Texas schools rewrites US History

[JollyRoger]

How in the blue blazes could some mystery department of ed 1500 miles away know what is best for Missouri students?

The same way some hick in Texas knows.

 

[Lord Baal]

The same way some hick in Texas knows.

Prayer?

 

[sophie]

Prayer?

Link to video.

But seriously, I feel like we've seen this thread a couple times now already.

And, as I've said before, I'm just so glad that I don't have primary/secondary school anymore. I dunno, though, I just have this strange feeling, you know, that teachers have some kind of free will, and they'll realize the book is bunk, and will, actually, you know, tell the kids that.

 

[Cardiac Kids]

All the better reason to federalize the American public education system. If the federal government imposed a specific and funded curriculum, there would be no possibility of the rogue state of Texas intervening for its own propagandist motives.

agree with you guys!

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

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.

Yes, you have so much to say on the subject.

 

[Spoonwood]

The people who come up with such schemes ARE the True Atheists. For someone who didn't just profess to do so, but who did actually believe, would have enough confidence that God had revealed His light over and over again to ALL people that such sectarian indoctrination becomes unnecessary. In other words, these people, have a conception of so weak of a God that He could not help people to believe without such revisionism. But, of course, if God does not have the power to reveal His light to ALL people over and over again, then God lacks in power. Specifically God lacks in power such that people can know Him. However, the existence of a personal God presumes that God creates His people so that they can know Him ("serving" God presumes knowing God). So, if God did not have the power to reveal His light to ALL people over and over again, then God specifically lacks the power in which He specifically regards as most important. Such a Being clearly comes as radically imperfect, and therefore were such true, this would render it the case that God would not be God. This contradiction would make God nonexistent. These people have beliefs which work this way. Therefore, these people Are the True Atheists.

For an impersonal God (e. g. Spinoza's God), God's power is Her very essence. So, were these people to profess belief in such, the contradiction that leads them to Atheism comes out even faster.

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

The people who come up with such schemes ARE the True Atheists. For someone who didn't just profess to do so, but who did actually believe, would have enough confidence that God had revealed His light over and over again to ALL people that such sectarian indoctrination becomes unnecessary. In other words, these people, have a conception of so weak of a God that He could not help people to believe without such revisionism. But, of course, if God does not have the power to reveal His light to ALL people over and over again, then God lacks in power. Specifically God lacks in power such that people can know Him. However, the existence of a personal God presumes that God creates His people so that they can know Him ("serving" God presumes knowing God). So, if God did not have the power to reveal His light to ALL people over and over again, then God specifically lacks the power in which He specifically regards as most important. Such a Being clearly comes as radically imperfect, and therefore were such true, this would render it the case that God would not be God. This contradiction would make God nonexistent. These people have beliefs which work this way. Therefore, these people Are the True Atheists.

For an impersonal God (e. g. Spinoza's God), God's power is Her very essence. So, were these people to profess belief in such, the contradiction that leads them to Atheism comes out even faster.

Since you're being so philosophical, I'd like to cite Ockham's razor. The simplest conclusion is that the Texan revisionists are simply insecure with their religious beliefs, and feel that they have to indoctrinate.

 

[_random_]

That website made me laugh.

The textbooks will too, if you're not required to treat them seriously.

 

[downtown]

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."

Hopefully, teachers are doing something similar already, using robust amounts of extra textbook material. Even the best text isn't sufficient by itself.

 

[stuge]

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

Hear hear.

@Randomnerd: You've had to actually teach by those books? How on Earth did you cope with that?

 

[FriendlyFire]

Alabama teacher uses a hypothetical assassination of Obama in lesson on ‘angles’ and ‘parallel lines.’

The Secret Service investigated a teacher in Jefferson County, Alabama after “he picked the wrong example” and used a hypothetical assassination of President Obama to teach angles to his geometry students, the Birmingham News reports:

The teacher was apparently teaching his geometry students about parallel lines and angles, officials said. He used the example of where to stand and aim if shooting Obama.



“He was talking about angles and said, ‘If you’re in this building, you would need to take this angle to shoot the president,’ ” said Joseph Brown, a senior in the geometry class.



The Secret Service questioned the math teacher, but decided not to arrest him or charge him with a crime after they determined he was not “a credible threat,” an agency spokesperson said. Superintendent Phil Hammonds called the incident “extremely poor judgment” and “a poor choice of words,” but said he has no plans to fire the teacher. “We are going to have a long conversation with him about what’s appropriate,” Hammonds said. The Birmingham News was unable to reach the teacher for comment. (HT: TPM)

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/05/18/alabama-teacher-obama/

LOL So much for OBAMA indoctrinating our children.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I dunno, though, I just have this strange feeling, you know, that teachers have some kind of free will, and they'll realize the book is bunk, and will, actually, you know, tell the kids that.

Unfortunately, doing so will likely get them fired in those states which deliberately use this propaganda.

 

[Lord Gay]

The people who come up with such schemes ARE the True Atheists.

I'm not sure why you say this, since it obviously is not true.

Atheists lack belief in gods, and while sentiment may range anywhere from hostile to neutral, to pleasantly indifferent, I don't know of any atheists who feel they need to indoctrinate as many children as possible into Christianity. I certainly don't know why you think Christians inculcating Christian views are actually atheist.

One may question the sincerity of their beliefs and/or the manner in which they practice their faith, but while one may call them true or false, they are at the end of the day, Christians.

EDIT

Alabama teacher

That seems like a gross overrreaction on the part of the SS. I'm surprised they even questioned the teacher. It's sad that somebody felt this was worth reporting to them. While I don't think he deserves firing at all, I couldn't help but laugh at a comment on the other forum:

"He should get a chance to study the angles formed by the unemployment line."

 

[Joecoolyo]

LOL So much for OBAMA indoctrinating our children.

WTH?

(not at FF but at the story)

 

[civ_king]

couldn't he use the JFK assassination?

 

[_random_]

@Randomnerd: You've had to actually teach by those books? How on Earth did you cope with that?

No. I currently go to a high school which used them, and is slowly but surely bucking them. Fortunately, the internet exists.

 

[Dragonlord]

They have plenty clue what socialism is. It's just usually spelled P-R-O-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E

Only if you're an analphabet - progressive spells with only one 'g'. Thanks for proving the deficiencies of US education in one fell swoop... er, post. Rather undermines your credibility in propounding educational policies....

I love it! Post of the year!

Cleo

I see Cleo noticed, too. It just went over Dom's head completely.

Is this the new "No Child left informed" thing that they're trying out?

I suppose somebody will have to do all those low-paying jobs once the illegal immigrants are gone.. this is a good way to fill the void, I guess.

Great post!


My own 2 cents: I find it absolutely shocking that such a thing is even possible - that extremists can basically pack the local board of education and dictate what will be taught to kids. Incredible that any one, even a US-Conservative, is willing to defend this. Using the knee-jerk 'states rights' argument is lame, at best.

Way to go, America - this is how superpowers fail...

 

[Quackers]

Way to go, America - this is how superpowers fail...

thats right when the history textbook is changed superpowers collapsee

 

[Lord of Elves]

thats right when the history textbook is changed superpowers collapsee

Actually, as I recall, I once read a book that said that when nations start to attempt to rewrite their own history as they teach it to the next generation, it is the first sign that things are heading down.

 

[Quackers]

I'm sure in the grand scheme of things it is insignificant.