Texas, how could you? Two years ago we were concerned about the religiously-biased advisors who were planning to restructure the Texas Social Studies curriculum to "emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history."Now not only has that passed, but a whole bunch of important facts have been written out of the Texas history books. Like what?
1. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams are no longer important founding fathers. The important ones are Christian thinkers like Benjamin Rush, John Hancock and John Jay. (To quote John Jay; "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.")
2. That labor movement in the 1900s that got us worker's rights and trade unions? Not important anymore. Instead students will learn how "the free enterprise system drives technological innovation ... such as cell phones, inexpensive personal computers and global positioning products."
3. Malcom X was not an important historical figure; he will no longer be in textbooks. But instead Texans will study moral thinker Jerry Falwell, who believes that "feminists and homosexuals were partially responsible for the 9/11 attacks."
So...how would you like to go to school in Texas?
Malcom X should remain in curriculum, simply because it would be a shame for history to repeat itself. Malcom X was a sick man, and a twisted racist. He was fighting for a noble cause, but his methods for doing so were just as evil as the inequality he was fighting.
ReplyDeleteYes. Those who enact great change should be studied. Their methods can be a great topic of discussion, and an important learning experience.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter what state you're in. Texas buys the most textbooks, hands down. As a result, new editions are generally printed to their largest-customer specifications. Other states could pay extra to have their own printed, or just buy more off the Texas run. I leave completing the scenario as an exercise to the reader.
ReplyDeleteWhat Aidhogan said - this isn't a Texas problem, this is a "half the United States" problem.
ReplyDelete