Texas dumbs down textbooks

[Patrick]

My colleague James McKinley reports that the Texas Board of Education voted on Friday “to approve a social studies curriculum that will put a conservative stamp on history and economics textbooks, stressing the role of Christianity in American history and presenting Republican political philosophies in a more positive light.�

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/201...st-could-love/

[Retroit]

Christianity played a huge part in our country's history; there is no denying that. Of course, this has changed in recent decades as socialists have tried to replace the supremacy of God with the supremacy of the Government; but before our decline, faith in God was one of the key factors that made us a great country.

[Jimaz]

In related news:

From Education Week: Is Fox Being 'Fair and Balanced'? Texas Ed. Agency Says No

Fox News likes to emphasize its commitment to providing "fair and balanced" coverage of the issues, but the Texas Education Agency isn't impressed.

In an unusual action, the state agency issued a press release yesterday accusing Fox of "inaccurately reporting" on the work under way by the state board of education to revise the state's social studies standards.

It offers up a series of quotes and assertions from Fox News followed by "The truth."...

The press release lists six FOX inaccuracies after stating "The Fox Network in recent days has repeatedly broadcast highly inaccurate information about the State Board of Education’s efforts to adopt the new social studies curriculum standards."

From The Dallas Morning News: Fox News tries to clarify erroneous reports about Texas social studies curriculum debate

After getting ripped by the Texas Education Agency, Fox News on Thursday sought to clarify some of its reports on the state's social studies curriculum debate.

While not apologizing for the reports, Steve Doocy of the morning show Fox & Friends said the network had been "trying to make it simpler" for viewers to understand the process by reporting that the State Board of Education was reviewing new textbooks....

This is Fox News admitting that they must "simplify" the news for their particular audience. Oh. Really?

[firstandten]

Christianity played a huge part in our country's history; there is no denying that. Of course, this has changed in recent decades as socialists have tried to replace the supremacy of God with the supremacy of the Government; but before our decline, faith in God was one of the key factors that made us a great country.

Huh !!!

Its statements like that make me wonder about the state of education in our society.

How about this Retroit.... one of the key factors that made this country great other than the blessings of God , was the

INSTITIONALIZATION OF SLAVERY !!

before we could do that however we had a small problem of what to do with the native people who were already here... however thats neither here or there
The state of education in America is dropping faster than a rock compared to the rest of the world.

We already have a bunch of functionally illiterate high school graduates, now we want functionally illiterate ideologues filled with right wing religious dogma.

I can see it now our best students will use the word socialism over and over again and not have a clue as to what it is.. they won't know because the word would have been reduced to a right wing talking point.

I can see our students open up a econ book and the first words they will see is supply-side economics and right after that they will see the words tax-cuts and then our students will know the reason why the economy works so well for them, even though neither they or there parents can find a job.

The students can then go to social studies class and learn Republican political philosophies such as " starve the beast" and the "two santa claus theory" and know that our country is much better off because of those philosophies.

Lets just ignore data... lets ignore established historically truths the only thing that matters is the dogma

The Texas Board of Education and Fox news takes K-I-S-S to a whole new level.

[Retroit]

.... one of the key factors that made this country great other than the blessings of God , was the

INSTITIONALIZATION OF SLAVERY !!

The USA didn't institutionalize slavery. That occurred long before 1776. You are undoubtedly aware that slavery began in Africa and still exists there and that most slaves brought to America were captured and sold into slavery by black Africans.

Yes, the USA did benefit financially from slavery, but what relevance does this have to the topic at hand. Slavery wasn't "institutionalized" based on Christian or Republican principles. In fact, it was on Christian and Republican principles that slavery was abolished. Also, many slaves were Christians and most early black politicians were Republican, so I'm mystified by your analogy.

before we could do that however we had a small problem of what to do with the native people who were already here...

I don't think that the European settlers would have been any less harsh had they not been Christians. It was more of a clash of cultures and the unlikelihood of the two ways of life co-existing in close proximity. I would suggest reading some of the first-hand accounts of those who lived in proximity to Native Americans.

I can see it now our best students will use the word socialism over and over again and not have a clue as to what it is.. they won't know because the word would have been reduced to a right wing talking point.

Why no despair over the denigration that Capitalism has received? Liberals think that all our ecomonic problems can be blamed on capitalism when in fact it is socialism that is too blame.

I can see our students open up a econ book and the first words they will see is supply-side economics and right after that they will see the words tax-cuts and then our students will know the reason why the economy works so well for them, even though neither they or there parents can find a job.

