Oh Texas, Not Again

[Acturus]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6893460.shtml

Texas Board of Ed: Textbooks Are Anti-Christian
Conservative Activist School Board Declares History Books Pro-Islam, "Very, Very, Very, Very Biased"; Vote Friday

Texas' State Board of Education - following a long history of throwing itself into "culture war" issues - is set to vote Friday on a resolution calling on textbook publishers to limit what they print about Islam in world history books.

The resolution cites world history books no longer used in Texas schools that it says devoted more lines of text to Islamic beliefs and practices than Christian beliefs and practices.

"Diverse reviewers have repeatedly documented gross pro-Islamic, anti-Christian distortions in social studies texts," reads a draft of the resolution, which would not be binding on future boards that will choose the state's next generation of social studies texts.

The measure was first suggested to the board this summer by Odessa businessman Randy Rives, who lost his Republican primary bid for a seat on the panel earlier this year.

The conservative-leaning and heavily evangelical Christian board pushed the item to a vote.

Board member Pat Hardy, R-Fort Worth, suggested the issue may be moot because none of the books cited by Rives still are being used in Texas, having been replaced in 2003, and said Rives "might want to go back and get newer copies of the books."

Don McLeroy, who is serving the final months of his term after also losing in the GOP primary, said he believes even current textbooks still reflect an anti-Christian bias.

"The biggest problem I saw was their overreach not to be 'ethnocentric,"' McLeroy said of an Advanced Placement world history book approved in 2003 and still in use. "It's a very, very, very, very biased book. Christianity didn't even make it in the table of contents."

McLeroy is one of the most outspoken of a group of board members who have pushed several conservative requirements for social study textbooks used in Texas, including that teachers cover the Judeo-Christian influences of the nation's Founding Fathers.

"It’s that great idea. That radical idea of Judeo-Christianity, that man is created in the image of God. So if you have world history books that downplay Christianity - Judeo-Christianity - and it doesn’t even make it in the table of contents, I think there’s a great concern," McLeroy said.

Some educators fear the debate might lead to a revision of history. "I was a social studies teacher, and, I’m sorry. History is what it is. It happened," Gayle Fallon of the Houston Federation of Teachers told CBS affiliate KHOU.

Fallon said the claim that books devote more lines to Islam that Christianity is baseless anyway.

"I’ve talked to the history teachers. They say there’s nothing there," Fallon said. "A textbook should not proselytize for any side. It should present fact. And, from what we’ve seen of the text, they present fact."

In the board’s official resolution, members cite textbook passages that call Christian Crusaders "invaders" and "violent attackers," while claiming Muslims were "empire builders."

Kathy Miller, spokeswoman for the Texas Freedom Network, a religious freedom group, called the resolution "another example of board members putting politics ahead of just educating our kids."

"Once again, without consulting any real experts, the board's politicians are manufacturing a bogus controversy," Miller said. No textbooks cited in the resolution are still being used in Texas schools, she told The Dallas Morning news for a Wednesday story.

The resolution concludes by warning publishers the "State Board of Education will look to reject future prejudicial social studies submissions that continue to offend Texas law with respect to treatment of the world's major religious groups by significant inequalities of coverage space-wise and by demonizing or lionizing one or more of them over others."

I do so love what they're doing out there.

[Headspace]

They're biased because they're not Christian enough.

[ZarakiKujata]

Maybe these guys could burn some pro-Islam history books to show their dissatisfaction?

[Norellicus]

Why the fuck is the board of ed made up of anyone other than educators...

That's almost as bad as the MPAA committee being comprised of theater and film studio execs.

[Drex]

In the board’s official resolution, members cite textbook passages that call Christian Crusaders "invaders" and "violent attackers," while claiming Muslims were "empire builders."

lol they mad

Board member Pat Hardy, R-Fort Worth, suggested the issue may be moot because none of the books cited by Rives still are being used in Texas, having been replaced in 2003, and said Rives "might want to go back and get newer copies of the books."

10/10

Why the fuck is the board of ed made up of anyone other than educators...

That's almost as bad as the MPAA committee being comprised of theater and film studio execs.

because 9/11

[Fhqwghads]

Here's a whacky idea, just take out any religious nonsense and leave it up to the individual to go explore that on their own. Nothing wrong with having the historical impact of religion in there, such as the Spanish Inquisition, and other wonderful examples of how awesome religions are. As soon as schools and/or their textbooks expound upon various belief systems, and exploring religious dogma they're going too far. That kind of depth belongs to churches or for personal research.

[Lucavi]

Here's a whacky idea, just take out any religious nonsense and leave it up to the individual to go explore that on their own. Nothing wrong with having the historical impact of religion in there, such as the Spanish Inquisition, and other wonderful examples of how awesome religions are. As soon as schools and/or their textbooks expound upon various belief systems, and exploring religious dogma they're going too far. That kind of depth belongs to churches or for personal research.

