Texas schools rewrites US History

[warpus]

I do not understand why I have to keep repeating this on this forum. the way our Constitution is that if a power is NOT listed for the feds, that means the feds cannot touch it and it is reserved for the States and people. Since the Constitution does not specifically say the Feds can be involved in education, that automatically means they cannot be.

To the extent that they are involved, it's been done via collusion between the SC and Congress deciding to frak over the States and improperly say it's constitutional.

Yeah, but then you get a buncha crazies in a state like Texas messing up schoolin' books for everyone in the country.

How else to fix that?

 

[cardgame]

What Texas does should be your concern if they have such a monopoly that they determine the textbooks for almost all the other states. They're far worse than the gov...

 

[Joecoolyo]

Well, I for one, am glad that I don't live in a place that uses Texan schoolbooks.

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

I do not understand why I have to keep repeating this on this forum. the way our Constitution is that if a power is NOT listed for the feds, that means the feds cannot touch it and it is reserved for the States and people. Since the Constitution does not specifically say the Feds can be involved in education, that automatically means they cannot be.

The Constitution also doesn't mention that the federal government can regulate narcotics, yet we have a DEA. The Constitution doesn't mention that the federal government can regulate avionics, but we have the FAA. We also have an FDA, yet the Constitution doesn't mention any federal power to regulate food quality. Seems to me you're being rather selective in your distaste for federal power.

In any case, the Constitution also doesn't say that the federal government can tax income, but they took care of that with an amendment 100 years ago.

To the extent that they are involved, it's been done via collusion between the SC and Congress deciding to frak over the States and improperly say it's constitutional.

It's all a big conspiracy to instill educated citizens who can then be informed voters and elect the best leaders into office. It must be a dastardly plot by the federal cabal to enable the people of the United States to be economically competitive with the rest of the world and not be forced to outsource for every industry. It might even be a dangerous collusion that would enable the people to be rid of ignorance and superstition. That's gotta be it. The Feds must be trying to remove "God" from the souls of the homeschooled.

 

[Yeekim]

I find it amazing that provincial amateurs with their own obvious political and religious agendas can actually decide what is presented to the next generation as facts, instead of the respective experts on the subjects. It is nothing but a deliberate attempt to propagandize and indocrinate the youth.

As shocking as it is, we seem to be in an agreement here.

Because educational standards should be universal, and not depend on the wealth of your neighborhood.

Math, science, literacy, history, and other subjects are the same everywhere, and there is no reason why there have to be different standards for them. Just as there is no such thing as Texan math and Californian math, there is no such thing as Floridian biology or Oregonian chemistry.

By decentralizing education, you are tempting each district to adopts its own standards, which is exactly what has happened. Worse yet, the standards are proportional to their ability to fund their teaching, which vary depending on local taxes and therefore local income. No matter how stringent the standards, it is impossible for a district to live up to them when it has no funding to teach them. The end result is that mediocrity thrives, which is exactly the case in the United States, and it is why we are an embarassement to the world.

/thread.

 

[Lord of Elves]

There should be a clause in the Constitution specifically for Texas and Kansas.

 

[GhostWriter16]

The Constitution also doesn't mention that the federal government can regulate narcotics, yet we have a DEA. The Constitution doesn't mention that the federal government can regulate avionics, but we have the FAA. We also have an FDA, yet the Constitution doesn't mention any federal power to regulate food quality. Seems to me you're being rather selective in your distaste for federal power.

In any case, the Constitution also doesn't say that the federal government can tax income, but they took care of that with an amendment 100 years ago.



It's all a big conspiracy to instill educated citizens who can then be informed voters and elect the best leaders into office. It must be a dastardly plot by the federal cabal to enable the people of the United States to be economically competitive with the rest of the world and not be forced to outsource for every industry. It might even be a dangerous collusion that would enable the people to be rid of ignorance and superstition. That's gotta be it. The Feds must be trying to remove "God" from the souls of the homeschooled.

Well...

I can't say I favor it, but the best thing I can say on the issue is, if you want to make an amendment, go ahead, but go through the process. Until they do, I agree with VRWC Agent.

 

[downtown]

I'm glad that more people are getting interested in this (and other more nitty gritty ed topics). I've written a lot about it on the other thread...but I'll just reiterate that this is a very alarming development that will impact a lot of people outside the Texas borders.

