Right Wingers say Texas social studies classes give too much credit to civil rights leaders

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News

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, right wingers 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.

The recommendations are part of a long process as the State Board of Education prepares to write new social studies curriculum standards for public schools. Debate on the issue, which will also include questions of the role of religion in public life, could be as intense as that on new science standards that were adopted by the board in March, when evolution was a major flashpoint.

The social studies requirements will remain in place for the next decade, dictating what is taught in government, history and other social studies classes in all elementary and secondary schools. The standards also will be used to write textbooks and develop state tests for students.

Six expertsAlthough the actual standards are being drafted by teams of teachers, academics and community representatives, the education board appointed a panel of six experts to help guide the writing teams. Three of the experts, including Barton and Marshall, were appointed by Republican social conservatives on the board, while the other three experts – all professors at state universities in Texas – were appointed by the remaining Republicans and Democrats on the 15-member board.

Texas Freedom Network, a nonprofit group that has battled social conservatives on education issues, questioned the academic credentials of Barton and Marshall, and said their negative comments on Chávez are just the start of a "blacklist" of historical figures considered objectionable by social conservatives.

"It is what we expected from unqualified political activists put on this so-called panel of experts," said Dan Quinn of the freedom network. "This is yet another step toward politicizing our children's education."

State board member Don McLeroy, R-College Station, took issue with the criticism of Barton and Marshall, saying they are "very qualified" to consider social studies standards.

"There is no doubt they have the experience and expertise to advise the writing teams and the board on the standards," he said, noting he has not yet read the experts' recommendations.

All six submitted reports to the board this month, critiquing the current social studies standards – adopted in 1998 – and offering suggestions for the curriculum.

Jesus Francisco de la Teja, chairman of the history department at Texas State University and former state historian who was also a curriculum reviewer, said while he had not read the reports from Barton and Marshall, he had a far different view of Chávez.

"I don't share their opinion at all," said de la Teja. "Unlike them, I did include César Chávez in my recommendations as someone who was worthy of attention and discussion" in social studies classes.

"Whether you approve or disapprove of what he did, there is no doubt about his contribution to bettering the lives of an untold number of Americans of limited economic means and education," de la Teja said.

The third expert appointed by social conservatives was Daniel Dreisbach, a professor in the public affairs school at American University in Washington, D.C. He was more moderate in his recommendations, but he agreed with Barton and Marshall that the Founding Fathers wanted a distinctly Christian nation based on biblical principles.

In his report, Marshall, president of Peter Marshall Ministries in Massachusetts, contended that students in government classes must focus on the historic Roe vs. Wade decision on abortion rights, "which has arguably more impacted American life than any other Supreme Court decision in the 20th century." Marshall strongly opposes the ruling.

'Republican' valuesBarton, 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.

"Anne Hutchinson does not belong in the company of these eminent gentlemen," he said, referring to colonial leaders William Penn, Roger Williams and others. Williams later invited Hutchinson to help establish a colony in what became Rhode Island.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...n1.4bfaaf7.html

[jundp 191]

I just saw this on fb and commented. This article disgusts me. Basically, these 'curriculum experts' are saying if it's not a white man history, it's not worth teaching in Texas.

[Danno 1,228]

and on the otherhand, how many schools in TX are named after White Supreme Court Judges?

I don't know the answer but I doubt many.

[HAL 9000 96]

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

ah the texas haters are out in force again. i'm sure if they paid as close attention to their own state's school system they'd find something to be equally outraged about.

[alienlovechild 75]

I just saw this on fb and commented. This article disgusts me. Basically, these 'curriculum experts' are saying if it's not a white man history, it's not worth teaching in Texas.

You've got to be kidding. Most of women and minorities included in U.S. history books are there solely for PC reasons not for relative accomplishments. Minorities weren't granted the opportunities so naturally they aren't going to have the same numbers of famous individuals. Rewriting history to make certain groups happy is a disservice to education.

For example, know who Crispis Attucks was?

[HAL 9000 96]

ah the texas haters are out in force again. i'm sure if they paid as close attention to their own state's school system they'd find something to be equally outraged about.

I like Texas.

Its just some Texans that are nutjobs that I have issues with. Much like other nutjobs from other states.

What I do find hilarious is how some folks rush to condemn the very same system they are a product of.

Reactionary numbnuts are also hilarious.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What the Ring Wing Fundamentalists really want is have Texas convert to a system of Christian Madrasahs.

Edited August 22, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[jundp 191]

ah the texas haters are out in force again. i'm sure if they paid as close attention to their own state's school system they'd find something to be equally outraged about.

BS and you know it, at least about me.

I don't hate Texas, I hate ignorant people who have absolutely no place in education curriculum decisions making stupid decisions. And I feel fully justified in stating that because I'm an educator and one of my degrees is in history. It's not about being "PC" when teaching history, it's about being accurate. And whether some people like it or not, there were significant contributions made to our country's formation by women and minorities.

