Oh, even better

[telophase]

Remember yesterday's momentary lapse of apathy about the Texas State School Board? They're at it again, now with social studies. (Dallas Morning News site, use bugmenot.com if it asks you to sign in.)

Highlights of the article:

"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.

[...]

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.

Both Barton and Marshall also singled out as overrated Anne Hutchinson, a New England pioneer and early advocate of women's rights and religious freedom, who was tried and banished from her Puritan colony in Massachusetts because of her nontraditional views.

"She was certainly not a significant colonial leader, and didn't accomplish anything except getting herself exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for making trouble," Marshall wrote.

Remember, non-Texans! These are the guys who will be making standards for YOUR TEXTBOOKS if they prevail! Texans: Contact the Texas governor. Contact your Texas state rep. Contact your Texas state senator.

Comments

[thistleingrey]

Oh hey. How secure they must feel that one could never play this game with random white male famous person.
(!!!)

[longshot14.livejournal.com]

0_0

WTF?? You almost *can't* talk about John Winthrop without talking about Anne Hutchinson!

[telophase.livejournal.com]

But she's just a girl! A misbehavin' one at that!

[longshot14.livejournal.com]

And how would anyone know that that's what Winthrop himself said about her, if they don't *mention* her? ;)

[matildarose.livejournal.com]

Well if that hussy stayed at home and pay attention to her family as any good Republican woman should, she wouldn't have gotten into so much trouble!

THINK OF THE POOR WHITE MENS

[cicer.livejournal.com]

...the proper adjective for identifying U.S. values and processes should be "republican" rather than "democratic."

....NO WORDS.

Oh you crazy right-wing Texans and your racism and sexism. A person isn't a 'historically significant' figure unless they're a white male, am I right? *gnashes teeth and runs off to write letters*

[chofi.livejournal.com]

...future social studies teacher rage.

FUTURE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER RAGE.

[realitydeviant0.livejournal.com]

As someone who is originally from Texas (Houston area), I can tell you the key word in that statement is "evangelical minister." The Texas evangelical bunch tends to be a special breed of batshit crazy. I'm very proud that I was kicked out of one of their summer church camps when I was five. (My best friend at the time was enrolled in it by her grandmother, it was bring a friend weekend, and they had arts and crafts AND ice cream sundaes for lunch. And I had nothing better to do.) The high point of the visit was when they told me (a five year old girl) I was going to hell for having a short haircut. It was all downhill from there. I was already a mouthy little smartass, so I gave as good as I got. And evangelicals REALLY don't like questions. At all. They called my mother to come pick me up,and I didn't even get a damn sundae.

There are quite a few sane, rational people in Texas. but the utter whack jobs make the most noise. Remember kids, ten gallon hats cause brain damage.