Dumbing down Texas

[Horse with no Name]

Here you go:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/070909dntexsocialstudies.414d4be.html

>>>snip
AUSTIN – Civil rights leaders César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall – whose names appear on schools, libraries, streets and parks across the U.S. – are given too much attention in Texas social studies classes, conservatives advising the state on curriculum standards say.

"To have César Chávez listed next to Ben Franklin" – as in the current standards – "is ludicrous," wrote evangelical minister Peter Marshall, one of six experts advising the state as it develops new curriculum standards for social studies classes and textbooks. David Barton, president of Aledo-based WallBuilders, said in his review that Chávez, a Hispanic labor leader, "lacks the stature, impact and overall contributions of so many others."

Marshall also questioned whether Thurgood Marshall, who argued the landmark case that resulted in school desegregation and was the first black U.S. Supreme Court justice, should be presented to Texas students as an important historical figure. He wrote that the late justice is "not a strong enough example" of such a figure.

>>>snip
Barton, a former vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party, said that because the U.S. is a republic rather than a democracy, the proper adjective for identifying U.S. values and processes should be "republican" rather than "democratic." That means social studies books should discuss "republican" values in the U.S., his report said. :wtf:

[Mari333]

1. that evangelical minister doesnt know much about Ben Franklin

or the orgies he attended dressed as a nun

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/288090/ben_franklin_and_his_membership_in.html

someone needs to enlighten him.

[texastoast]

11. Isn't there still a vestige of this

out in California somewhere? Where they have a big statute to worship on the Saturday nights of the gathering and the attendees get a big thrill from peeing on the trees?

I forget what it's cauldroned.

[Mari333]

12. Bohemian Grove Club and its happening right now woohoo

http://www.vanityfair.com/style/features/2009/05/bohemian-grove200905

[texastoast]

14. That's it

What a bunch of pigs.

Sorry, I shouldn't insult pigs. Pigs are much smarter, if less "powerful."

Thanks for the link. Sending it on to my Republican friends.

[rcrush]

20. Imagine right now there are dozens of naked fat white republicans frolicking in a forest

Howling at the giant owl and performing a mock (hopefully) sacrifce and some voodoo chants.

[MrScorpio]

2. WOW!

I'm speechless

[lindisfarne]

3. Is it possible to dumb down TX any further,I would have asked yesterday?Now I know the answer is YES

[depakid]

4. Impressive that someone would actually admit it

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. Freaking amazing what can pass for an expert to a Texas Republican, isn't it?

How transparent can they be?

The good news is, with comments like that it will be much easier for the Texas Freedom Network to prove this is a move to politicize education.

[MisterP]

6. "it's a republic, NOT a democracy" = "it's a kangaroo, NOT a marsupial" n/t

[14thColony]

23. Excellent analogy

Although somehow I'm sure they wouldn't get it.

[old mark]

7. To dumb that down any lower

you'd have to dig a big fucking hole.......


Shovel ready.

mark

[LaurenG]

8. books should discuss "republican" values in the U.S., his report said

Republican values! That would equal sex education instead of history.

[mnhtnbb]

9. Horse, are you going to write a LTTE with a little lesson in the definition

of forms of government? Seems the former Vice Chair of the Texas Republican Party missed the lesson
in school that day.

[Horse with no Name]

10. I'd rather beat myself in the head with bricks

If you glance through the comments on any story with any type of progressive/human nature, there are hundreds of neanderthals defending the republic talking points.
It is a lesson in futility.

[snake in the grass]

13. Nothing from Texas...

...surprises me these days.

[onethatcares]

15. yep,

they're right up there with us guys in Floriduh.

[snake in the grass]

19. You've got that right.

I left Floriduh (I like that) 25 years ago and have never looked back.

[BolivarianHero]

16. rofl...Is Texas really so pathetic?

"evangelical minister Peter Marshall, one of six experts"

An expert in what? Lynching?

[marmar]

17. A friend of mine from Boston accepted a teaching job in Texas after college.....

..... less than a year later he was back in Boston. His words: "That was the most frustrating, ass-backwards experience of my life."

[Greyhound]

22. After numerous gigs and dealing with it's inhabitants, if I had my way,

I wouldn't even fly over that bastion of stupid.

I know there are a few good people there, but I have to ask myself, why do they stay?

[Aristus]

18. Sorry to say, but Texas didn't have that far to go.

The state that gave us Dumbya, remember... :eyes:

(And yes, as a native Texan, I KNOW B*sh is actually from Connecticut, but nobody forced him to wear the hat and boots...)

[optimal-tomato]

21. As far as I can tell, there is only one man who can save Texas.

He's got a big job ahead of him.