Why no despair over the lack of jobs despite trillions of dollars of government spending? Would demand-side economics followed by tax increases produce more jobs?

The students can then go to social studies class and learn Republican political philosophies such as " starve the beast" and the "two santa claus theory" and know that our country is much better off because of those philosophies.

Future generations will not have to resort to the study of theories to understand the higher taxes they will be burdened paying. That tax burden is the result of the government spending too much. While both parties are to blame, I think by comparison, Democrats are bigger spenders.

Lets just ignore data... lets ignore established historically truths the only thing that matters is the dogma.

Let's not.

[gibran]

having just been in Texas I fell out of my chair in the discussions of how this will improve our country etc...free market and Reaganomics kept coming up ....there is a minimizing of latino history in Texas no less.....see what happens when the "party" is in control....it is a redneck reggae going on in Texas...

[313WX]

From The Dallas Morning News: Fox News tries to clarify erroneous reports about Texas social studies curriculum debateThis is Fox News admitting that they must "simplify" the news for their particular audience. Oh. Really?

Faux News definitely knows their audience. Both Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck joke about it every night [[many Faux News viewers really think Glenn is a professor just because he uses a chalkboard) This all stems back to The Simpsons controversy years ago when the heads of FOX demanded they no longer joke about or parody Fox News [[or they'll pull The Simpsons off the air) because their viewers may "confuse" it with the actual News Channel.

[oladub]

I thought US text books were already dumbed down.

Fred Reed is an opinionated American writer and expatriot who lives in Mexico with his Mexican wife and her daughter Natalia. He wrote this article about his 8th grade step-daughter's textbooks and includes snippits from those texts.
Eighth Grade in Mexico
exerpt -
It will be said, correctly, that the cities of America are populated by extensive underclasses of blacks and Hispanics. True enough. However, they are still American kids [[now or soon to be) who are learning nothing. Natalia would eat them alive. I have some familiarity with the suburban, mostly white schools of Arlington County, Virginia, just outside of Washington, because my daughters went to them. At least one of these schools served populations living in very pricey neighborhoods.
The girls came home with misspelled handouts from affirmative-action science teachers, and they learned about Harriet Tubman and oppression. Of the sciences they learned very little. I knew bright kids who had trouble with the multiplication tables. Yes, there are schools and schools, some better than others, and advanced-placement and such. I do not suggest that Mexico has a great school system, because it doesn’t. Yet Natalia, in her particular school, is better off than she would be in Washington, heaven knows, or the Virginia suburbs. Ain’t that something?

Fred also has an article about his wife Violeta's education growing up in poverty in Mexico. He honors her and her upbringing. This is not totally relevant to this thread but taking Mexican history out of Texan history has been brought up. Fred explains a bit of how kids are taught on the other side of the border. http://www.fredoneverything.net/Poverty.shtml

[vetalalumni]

Retroit, you take an original and rooted position. What you state is not always done so in such concise manner, let alone publicly [[i.e. mixed company). Certainly, a few texts would both support and contradict your assertions. It is helpful to hear "regular" people openly articulate such views, whether I agree or not. Initiates dialog.

.... one of the key factors that made this country great other than the blessings of God , was the

INSTITIONALIZATION OF SLAVERY !!

The USA didn't institutionalize slavery. That occurred long before 1776. You are undoubtedly aware that slavery began in Africa and still exists there and that most slaves brought to America were captured and sold into slavery by black Africans.

Yes, the USA did benefit financially from slavery, but what relevance does this have to the topic at hand. Slavery wasn't "institutionalized" based on Christian or Republican principles. In fact, it was on Christian and Republican principles that slavery was abolished. Also, many slaves were Christians and most early black politicians were Republican, so I'm mystified by your analogy.

before we could do that however we had a small problem of what to do with the native people who were already here...

I don't think that the European settlers would have been any less harsh had they not been Christians. It was more of a clash of cultures and the unlikelihood of the two ways of life co-existing in close proximity. I would suggest reading some of the first-hand accounts of those who lived in proximity to Native Americans.

I can see it now our best students will use the word socialism over and over again and not have a clue as to what it is.. they won't know because the word would have been reduced to a right wing talking point.

Why no despair over the denigration that Capitalism has received? Liberals think that all our ecomonic problems can be blamed on capitalism when in fact it is socialism that is too blame.

I can see our students open up a econ book and the first words they will see is supply-side economics and right after that they will see the words tax-cuts and then our students will know the reason why the economy works so well for them, even though neither they or there parents can find a job.

