Texas Proves It Is Truly Free -- To Be Stupid

Texas has always prided itself in its freedom and independence. "Don't Mess With Texas" is not just a motto, it's a mindset.

Apparently, that freedom also extends to the freedom to be box-of-rocks stupid. Specifically, it extends to the Texas State Board of Education, who has shown their independence by surrendering their children's brains to the right wing:

After months of debate and national controversy, the Texas State Board of Education Friday afternoon passed new high school textbook standards that recast U.S. history from the point of view of a movement conservative.

The AP reports on the 9-5 vote by the Republican-dominated board:

The partisan board has amended or watered down the teaching of the civil rights movement, slavery, America's relationship with the U.N. and hundreds of other items. ... They dictate how political events and figures will be taught to some 4.8 million schoolchildren in Texas and beyond for the next decade.

Among other things, the standards state that students must "discuss alternatives regarding long term entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare, given the decreasing worker to retiree ratio." Another clause says students must "describe the causes and key organizations and individuals of the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s, including Phyllis Schafly, the Contract with America, the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority, and the National Rifle Association."

They also discussed, then passed, a motion to require students to "evaluate efforts by global organizations to undermine U.S. soverignty." And, of course, let's not forget the right-wing Christians in the room, as noted by the Houston Chronicle:

In one of the most significant curriculum changes, the board dilutes the rationale for the separation of church and state in a high school government class, noting that the words were not in the Constitution and requiring students to compare and contrast the judicial language with the First Amendment's wording.

A few other fun items:

• Changed BCE and CE back to BC and AD
• Decided Thomas Jefferson wasn't influential, after all
• Required the teaching of the Judeo-Christian influence on the Founding Fathers
• Required that the US be referred to as a "constitutional republic" rather than "democratic"

You may be asking, Why do we care what Texas does with its textbooks? Here's why you care -- since Texas is such a large market, textbook publishers usually rewrite their books to match what Texas demands. Without vigilance in our own schools, pretty soon OUR students will be taught that there is no such thing as separation of church and state, or that Thomas Jefferson didn't matter as much as Phyllis Schafly.

It's time to call this out for just what it is -- a right-wing-nut takeover of the school textbook market. If Texas wants to make their own children clueless about history and America, then they can live with the consequences. But if they try to spread that tripe across the nation, they'll discover that "freedom from stupid" is one freedom we try to protect.

Comments

[jmb27]

Re: Toni Morrison's book, "Song of Solomon."

"Banned" at Franklin Central High School....?

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20104290404

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100504/OPINION01/5040314/1002/OPINION/Advanced-Placement-students-can-handle-mature-material

[Bruce]

The last statement from the board member says it all -- "These are still children."

Hmm -- high school students in an AP english class. They were juniors -- so, about 16 or 17. What you want to bet THEY weren't shocked by the book? If statistics are any guide, about half of them have already had sex, and a certain percentage are having it regularly.

Perhaps the school board should get out more?