That's not doing God's will. Damn you.

[Khajit]

America apparently exists to make everyone else realize the people in charge for their respective countries aren't the worst they can get.

[Mizango]

Ughh

[Silenka]

So much rage recently... I'm afraid of what america is becoming... almost time to move somewhere else I guess. >.> I hear Norway is nice...

[Akucaen]

They're biased because they're not Christian enough.

This. As a student of this system, (well I suppose everyone in the US. From what I understand the size of our (Texas) education system dominates what books are sold to schools all over the US? Dunno if that was something we were just old or true,) the books are already way, way too biased towards US, US policies, and the lord-of-lord's jesus christ, period. US History was always a fucking joke until I got to college, and science back in high-school was equally laughable (although an upside was our teacher for biology was an atheist, so we didn't get any creationism bullshit despite it being HINTED AT VERY STRONGLY by our books. ._. ) I'm a firm believer that religion has absolutely no place in schools. Schools, for the most part, are public institutions funded by the local, state, or federal government. Because of the separation of church and state, (that's supposed to exist anyway,) it's my firm believe that if a single government dollar goes to any school, religion should stay out, period. If you want your precious religion, send your child to a private school. Problem. Solved.

And these people are worried about the islamification of the US. I'm more worried about the christian fascism taking over every last bit of sanity we have.

[Killgannon]

The resolution cites world history books no longer used in Texas schools that it says devoted more lines of text to Islamic beliefs and practices than Christian beliefs and practices.

stopped reading at that line... could that be because oh idk islamic countries have more to do with world history (especially ancient) than christian ones do? or is that part just ignored?

[Silenka]

See up here in Ohio we were taught scientific facts in school, none of the creationism crap. My Biology teacher was a hillbilly (and a great teacher) and we got the best education in evolution possible for a high school. I didn't hear of anyone petitioning for more christianity or more creationism in my school, not even a hint of religious bias, which I guess I should be thankful for. Looking back, our textbooks were very true to history and unbiased. I can't imagine going to school in a christian-biased community where fantasy is taught instead of reality...

[ZarakiKujata]

stopped reading at that line... could that be because oh idk islamic countries have more to do with world history (especially ancient) than christian ones do? or is that part just ignored?

Not seeing what a country currently being Islamic has to do w/ ancient history which shouldnt have an Islamic or Christian bias (maybe Zoroastrian/Zeus/Ra/Jew bias?), thats not what this resolution is about. It's about the books portraying the marauding Crusaders and people who reclaimed Spain as evil and the caliphates that ruled Palestine/Spain as being empires of value destroyed by Christianity which these backwards ass hicks disagree with.

[Yabby]

This. As a student of this system, (well I suppose everyone in the US. From what I understand the size of our (Texas) education system dominates what books are sold to schools all over the US? Dunno if that was something we were just old or true,) the books are already way, way too biased towards US, US policies, and the lord-of-lord's jesus christ, period. US History was always a fucking joke until I got to college, and science back in high-school was equally laughable (although an upside was our teacher for biology was an atheist, so we didn't get any creationism bullshit despite it being HINTED AT VERY STRONGLY by our books. ._. ) I'm a firm believer that religion has absolutely no place in schools. Schools, for the most part, are public institutions funded by the local, state, or federal government. Because of the separation of church and state, (that's supposed to exist anyway,) it's my firm believe that if a single government dollar goes to any school, religion should stay out, period. If you want your precious religion, send your child to a private school. Problem. Solved.

And these people are worried about the islamification of the US. I'm more worried about the christian fascism taking over every last bit of sanity we have.

^ this. If someone could educate me on how religion can be pushed into the study's of a federal/state/etc funded program. I mean the separation of church and state should be protect schools from this shit. I'm sorry evolution can be proven and god can't.

[BerenTebogo]

lol

[Ksandra]

^ this. If someone could educate me on how religion can be pushed into the study's of a federal/state/etc funded program.

Texas.

That should explain it...XD

well I suppose everyone in the US. From what I understand the size of our (Texas) education system dominates what books are sold to schools all over the US? Dunno if that was something we were just old or true

You are correct. Pretty much all text books come from either Texas or California. Whi means mose of the U.S's education is based on either texa's or california's curriculum.

[BerenTebogo]

That should explain it...XD



You are correct. Pretty much all text books come from either Texas or California. Whi means mose of the U.S's education is based on either texa's or california's curriculum.

Religious zealots or hippie zealots.

CHOOSE YOUR FATE.

[Ksandra]

Religious zealots or hippie zealots.

CHOOSE YOUR FATE.

basically, California is the reason we have retarded shit like lattice math, so they are no bed of roses.

[ZarakiKujata]

Um, doesn't CA have its fair share of religious zealots? Also, considering the sorry state of CA public schools, I can't imagine their BoE being anywhere near as competent as Texas's with regards to shoving their beliefs down America's throat.