Less Lincoln, more religion in class? (SBOE)

[sonias]

Houston Chronicle 7/13/09
Less Lincoln, more religion in class?
Proposed revisions to social studies curriculum could ruffle feathers

AUSTIN — Biographies of Washington, Lincoln, Stephen F. Austin? Not fit reading material for children in the early grades.
(snip)
The State Board of Education expects to start discussing new social studies curriculum standards this week, with members of the public getting their first opportunity to speak this fall and a final board vote next spring.

The process is a long one with lasting impact: reshaping the social studies curriculum, including history, for 4.7 million Texas public school children.

(snip)

According to a preliminary draft of the new proposed standards, biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Stephen F. Austin have been removed from the early grades, said Brooke Terry of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

The early draft, which is likely to change multiple times in the coming months, also removes Independence Day, Veterans' Day, and anthems and mottos for both Texas and the United States in a section on holidays, customs and celebrations, she said.

(snip)
One of the reviewers also suggested that the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall be removed from history books on grounds that he is not an appropriate example as a historical figure of influence. Thurgood Marshall was the NAACP lawyer who won the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme court school segregation case that led to the integration of public schools.

Those wackos are at it again. :crazy:

Sonia

[sonias]

1. Capitol Annex pieces on David Barton who SBOE hired as "expert"

Capitol Annex 7/7/09
More David Barton: A Closer Look At His Analysis Of The Texas Social Studies TEKS

(snip) Barton's analysis
Students should be familiar with the fundamental principles of America government set forth in the 126 words in the first three sentences at the beginning of the Declaration and those principles should be regularly reviewed throughout their tenure as a student:

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitles them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

(It is from this section that students are to recite by memory under state law.)
The principles set forth here and subsequently secured in the Constitution and Bill of Rights include:
1. There is a fixed moral law derived from God and nature
2. There is a Creator
3. The Creator gives to man certain unalienable rights
4. Government exists primarily to protect God-given rights to every individual
5. Below God-given rights and moral law, government is directed by the consent of the governed

Capitol Annex 7/7/09
Barton’s Review Of Social Studies Standards Lacks Much To Be Desired (Including Actual Facts)

(snip)
In his review, Barton writes that the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the sacrifices they made must have more focus placed on them in the curriculum standards. He writes:

2. The Signatories of the Declaration and the Sacrifices they Made. Nowhere do the TEKS indicate that the writers of the Declaration should be examined; rather they only vaguely mention that students should “identify the contributions of significant individuals during the revolutionary period, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington” . The current modern trend is to present only two or three signers of the Declaration (in the aforementioned case, only one); and almost universally absent is any presentation of the personal sacrifices incurred in honoring their pledge of giving their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. Virtually unknown to this generation are their sacrifices – that 7 of the 56 signers died during the Revolution; that 3 were made prisoners of war (and 3 wives of the signers were also made prisoners of war); 3 signers lost their children; 3 lost their wives; 17 lost their fortunes and estates; several lost their health; etc. Students should be asked to identify and study not just the typical two or three signers but several of them, including their character, sacrifices, family, and leadership. Such an historical examination will also inculcate the elements of patriotism and citizenship required by state law.

===============
Barton’s statistics about Declaration signers somehow sounded familiar to us. Then, we remembered it sounded similar to an e-mail forward that started making the rounds back in 2000. That email was collected and debunked at Snopes.com.

Kudos to Vince at Capitol Annex for "exposing" Barton as a big fake!

Sonia

[Aragorn]

2. Texas, My Texas

sucks

[mp9200]

5. definately

why don't we give texas back to mexico?

[sonias]

3. More SBOE studpidity along with State Education Commissioner

Postcards From the Lege blog AAS 7/15/09
Board backs Scott on shunning national standards

The State Board of Education gave its assent after-the-fact to Education Commissioner Robert Scott’s decision not to participate in the drafting of national standards for math and English.

It was hardly a surprising position for the board members, who covet their authority to craft the curriculum standards that drive what makes it into textbooks and Texas classrooms.

"Stay firm," said Board Member Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands. "Our standards are awesome and we appreciate your support of that."

The national standards effort, which is being led by the governors and state education leaders across the country, is also a top priority of President Barack Obama’s education team. Participation in that process will be one consideration when some $4 billion in grants are doled out to states.

"It's so awesome to remain stupid, let's stay strong ya"ll!" Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands cheers! :woohoo:

:crazy::crazy::crazy:

Sonia

[sonias]

4. Social studies will be next battle for State Board of Education

AAS 7/16/09
Social studies will be next battle for State Board of Education
Controversy looms in board's decisions about history, government and culture.

Fresh off a contentious battle about science curriculum during the spring, the State Board of Education is girding for a fight over social studies that could make the last one look like a mild skirmish.

(snip)

The Fordham Institute's review of Texas' existing U.S. history standards, which are part of the social studies curriculum, found that they push a political agenda.

"American, and especially Texan, history is glorified," according to the 2006 study. "The documents avoid the less laudable parts of the nation's and states' histories — such as Jim Crow and the KKK — and instead point to, for example, oil and gas companies as manifestations of the wonders of laissez-faire capitalism."

The political agenda is not likely to go away. Three of the six reviewers appointed by the board to examine the current standards have urged a greater focus on the religious influences on the origin of the country and political system.

"In light of the overwhelming historical evidence of the influence of the Christian faith in the founding of America, it is simply not up to acceptable academic standards that throughout the social studies (standards) I could find only one reference to the role of religion in America's past," wrote Peter Marshall, a Presbyterian minister from Massachusetts whose mission, according to his Web site, is to "restore America to its Bible-based foundations."

The appointments of Marshall and David Barton, founder of the religious organization Wallbuilders, as expert reviewers have prompted calls to create minimum qualifications for experts. Neither of them has an academic background in the social studies disciplines..

Fresh new :crazy:

Sonia