The Culture Wars' New Front: U.S. History Classes in Texas

[cali]

JULY 14, 2009 By STEPHANIE SIMON

The fight over school curriculum in Texas, recently focused on biology, has entered a new arena, with a brewing debate over how much faith belongs in American history classrooms.

The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state's social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.

Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.


Don McLeroy, a member of the Texas State Board of Education.
"We're in an all-out moral and spiritual civil war for the soul of America, and the record of American history is right at the heart of it," said Rev. Peter Marshall, a Christian minister and one of the reviewers appointed by the conservative camp.

<snip>

The conservative reviewers say they believe that children must learn that America's founding principles are biblical. For instance, they say the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution stems from a scriptural understanding of man's fall and inherent sinfulness, or "radical depravity," which means he can be governed only by an intricate system of checks and balances.

<snip>

for more disturbing and whacked out quotes follow the link. and remember, Texas as a disproportionate influence on text books all over the country.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB124753078523935615-lMyQjAxMDI5NDE3NDUxMzQwWj.html

[Taverner]

1. Texas is where the nations school texts are chosen

Remember that...

[cali]

2. I mentioned that in the OP

When my kid was in high school a few years ago, his history teacher in his sophmore year wouldn't use a history text book because he found them all so awful. He used Zinn, primary sources and real history books.

[Taverner]

3. Missed that - but, yeah

Honestly, they should use VT to choose their books

I would say CA, but we have that Fresno and Bakersfield problem...

[RandySF]

4. I fear Texas school book depositories.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Now why would they go to a Christian minister for one of their reviewers?

Instead of a professional, mainstream Historian of US History?

I know; rhetorical question.