Tennessee Tea Party Wants Slavery Removed From School Textbooks To Make Founding Fathers Look Good

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

As if the Tea Party hasn't butchered American history enough since their creation, the Tea Party in Tennessee is demanding the immediate removal of any mention of slavery as it applies to the Founding Fathers because they want schools clean up their image and teach students "the truth about America." Tennessee now wants to join Texas in changing American history as it is presented in textbooks and how it is taught by teachers in school.

Multiple Tea Party members, including lead spokesman Hal Rounds, say they want the state legislature to force teachers to teach history in the way they see it. In other words, they want to re-write history to exclude the fact that the Founding Fathers owned slaves, because according to The Memphis Commercial Appeal, the group wants to address "an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another."

The group wants to change textbook selection criteria to say that "No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership." It's a fancy way of saying let's take the role of minorities out of our American history textbooks so our past leaders will look good.

The Tea Party wants to whitewash American history as if the Founding Fathers were perfect in everything they ever did, which simply isn't true. The Founding Fathers were great men but they had flaws. They owned slaves, they allowed slavery to be legal and yes, they did that despite hypocritically writing that all men are created equal. They also took part in the removal of Native Americans from their homelands, an action that resulted in the deaths of thousands. This information is well documented and acknowledged by professional historians and should not be censored. Students have the right to learn the entire truth about our history and not just the parts that conservatives want them to learn. Hiding knowledge is tantamount to lying and that's what the Tea Party wants our teachers to do.

http://www.addicting...hers-look-good/

[ready4ONE 5,400]

It is possible to know the truth, and still be impressed by our Founding Fathers. What a bunch of idiots!

[slim 1,530]

Dwelling on the past does what?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Dwelling on the past does what?

creates reason for the Democrats to gain voters.

[slim 1,530]

creates reason for the Democrats to gain voters.

How would we have racism without dwelling on the past?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

How would we have racism without dwelling on the past?

we would have racism, that's never going away.

However it's not and wouldn't be as big of a deal as the left makes it out to be.

Though I will say the younger generation coming up, is probably the most racist in decades because of the scenario in which the left has created. Babysit certain races, you're bound to get resistance from others.

[slim 1,530]

You mean special treatment isn't fair after all?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Dwelling on the past does what?

We should also stop insisting that 1+1=2. Let the kids be more creative, eh?

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

Dwelling on the past does what?

Yeah, kids. Go tell your history teacher to stop dwelling on the past. Move on.

Edited January 24, 2012 by Mister Fancypants

[Danno 1,228]

As if the Tea Party hasn't butchered American history enough since their creation, the Tea Party in Tennessee is demanding the immediate removal of any mention of slavery as it applies to the Founding Fathers because they want schools clean up their image and teach students "the truth about America." Tennessee now wants to join Texas in changing American history as it is presented in textbooks and how it is taught by teachers in school.

Multiple Tea Party members, including lead spokesman Hal Rounds, say they want the state legislature to force teachers to teach history in the way they see it. In other words, they want to re-write history to exclude the fact that the Founding Fathers owned slaves, because according to The Memphis Commercial Appeal, the group wants to address "an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another."

The group wants to change textbook selection criteria to say that "No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership." It's a fancy way of saying let's take the role of minorities out of our American history textbooks so our past leaders will look good.

The Tea Party wants to whitewash American history as if the Founding Fathers were perfect in everything they ever did, which simply isn't true. The Founding Fathers were great men but they had flaws. They owned slaves, they allowed slavery to be legal and yes, they did that despite hypocritically writing that all men are created equal. They also took part in the removal of Native Americans from their homelands, an action that resulted in the deaths of thousands. This information is well documented and acknowledged by professional historians and should not be censored. Students have the right to learn the entire truth about our history and not just the parts that conservatives want them to learn. Hiding knowledge is tantamount to lying and that's what the Tea Party wants our teachers to do.

http://www.addicting...hers-look-good/

I'm gonna speculate here so feel free to correct me if need be.

Does this lesson as it exist also include attitudes about Slavery in other countries at the time... or does it simply leave young impressionable minds to think our Founders were some how unique in the use of slaves?

For example does this history book mention anywhere the -slavery time line- globaLLY, which shows which peoples ended it first and which countries or ethnic groups were slow to abolish the practice?

How many times have we had to throw these so-called history books in the trash can because a fair reading shows it to be way out of balance, spending more time on DR. King than on Thomas Jefferson. Talking more about the imperfections than the

near guineas work they displayed. Indoctrinating students on every possible shortcoming so by the time they leave middle school they are convinced our history and country is some uniquely evil place in the world rather than a city on the hill.

These text books "Major in minors" and leave the student with a sad misunderstanding of history.

Little Joey: But teacher my mom told me the Founding fathers had Slaves, it is true?

Teacher: Joey tell your mom owning slaves then was a common around the world as owning a dog or a horse is today so of course they owned slaves, but there was little the Founders could do to stop it if they wanted too.... as each state was (and should be) independent. What they did do though was put an end to the importation of slaves into the country ...as that was a federal issue.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm gonna speculate here so feel free to correct me if need be.

Does this lesson as it exist also include attitudes about Slavery in other countries at the time...

Well, the topic is American history so I'd speculate that it would focus on what happened in America in the past. Pure speculation, of course.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I recall learning both that many Founding Fathers were slave owners and that slave owning was common worldwide at the time.

Danno I think you did missed the point that these yahoos want to eliminate that fact altogether, your concerns about the totality of the textbooks being used not withstanding.

Edited January 25, 2012 by ready4ONE

[Danno 1,228]

Well, the topic is American history so I'd speculate that it would focus on what happened in America in the past. Pure speculation, of course.

A yeah, a lot of things happened, lets cover the greater contributions and fundamental change the Founders made.

To interject a Slavery, women's rights, criminal rights, Indian relations, etc into the lesson only serves to lose focus, those other topics will be covered quite sufficiently in other dedicated places.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

A yeah, a lot of things happened, lets cover the greater contributions and fundamental change the Founders made.

To interject a Slavery, women's rights, criminal rights, Indian relations, etc into the lesson only serves to lose focus, those other topics will be covered quite sufficiently in other dedicated places.

So you are pro-picking and choosing historical facts? Or the idea of whitewashing the historical record, warts and all, strikes you as the way to go?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A yeah, a lot of things happened, lets cover the greater contributions and fundamental change the Founders made.

To interject a Slavery, women's rights, criminal rights, Indian relations, etc into the lesson only serves to lose focus, those other topics will be covered quite sufficiently in other dedicated places.

Focus on what? What actually happened? A complete picture? Why would anyone want that?