Why no despair over the lack of jobs despite trillions of dollars of government spending? Would demand-side economics followed by tax increases produce more jobs?

The students can then go to social studies class and learn Republican political philosophies such as " starve the beast" and the "two santa claus theory" and know that our country is much better off because of those philosophies.

Future generations will not have to resort to the study of theories to understand the higher taxes they will be burdened paying. That tax burden is the result of the government spending too much. While both parties are to blame, I think by comparison, Democrats are bigger spenders.

Lets just ignore data... lets ignore established historically truths the only thing that matters is the dogma.

Let's not.

[Roq]

Love the tags on this thread.

[Sstashmoo]

Quote: "Christianity played a huge part in our country's history;"

Keyword: played. This nation will fail without God. Hide and watch..

[gibran]

Christianity did play a huge part in our history...we only see the parts that we want to see...not the everyday actions of good people who follow their religious beliefs...and paractice what they preach..yes it [[religion) has bad as well as good things....but it is the practice by regular people of compassion and who are good that happen to be Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Athiest that go unrecognized...a few bad doesn't spoil it but it sure makes head lines..

[rb336]

In fact, it was on Christian and Republican principles that slavery was abolished. Also, many slaves were Christians and most early black politicians were Republican, so I'm mystified by your analogy.

Republicans in those days have NO resemblance to modern republicans, and haven't since teddy roosevelt became a bull moose.

and what "christian" principles are you talking about? probably Quaker in origin. Old and New Testament alike support slavery and monarchy

I don't think that the European settlers would have been any less harsh had they not been Christians. It was more of a clash of cultures and the unlikelihood of the two ways of life co-existing in close proximity. I would suggest reading some of the first-hand accounts of those who lived in proximity to Native Americans.

got any recommendations? the French relationship with Indians was much better than the Spanish or British/US. and no, in our case it was greed, not religion. in the spanish case it was both.

Why no despair over the denigration that Capitalism has received? Liberals think that all our ecomonic problems can be blamed on capitalism when in fact it is socialism that is too blame.

you are wrong on both counts. liberals blame multinational corporatism, and, in fact, it IS that that is to blame

Why no despair over the lack of jobs despite trillions of dollars of government spending? Would demand-side economics followed by tax increases produce more jobs?

here, you simply have virtually all of your facts wrong. and yes, demand-side economics creates a FAR more vibrant economy [[more money in many hands vs. few hands. simple logic, that.)

Future generations will not have to resort to the study of theories to understand the higher taxes they will be burdened paying. That tax burden is the result of the government spending too much. While both parties are to blame, I think by comparison, Democrats are bigger spenders.

again, any close look at history proves you wrong. spending increased more under Nixon than Johnson, Reagan and Bush than Carter, Bush than Clinton. Deficits are even more clearly higher under republicans

[firstandten]

Even though I thought rb336 did an excellent job in responding to your post, I just wanted to double down on some of his comments to you.

The USA didn't institutionalize slavery. That occurred long before 1776. You are undoubtedly aware that slavery began in Africa and still exists there and that most slaves brought to America were captured and sold into slavery by black Africans.

.

I am very aware that slavery did not began in the United States. Slavery is as old as mankind itself. However and this was discussed in previous threads and I really don't want to spend a lot of time on it because its OT to this thread. But the US had a form of slavery called chattel slavery which was a legal institution. Black codes and Jim Crow laws after slavery reinforced segregation. I also said that yes black Africans sold other black Africans into slavery but chattel slavery was a concept they were not familar with. There has been documented instances that once word got back to some of the African tribes that this type of slavery was being practiced they refused to co-operate any longer with the slave traders

So when you say Christanity is one of the things that made our country great, while not untrue that is a galling statement to me. How could good Christian people condone one of the most inhumane practices of our time. I could make the argument that our country's is great because of slaves providing the labor that basically built our infrastructure and created our wealth.

Yes, the USA did benefit financially from slavery, but what relevance does this have to the topic at hand. Slavery wasn't "institutionalized" based on Christian or Republican principles. In fact, it was on Christian and Republican principles that slavery was abolished. Also, many slaves were Christians and most early black politicians were Republican, so I'm mystified by your analogy.

