Texas Skews History with New Curriculum Changes, California Set to Respond
California Political Desk
May 22, 2010
SACRAMENTO – On a 9-5 partisan vote, the Texas State Board of Education today finalized approval of several extreme right-wing curriculum changes. Due to the number of public school students in the state, the changes in Texas could drastically influence textbooks throughout the country as publishers often develop materials based on the standards of larger states.
"The idea that politicians in another state can control the content of our textbooks should trouble all Californians," said Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco). "The social science curriculum should be based on facts and not political ideology."
Next week, the California Senate is expected to pass legislation authored Yee to make certain California textbooks are not subject to the ultra-conservative curriculum changes recently made in Texas. Specifically, SB 1451 will require the California State Board of Education to review all social studies textbooks used in the state to ensure that they have not been changed as a result of textbook changes in Texas.
"While some Texas politicians may want to set their educational standards back 50 years, California should not be subject to their backward curriculum changes," said Yee. "The alterations and fallacies made by these extremist conservatives are offensive to our communities and inaccurate of our nation´s diverse history. Our kids should be provided an education based on facts and that embraces our multicultural nation."
Among the curriculum changes expected to take affect in Texas are: reducing the scope of Latino history; encouraging students to question the legal doctrine of separation of church and state; terms such as "capitalism" replaced with "free market;" labeling civil rights programs that protect women and people of color as having adverse "unintended consequences;" emphasis on "the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s," including favorable mentions of the Eagle Forum, Moral Majority, Heritage Foundation, the National Rifle Association and New Gingrich´s Contract With America; more positive portrayal of Cold War anticommunism; removal of third-party presidential candidates; labeling Confederate General Stonewall Jackson as a role model for effective leadership and a statement from Confederate President Jefferson Davis to accompany a statement from President Abraham Lincoln; and to include country and western music among nation´s important cultural movements while dropping hip-hop from the same list.
"These curriculum changes are completely unacceptable," said Yee. "Our children deserve better."
"The idea that politicians in another state can control the content of our textbooks should trouble all Californians," said Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco). "The social science curriculum should be based on facts and not political ideology."
Next week, the California Senate is expected to pass legislation authored Yee to make certain California textbooks are not subject to the ultra-conservative curriculum changes recently made in Texas. Specifically, SB 1451 will require the California State Board of Education to review all social studies textbooks used in the state to ensure that they have not been changed as a result of textbook changes in Texas.
"While some Texas politicians may want to set their educational standards back 50 years, California should not be subject to their backward curriculum changes," said Yee. "The alterations and fallacies made by these extremist conservatives are offensive to our communities and inaccurate of our nation´s diverse history. Our kids should be provided an education based on facts and that embraces our multicultural nation."
Among the curriculum changes expected to take affect in Texas are: reducing the scope of Latino history; encouraging students to question the legal doctrine of separation of church and state; terms such as "capitalism" replaced with "free market;" labeling civil rights programs that protect women and people of color as having adverse "unintended consequences;" emphasis on "the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s," including favorable mentions of the Eagle Forum, Moral Majority, Heritage Foundation, the National Rifle Association and New Gingrich´s Contract With America; more positive portrayal of Cold War anticommunism; removal of third-party presidential candidates; labeling Confederate General Stonewall Jackson as a role model for effective leadership and a statement from Confederate President Jefferson Davis to accompany a statement from President Abraham Lincoln; and to include country and western music among nation´s important cultural movements while dropping hip-hop from the same list.
"These curriculum changes are completely unacceptable," said Yee. "Our children deserve better."
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