To play a little devil's advocate though, as far as the federalization of schools are concerned. While I think the DOE is quite obviously constitutional, it is fair to say that major federal ed programs haven't been very effective. No Child Left Behind was a disaster, and created a terrible incentive structure that cannibalized the education of the poor. Title I legislation spent a *ton* of money, but took a lot of control away from those best able to make decisions, and results have been mixed. Race to the Top could dwarf all of them, but not many actual "ed" people like it.

You'll have to dig back to school desegregation to find a real, 100% success story...and schools today are almost as segregated as they were back then. So much for progress.

 

[warpus]

How would you solve this 'crisis', downtown? (referring to the Texas minority nutjobs destroying Americas curriculum)

 

[Lord of Elves]

How would you solve this 'crisis', downtown? (referring to the Texas minority nutjobs destroying Americas curriculum)

Looking at it, unless you want to take way Texas' state status or somehow degrade that status, all you can do is put the Feds in charge of education. That's all I see in the realm of possibilities afforded to fix the situation, anyway.

 

[madviking]

Honestly guys, if Texans elected these people onto the board of education, what could you do? Why so angry?

 

[bhsup]

Yeah, but then you get a buncha crazies in a state like Texas messing up schoolin' books for everyone in the country.

How else to fix that?

That's the fault of the people of the other States letting THEIR State set the tone. Force your own state to get its own books. Don't try to blame Texas for your own (and by that I include mine) State being a ball-less follower and not insisting on its own quality textbooks.

 

[_random_]

It could be much, much worse. Of course, if what Downtown says is correct (and it always is), then this is still pretty terrible. I'm kind of glad I could handle Christian school textbooks with greater discernment (and that my school has begun to transition away from them entirely), but if this leads to other textbooks becoming slightly less extreme versions of A Beka and BJU, then public school students might be more accepting of what is said within, and that could lead to a rightward shift politically. Really, the longterm repercussions of this are a lot more serious then the "Hicks will be hicks" reaction I had initially.

 

[bathsheba666]

Also its the Guardian and nobody reads that.

The Guardian's circulation is 302,285 compared too The Sun at 3 million. The guardian is the paper of Islington and Notting Hill liberal elite.

So, is it 'no-one reads it', or 'only the elite read it' ?

It's even more scary when ideological considerations appear to prevent people wanting this problem to be fixed centrally.
It's quite funny how yoorp thinks government brings civilisation, and the us the reverse.
But I'm pretty sure the children of Texas should not be left to suffer this abomination.

 

[downtown]

How would you solve this 'crisis', downtown? (referring to the Texas minority nutjobs destroying Americas curriculum)

I think the only real solution is to create incentives for a more diverse textbook market. Its bad enough that it messes up Texas, but the real crisis is that another two dozen states (at least) are going to have to buy these books, because nobody prints state texts.

 

[Cutlass]

Set a national textbook standard. And any state that takes any federal education funds has to use books up to standard.

 

[GhostWriter16]

It could be much, much worse. Of course, if what Downtown says is correct (and it always is), then this is still pretty terrible. I'm kind of glad I could handle Christian school textbooks with greater discernment (and that my school has begun to transition away from them entirely), but if this leads to other textbooks becoming slightly less extreme versions of A Beka and BJU, then public school students might be more accepting of what is said within, and that could lead to a rightward shift politically. Really, the longterm repercussions of this are a lot more serious then the "Hicks will be hicks" reaction I had initially.

I like it.

I mean, your link.

 

[Azale]

I really am enraged by this. I have absolutely no defense to offer.

It's ridiculous and the entire state should be ashamed. Maybe Governor-for-Life Perry can finally declare Texas independent and keep the virus from spreading to the rest of the US.

 

[Lord of Elves]

That website made me laugh.

 

[warpus]

That's the fault of the people of the other States letting THEIR State set the tone. Force your own state to get its own books. Don't try to blame Texas for your own (and by that I include mine) State being a ball-less follower and not insisting on its own quality textbooks.

I know man, but this is just capitalism in action. I don't want to blame capitalism, I wan't to find a solution to the problem!

I think the only real solution is to create incentives for a more diverse textbook market. Its bad enough that it messes up Texas, but the real crisis is that another two dozen states (at least) are going to have to buy these books, because nobody prints state texts.

How do you think the teachers are going to deal with this, once these new books hit the stands? Is this just going to make school a lot more confusing for students? "For homework read chapters 2 and 3, but ignore paragraphs 4, 15, 17 and 23."