Its really doesn't but what a self-rightous statement you put out there about christianity could not go unchallenged.
I could also make an argument that it was as much a economic reality that slavery needed to be abolished as Christian principles. Again an understanding of history is in order here. Many of the slaves were christian because whatever they believed in was taken from them when they were enslaved and christianity was forced upon them. As rb said very well the republican party now ain't the party of Lincoln. as hasn't been since blacks flocked to the Dems under FDR

I don't think that the European settlers would have been any less harsh had they not been Christians. It was more of a clash of cultures and the unlikelihood of the two ways of life co-existing in close proximity. I would suggest reading some of the first-hand accounts of those who lived in proximity to Native Americans

News flash ! The settlers tried to enslave the Native Americans first but they were deemed unsuitable for slavery because too many of them died. A dead slave is not profitable

Why no despair over the denigration that Capitalism has received? Liberals think that all our ecomonic problems can be blamed on capitalism when in fact it is socialism that is too blame.

I know my friend Oladub would disagree but capitalism without controls is too blame for many of our economic problems. But that doesn't mean socialism is too blame, for what ? How ? Thats what I mean about dumbing down textbooks with right wing rhetoric. If you put these words out there... Socialism, Communism and Facism. I bet the dumbed down readers of these books would use those words interchangablity when in fact those concepts are very different.

Why no despair over the lack of jobs despite trillions of dollars of government spending? Would demand-side economics followed by tax increases produce more jobs?

Yes, I'm in despair about a lack of jobs, but whose policies for the most part caused this to happen.

Future generations will not have to resort to the study of theories to understand the higher taxes they will be burdened paying. That tax burden is the result of the government spending too much. While both parties are to blame, I think by comparison, Democrats are bigger spenders

What do you base that on. How many times do the liberals on this board have to tell you that when you cut taxes [[revenue the gov't gets) and you increase spending thru wars, entitlements, pork etc you will run deficits. This is what the Repubs have done since Reagan so unless you know for a fact that Dems are bigger spenders you should be challenged on that statement.

[ghettopalmetto]

Christianity played a huge part in our country's history; there is no denying that. Of course, this has changed in recent decades as socialists have tried to replace the supremacy of God with the supremacy of the Government; but before our decline, faith in God was one of the key factors that made us a great country.

You're damn skippy religious faith played a large role in our country's history. The following colonies were founded based on religious freedom and avoiding persecution, i.e. having someone else's faith rammed down their throats:


Connecticut: Individuals from the Massachusetts colony moved to what would become Connecticut because they were looking for more freedom [[see below) and financial opportunities.

Maryland: Lord Baltimore was motivated both by the desire for profit and the desire to create a refuge for Roman Catholics who were still being persecuted in Protestant England.

Massachusetts: Separatists in England fled to Holland in 1608 and then decided to find refuge in America where they could create a home for themselves in the Massachusetts Colony.

New Jersey: In 1664, James, the Duke of York, received control of New Netherland. He granted land to two of his friends, Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, that would become New Jersey. The two advertised and promised settlers many benefits for colonizing including representative government and freedom of religion.

Pennsylvania: William Penn founded Pennsylvania with a land grant that was owed his deceased Father. His goal was to create a colony that allowed for freedom of religion due to his desire to protect himself and fellow Quakers from persecution.

Rhode Island: Roger Williams was banished to England by the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his beliefs in separation of church and state and freedom of religion. He fled and lived with the Narragansett Indians and formed Providence in 1636.

http://americanhistory.about.com/lib...colonial13.htm

[Sstashmoo]

Quotes: "i.e. having someone else's faith rammed down their throats:"

Nahh, people weren't self-serving jerks like they are nowadays.. They believed and couldn't fathom a person that didn't. Believing or not was not an issue, just how one believed was the case.

[oladub]

firstandten wrote, "I know my friend Oladub would disagree but capitalism without controls is too blame for many of our economic problems. But that doesn't mean socialism is too blame, for what ? How ? Thats what I mean about dumbing down textbooks with right wing rhetoric. If you put these words out there... Socialism, Communism and Facism. I bet the dumbed down readers of these books would use those words interchangablity when in fact those concepts are very different."

Over on the Mugabecare thread, your are citing magical numbers [["all you have to do is believe" -BO) to justify a corporatist health care plan which is the polite term for economic facism. Indeed, it is a good example of capitalism with controls - hiring 16,500 extra health care workers at the IRS, for starters, to deal with the extra paperwork. I do hope that the new text books will accurately portray both the Democrat and Republican parties as being corporatist promoting entities but doubt it. I am all for certain socialist programs, especially at the local level, like schools, roads, and public libraries when they are proven to be the cheapest way of delivering such services to everyone. I even would support states adopting Ontario's provincial health care plan lock, stock, and barrel because it would reduce per capita costs by 40% and even reduce what governments are now spending, pre-Mugabecare, in the US. Even from a capitalist or small government viewpoint, the reduction of government spending in such a system would result in more private capital available for other things and less government. Unfortunately, you and Democrats are substituting this corporatist, not socialist, monstrosity at the federal level.

