Most experts say it is unlikely that the board will revisit the social studies curriculum - unless Democrat Bill White wins the governor’s race this fall. If that happened, White would appoint the education board chairman, who controls the panel’s agenda and could put the issue back before the board next year
Read the whole story with short takes on many of the adopted changes, at this link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/052110dnedusboeupdate.2671ec55.html
More from Austin-based Burnt Orange Report, including a video of the controversial opening prayer by SBOE member Cynthia Dunbar:
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/10383/cynthia-dunbars-sboe-prayer-christian-land-governed-by-christian-principles
Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
Split along party lines, the board voted 9-5 to adopt the new standards, which will dictate what is taught in all Texas schools and provide the basis for future textbooks and student achievement tests over the next decade.
Texas standards often wind up being taught in other states because national publishers typically tailor their materials to Texas, one of the biggest textbook purchasers in the country.
Approval came after the GOP-dominated board approved a new curriculum standard that would encourage high school students to question the legal doctrine of church-state separation - a sore point for social conservative groups who disagree with court decisions that have affirmed the doctrine, including the ban on school-sponsored prayer.
Before the final vote on the lengthy list of standards, the board’s five Democrats criticized the Republican majority - primarily social conservatives - for injecting their political and religious views into the standards and giving short shrift to important minority figures in history.
Republicans called the standards a major step forward that will boost instruction in history, government and other social studies classes.
Regarding the complaint that Republicans and conservative ideology have been given more prominence, board member Don McLeroy, R-College Station, said the panel was trying to make up for the liberal-slanted curriculum now being used in schools.
Board Democrats accused the Republicans of a “cut-and-paste” job on the standards that included a flurry of late amendments undoing much of the work of teachers and academics who were appointed to review teams to draft the curriculum requirements last year.
“Here we are trying to approve standards for our children that will be used for years and we are being asked to approve all these last-minute cut-and-paste proposals,” said Mary Helen Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi.
“I don’t think any teacher would accept work like this,” she said. “They would have thrown this paper in the trash. We’ve done an injustice to the children of this state.
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From the Texas Freedom Network, http://www.tfn.org/site/PageServer
Even before the Texas State Board of Education took up its expected debate today over what students will learn about separation of church and state in their social studies classrooms, board member Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond, made her position clear. She offered the board’s opening prayer this morning and removed any doubt about what she and other far-right board members want students to learn: America’s laws and government should be based on the Christian Bible.
Laying out in blunt language the “Christian nation” vision of American history that the board’s powerful bloc of social conservatives espouses, Dunbar threw down the gauntlet:
“I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses.”
“Whether we look to the first charter of Virginia, or the charter of New England…the same objective is present — a Christian land governed by Christian principles.”
“I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country.”
You will recall that Dunbar, in her 2008 book, One Nation Under God, argued that the Founders created “an emphatically Christian government” (page 18 of her book) and that government should be guided by a “biblical litmus test” (page 47).
15 comments:
Wow, sounds like Dunbar is a picture perfect example of why folks like herself should not be permitted to alter recorded history for purposes of indoctrination. She has serous misperceptions about the founding fathers' concerns when founding this nation - not the least of which was religious persecution from zealots like Dunbar - who is purportedly operating as a representative of the State. I don't recall seeing anything specifying a particular religion or religious belief in the U.S Constitution. This is why, however, I will not permit my children to be in public schools that are attempting to indoctrinate children with such absurdities. I only wish I did not have to fund these public schools either.
As if the omission of state sanctioned religion in the Constitution were not enough, the First Amendment provides:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Seems like the SBOE is wholly contrary to fundamental Constitutional text and intent. Time to get rid of the brain washers. Apparently the members of the SBOE are perfect examples of what happens when you cannot READ.
I would like to see the reactions from our local school boards and administrators. If we have local school control, do we have to abide by these ridiculous changes to the curriculum? I really don't expect them show much if any resistance, particularly Wimberley ISD which is already under the thumb of the local imams who, strangely, allow unfettered abuse of alcohol, drugs and all sorts of prejudices.
These "righteous" board members are not "social conservatives". They are far right religious extremists who are playing politics with our education system.
See:
http://theuniverseatyourfeet.blogspot.com/
Vote for Hays County's own Rebecca Bell-Metereau for SBOE District 5 if you are unhappy with the way things are going.
My personal favorite change is from "slave trade" to "Atlantic triangular trade". Seriously???
Does White really have "a snowball's chance in hell" to beat Perry in November?
