The Texas Board of Education has apparently succeeded in injecting conservative values and notions into some of the state’s Social Studies standards. Textbook companies will now take those standards and change the way that they describe America’s past. For example:
1. The U.S. government must be refered to as a “constitutional republic” not as “democratic.”
2. Add Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America to history books.
3. A proposal to mention in passing that numerous Tejanos were also killed at the Alamo was defeated.
As a teacher, I have been through numerous standards revisions. It is always contentious. Everyone wants to add their own spice to the stew but I’ve never heard of this level. Textbooks that come from this will be sold all over the nation. Companies will not bother making an Arkansas version for example. Also, Texas has what are called TAKS tests. These are summative exams that are given state-wide similar to Arkansas’ End of Course Tests. The difference is that Texas is ahead of Arkansas in terms of success on these tests being required for graduation. So in the next decade, Texas is going to be producing millions of kids who are required to learn that the founding fathers were Christian but not so much about the separation of church and state… or they don’t graduate.
Texas Pulling Social Studies Standards to the Right
Posted by Jeff on March 13, 2010
The Texas Board of Education has apparently succeeded in injecting conservative values and notions into some of the state’s Social Studies standards. Textbook companies will now take those standards and change the way that they describe America’s past. For example:
1. The U.S. government must be refered to as a “constitutional republic” not as “democratic.”
2. Add Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America to history books.
3. A proposal to mention in passing that numerous Tejanos were also killed at the Alamo was defeated.
As a teacher, I have been through numerous standards revisions. It is always contentious. Everyone wants to add their own spice to the stew but I’ve never heard of this level. Textbooks that come from this will be sold all over the nation. Companies will not bother making an Arkansas version for example. Also, Texas has what are called TAKS tests. These are summative exams that are given state-wide similar to Arkansas’ End of Course Tests. The difference is that Texas is ahead of Arkansas in terms of success on these tests being required for graduation. So in the next decade, Texas is going to be producing millions of kids who are required to learn that the founding fathers were Christian but not so much about the separation of church and state… or they don’t graduate.
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