[d.mcc]

Christianity did play a huge part in our history...we only see the parts that we want to see...not the everyday actions of good people who follow their religious beliefs...and paractice what they preach..yes it [[religion) has bad as well as good things....but it is the practice by regular people of compassion and who are good that happen to be Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Athiest that go unrecognized...a few bad doesn't spoil it but it sure makes head lines..

Yeah, Christianity was also important in manifest destiny... You know, that thing that gave us carte blanch to massacre millions of native Americans...

[ghettopalmetto]

Nahh, people weren't self-serving jerks like they are nowadays.. They believed and couldn't fathom a person that didn't. Believing or not was not an issue, just how one believed was the case.

And you don't think Southern evangelicals have a tendency to dismiss Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Atheism, or any other set of beliefs that conflicts with their own?

[rb336]

Over on the Mugabecare thread, your are citing magical numbers [["all you have to do is believe" -BO) to justify a corporatist health care plan which is the polite term for economic facism. Indeed, it is a good example of capitalism with controls - hiring 16,500 extra health care workers at the IRS, for starters, to deal with the extra paperwork.

first, "mugabecare"???? how exactly does this relate to Zimbabwe and mugabe, other than, of course, the color of Obama's skin?

second, where does that "hiring 16,500 extra..." come from? source, please

I do hope that the new text books will accurately portray both the Democrat and Republican parties as being corporatist promoting entities but doubt it.

no, they won't. Why? who owns the major Text book companies?

I even would support states adopting Ontario's provincial health care plan lock, stock, and barrel because it would reduce per capita costs by 40% and even reduce what governments are now spending

ok, I am surprised by that comment

Even from a capitalist or small government viewpoint.

the terms are not interchangeable in any way, shape or form

[oladub]

rb: "first, "mugabecare"???? how exactly does this relate to Zimbabwe and mugabe, other than, of course, the color of Obama's skin?"

second, where does that "hiring 16,500 extra..." come from? source, please

Don't forget that President Obama is half white. Maybe it's his white genes that are responsible for errors in judgement. You didn't like this corporatist nightmare being called Obamacare and I opined on the other thread that this health care scheme will probably do to for US heath care what Mugabe did for Zimbabwe's agriculture.

"Republican members of the House Ways and Means Committee, a panel that oversees taxes and health issues, also charged that IRS audits will likely increase if health care legislation is passed. They added the IRS will require up to $10 billion to administer the new program. They also claimed the IRS may need to hire 16,500 additional employees. " -WSJ I'll guess that the Republican numbers are high but with the added responsibility of determining if everyone's insurance policy meets government requirements, more employees will be required to administer health care.

"The IRS says that the new health care plan will mean additional taxes and penalties. This will require 16,000 new IRS employees in the department. They will include workers to enforce the regulations and collect fees as well as additional agents and auditors. The IRS will be given the authority, according to the Republicans report, to fine a person up to $2500, or two per cent of their income, whichever is great, if the person cannot prove they have purchased a minimum essential health care coverage."" The IRS says that the new health care plan will mean additional taxes and penalties.""According to the newly released document, prepared by the Republicans, the IRS can confiscate a tax refund. Additionally, they suggest that the number of audits conducted each year will increase. During this decade they say the IRS will need additional funding of $10 billion just to administer the new health care program."-America's News Online

My guess is that the 16,500 figure will be more accurate than the $1.2T of deficit savings that Democrats say Mugabecare will produce over the next ten years. We will see.

[johnsmith]

Texas dumbs down textbooks

You mean they can actually dumb down public school textbooks more than they already are now?

[maxx]

Quote: "Christianity played a huge part in our country's history;"

Keyword: played. This nation will fail without God. Hide and watch..

I suppose you think that your god beat the native Americans' gods. And where was your god during the Depression? What did the 11 million who died in the nazi death camps do to bring down the wrath of your god? Maybe your god is really a communist and FDR was his gift to the U.S.. Anyone can play the superstition game.

[maxx]

Texas dumbs down textbooks

You mean they can actually dumb down public school textbooks more than they already are now?

The suburban high schools I go to appear to have gotten away from textbooks to a large extent. They use xeroxed copies of articles and works. That gives me hope when I read about the latest crap coming out of the Texas textbook committee.

[Sstashmoo]

Quote: "Anyone can play the superstition game."

But it takes more than an idiot to think past their nose.