What else can you expect from people educated in Texas public schools? You don't actually expect them to have learned something do you?
Maybe this little fiasco will make people take notice and get involved... Who am I kidding, no one is going to care.
Peter,
Yes, White has at "snowball's chance in hell" of beating Perry but it's not going to be easy. We all must get the word out about how well liked Bill White is amongst BOTH republicans and democrats in Houston and the great job he did as mayor. Plus his energy knowledge would be invaluable to our state. If only he had good hair . . .
How do you explain to the voters White leaving Houston "in the red" regarding its budget?
Maybe it’s the fact that I rarely talk to lefties, but no one I know in Houston wants White as Governor. Even the Dems that I know there say they will hold their noses and vote for Perry. He was reportedly a disaster for Big H.
I have my own problems with White, but I have many more reasons NOT to reelect Perry. No can do. Perry needs to go.
As much as I want Perry out, I don't feel good about White. The other candidates, a.k.a., Independent, Libertarian, Green, etc. aren't going to matter much in this race.
How do the rest of you feel?
Agreed Peter, we are again faced with another very weak choice as we were in the last presidential election. I’m getting tired of holding my nose and voting for the lesser of two evils. I may not vote for either candidate for Governor. However, I will vote for other offices and issues.
Can someone present an argument against Perry that has merit other than the usual party line attacks? Can someone do the same for / against White? What gets so tired is watching the bloggers on this blog, and its respondents write trashy comments about each other both of character assassination and blindly accuse others of things that have no basis in reality.
Why don't we really have a conversation about the problems that beset us, and then hear what the other side has to say and find that middle ground that we all know must exist.
I know that earlier, I was reading about the President's meeting with GOP senators earlier, and the one side (Republicans) described the meeting as tense; the President's side described it otherwise; but supposedly the President "challenged" the right to "stand up" to their base. What I would like to see then is the President stand up to his base. Let's all be willing to kill our sacred cows politically when it comes to figuring out our commonly shared problems. If the President wants a new tone in Washington, he shouldn't go to a college campus and say he wants to bring a new tone to town, and then belittle and insult his political opponents. That just carries forward the harsh rhetoric from the other side of the aisle, and shows his words don't match his own actions.
What of another way, the way that we find our common, mutual interests, in which we are Americans first, Republicans and Democrats second? I know that I will catch hell from both sides for this "polly-anna" like attitude, but where is the hope in the way things are going? Continue to get more extreme until we come to blows or shots within our own country aimed at each other? Maybe, like Henry Clay, my position is no longer popular for us to consider each other's best interest, but without that consideration of the whole's best interest, or the other's best interest, we will never find our way out of this morass.
To Jon Thompson:
During the past 10 years I have written many published articles and commentaries on Rick Perry. If you Google or Yahoo my name regarding Rick Perry you should find many of them.
http://waxahachiedaily.blogspot.com/2009/02/governor-rick-perry-enemy-of-people.html
Anyway, here are a few reasons why Texans should get rid of Perry:
Number 1 is that Perry has done nothing or little for the majority of Texans.
See one of my articles re: Perry and eminent domain in Education News:
http://www.educationnews.org/political/70475.html
Rick Perry is pro-insurance and along with the legislature has permitted the insurance industry to charge Texans more for their insurance than people in other states. It is number 1 on the list of highest insurance costs.
Perry's idea of leading the legislature was to return the budget with all zeroes on it, basically telling representatives to do it themselves.
Perry took away social programs including those that provided children with health care and other services, only to return some of the programs in the following year and tooting his own horn for doing so. He made it sound like he added budget money and services for children.
Perry traveled around the state for his campaign contributing health care professionals to tell voters that eliminating "frivolous lawsuits" would lower health care costs and reduce costs of health plans. Perry got what he wanted but we still get increases every year.
Perry pushed to deregulate several industries telling Texans that it would open competition and reduce costs to consumers, e.g., electricity, higher education and others. Again Perry got the votes but the people got screwed again. Costs increased significantly.
Rick Perry is living in luxury while Texans pay a minimum of $600K per year for his home rental.
Perry says Texans pay low taxes and that he has created jobs for Texans:
http://www.indymedia.us/en/2009/06/37766.shtml
There are many more instances where Perry has lied to voters and they continue to pay for it.
Hope this helps you, Jon.
P
Good points, but White won't win.
Well, I never said he would win.
The Rasmussen Poll has Perry winning by a substantial margin.
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