It's just like the teaching of how 'friendly agreements with the Native Americans.' How long did kids learn that it was a peaceful union?

And yes, I have problems with my own state's school system. Which is why I vote and use my voice in education matters.

[alienlovechild 75]

And I feel fully justified in stating that because I'm an educator and one of my degrees is in history. It's not about being "PC" when teaching history, it's about being accurate. And whether some people like it or not, there were significant contributions made to our country's formation by women and minorities.

You have a degree in history and that's your strongest defense? No wonder this country is cursed (or blessed) with a collective short term memory. You have no idea why some groups were historically excluded from textbooks for the most part yet suddenly appear post-Civil Rights era? Think politics or "accuracy" played a larger role?

Ok, please cite women or minorities and their accomplishments who were wrongly excluded from textbooks but their contributions were of national importance compared to the usual crew of dead white males.

It's just like the teaching of how 'friendly agreements with the Native Americans.' How long did kids learn that it was a peaceful union?

You must be pretty old because most Americans know the American Indian tribes got screwed by the treaties. Also, Native American is PC foolishness as I'm a native American but not an American Indian.

"A 1995 Census Bureau Survey of preferences for racial and ethnic terminology (there is no more recent survey) indicated that 49% of Native people preferred being called American Indian, 37% preferred Native American, 3.6% preferred "some other term," and 5% had no preference. As The American Heritage Guide to English Usage points out, "the issue has never been particularly divisive between Indians and non-Indians. While generally welcoming the respectful tone of Native American, Indian writers have continued to use the older name at least as often as the newer one."

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aihmterms.html

[luckytxn 2,264]

There is nothing wrong to mention these people. They did have positive impacts and should be discussed but saying that it should also be discussed and then move on. These people did have impacts in our lifetime and we can still feel the effects of their actions. No need to place them above the others though.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

ah the texas haters are out in force again. i'm sure if they paid as close attention to their own state's school system they'd find something to be equally outraged about.

BS and you know it, at least about me.

I don't hate Texas, I hate ignorant people who have absolutely no place in education curriculum decisions making stupid decisions. And I feel fully justified in stating that because I'm an educator and one of my degrees is in history. It's not about being "PC" when teaching history, it's about being accurate. And whether some people like it or not, there were significant contributions made to our country's formation by women and minorities.

It's just like the teaching of how 'friendly agreements with the Native Americans.' How long did kids learn that it was a peaceful union?

And yes, I have problems with my own state's school system. Which is why I vote and use my voice in education matters.

yet bashing texas seems to be way more fun, eh?

[Danno 1,228]

A number of Black people even find this a bit embarrassing, taking modest achievement and grading it on a grand scale.

Such as if a Black person happened to be in the room during the signing of a historical document, he suddenly had a significant roll in it.

An aid to a great explorer suddenly becomes the "without him it could never have been done" guy.

My hope is that, in time, the need for this "booster chair" will diminish as now all people are given the opportunity to achieve.

IN the mean time we must wrestle with how much massaging of history we can go along with.

One guy seemed to be so bothered by it he created a website debunking the ever growing list of Black inventions".

http://www33.brinkster.com/iiiii/inventions/

[zqt3344 21]

I find it quite remarkable that in this country, it always prides itself on liberty and justice for all, no racism and equality. Yet from my humble observation over the last several years while living here, that is most certainly not the case. For if white people had tried to do what the black peopole in this article are complaining about they would be labeled racist, just like some try to label others on this website for simply pointing out the truth and facts or an injustice. Once again I would observe reverse politically correct racism by blacks, always trying to CHANGE or revise true history or facts at the expense of another group or race whether it is right or fair or not. I also notice more and more white people are taking notice of this not so subtle reverse racism from blacks towards whites, and more whites are slowly starting to speak out and fight back against this injustice.

I just saw this on fb and commented. This article disgusts me. Basically, these 'curriculum experts' are saying if it's not a white man history, it's not worth teaching in Texas.

[natty bumppo 297]

ah the texas haters are out in force again. i'm sure if they paid as close attention to their own state's school system they'd find something to be equally outraged about.

BS and you know it, at least about me.

I don't hate Texas, I hate ignorant people who have absolutely no place in education curriculum decisions making stupid decisions. And I feel fully justified in stating that because I'm an educator and one of my degrees is in history. It's not about being "PC" when teaching history, it's about being accurate. And whether some people like it or not, there were significant contributions made to our country's formation by women and minorities.

It's just like the teaching of how 'friendly agreements with the Native Americans.' How long did kids learn that it was a peaceful union?

And yes, I have problems with my own state's school system. Which is why I vote and use my voice in education matters.

yet bashing texas seems to be way more fun, eh?

especially when the person bashing texas has zero voting rights in TX ...