I resent that they can just 'decide what is best for my child' with out even asking the rest of us in Texas. That is no little change they expect the rest of us to swallow!
huh? what are you talking about "change".. this has been going on for a while in TX
Quoting texanmommy:
I think their pants might be a bit too big, leave it to some nut to try to put their particular brand of crazy on Texas/Texans! BTW, I resent that they can just 'decide what is best for my child' with out even asking the rest of us in Texas. That is no little change they expect the rest of us to swallow!
What I am talking about is that yes, they have been changing things, but a little less boldly in the past, this is a BIG change...
Quoting Joqui:
huh? what are you talking about "change".. this has been going on for a while in TX
Quoting texanmommy:
I think their pants might be a bit too big, leave it to some nut to try to put their particular brand of crazy on Texas/Texans! BTW, I resent that they can just 'decide what is best for my child' with out even asking the rest of us in Texas. That is no little change they expect the rest of us to swallow!
Texas could fall into the ocean and I for one would never miss it. Luckily our school district is in a very liberal area. No way this shit would fly here.
Grammie6
I do not agree with everyting they are doing.
I believe it should be a requirement for each stident to study the constitution.
I do not believe that sexual preference belongs anywhere in the history books. So I support that part of it.
least we forget about harvey milk... very important for history .. teaching about important gay figures in history helps children (IMO.. not fact just an opinion) understand and feel comfortable with people who have a different sexual orientation and maybe not see it as so "strange" and "taboo"
Quoting SxyMartini:
Actually sexual orientation and gay rights are now making history. This also should be covered as history. It is shaping our country as we know it today and for tomorrow.
Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
- SxyMartini
on Mar. 12, 2010 at 5:23 PM