TFN live blogging SBOE Social Studies Hearing today

[sonias]

Already some interesting gems as expected. Winger "experts" talking out both sides of their mouths. The general web site address for the blog is tfnblog.wordpress.com. Follow along if you can.

TFN blog 9/17/09
Blogging from the Social Studies Hearing II
September 17, 2009 by TFN

11:49 – Another gem from Rev. Marshall’s testimony earlier:

“All men are created equal… this has been the basis of every great social crisis through American history. It was the basis for the American Revolution, the abolition of slavery, the women’s movement, the civil right movement, and is the basis for the modern-day pro-life movement.”

So Marshall is an advocate for equal rights for women, eh? We’re not so sure most American women would be comfortable with Marshall’s idea of equality. Check out this excerpt from one of Marshall’s “Commentaries” from earlier this year on his Web site:

“At some point in life’s journey, both boys and girls must break free from the mother/woman as the source of vitality and power, and yield to Jesus as the source of power and life. Many women have found themselves crying out for someone to deliver them from the natural compulsion to control the lives of others, which is what years of being the life-giving source of vitality for children and husband can easily turn into. And boys cannot become men capable of exercising Godly power in the world as protectors and providers, men who have mastered themselves and thus can execute justice in society and right its wrongs, unless they have separated from their mothers and given themselves to One who is greater than their earthly fathers.”

Talking Points memo picks up another Marshall exchange:

Talking Points Memo 9/17/09
Evangelical Minister 'Expert' Spars With TX Board Of Ed Members About Inclusion Of Minorities

The Rev. Peter Marshall is one of the "experts" appointed by the Texas State Board of Education who has come under fire for his lack of academic credentials and unapologetic right-wing Christian agenda.

(snip)
"It is obvious beyond contradiction that structured American government on the natural rights of mankind, which they firmly believe were the gift of God," he said.

Asked by an African-American board member about his objection to the inclusion of Thurgood Marshall in the textbook standards -- Rev. Marshall called the jurist not "a strong enough example" -- Rev. Marshall responded: "He's known primarily for that one very important Supreme Court decision."

Marshall is an expert at being an "idiot". He is the last person who should be giving any kind of input about who rises to the level of importance for inclusion in a social studies or history textbook. :grr:

Sonia

[sonias]

1. State board vows to save Christmas, Chavez

AAS 9/18/09
State board vows to save Christmas, Chavez
Members weighs in on social studies curriculum.
(snip)

The State Board of Education sought to quiet some controversies Thursday as the state's social studies curriculum standards for public schools undergo revision.

Board members made clear that they would not embrace some politically unpalatable recommendations, such as no longer explicitly listing Christmas and César Chávez in the standards.

(snip)

The board members, who are scheduled to adopt the standards in March, set out to leave their imprint on the framework for the next generation of textbooks and lessons in history, government, economics and geography.

Board member Mary Helen Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi, repeatedly pressed for the inclusion of more minorities and women as specific examples in the standards and made clear that Chávez should be required subject matter.

(snip)

"This board wants you to talk about America, wants you to talk about it in a positive light," said Terri Leo, R-Spring. "All this global citizen stuff, I'm just not supporting that."

Leo was referring to part of the first-grade standards that called for students to "establish the foundation for responsible citizenship in a global society."

(snip)

David Barton, a former vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party and founder of the conservative group called Wallbuilders, had written that Chávez "may be a choice representing diversity but he certainly lacks the stature, impact, and overall contributions of so many others."

David Barton and Terri Leo should go off and start a little isolationist country all by themselves. Where only their views count.

Sonia

[mbperrin]

2. Can somebody get these idiots out of my classroom, please?

3 decades of teaching going down the toilet here...