For those interested, the actual proposed changes to History schoolbooks in Texas

[Roland99]

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=3643

edit: Note the first three links. They show the proposed changes in-line in the curriculum guidelines.


They have added Phyllis Schlafly, Billy Graham, Barry Goldwater, Ann Richards, John Tower (who voted *against* the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts), Kay Bailey Hutchison, more Adam Smith,
and more Reagan.

Appears to be no discussion on Keynesian economics but, rather, a much larger focus on the *benefits* (and no negatives) of a free-market, capitalist economy with fewer regulations.

A dressing up of Nixon and Reagan as leaders. The inclusion of the impeachment trial of Clinton.

There is also a very noticeable alteration of the text to have a Nationalistic overtone, pushing patriotism more and more as if patriotism will make them good student citizens.

This is NOT a good direction to take in history textbooks, esp. when this will effect the rest of the nation, too.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. The Texas books will be banned from my house

We will teach my kids ACTUAL history, and I will review all books that my son get from school (in a few years, he's enjoying his toddlerhood)

hawkeye-X

[DFW]

2. With any luck, by then the nut cases will be gone from our School Board

But just in case, I sadly recommend you keep some books that tell real history.

I haven't seen the new ones yet, but any books that say the impeachment of Bill Clinton was more significant
that the impending one of Richard Nixon, or that Calvin was more important to our history than Thomas Jefferson
are about as accurate texts of true history as Mein Kampf is on the Zionist movement.

[Roland99]

3. Hopefully enough noise is made before the final vote in May that this crap doesn't happen.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. Whatever happened to 'history is written by the victors'?

I thought elections had consequences.

[Roland99]

6. Guess who holds a majority on the school board?

[lunatica]

5. For once in my life I'm all for burning books

[Froward69]

7. Watergate has become a "non event" too

like it never happened. I wonder if Nixons resignation (the ONLY presidential resignation in American history) Disappeared too?

I swear College entrance exams should ask these basic questions.

[Ratty]

8. I had read about Phyllis Schlafly

I thought somebody here was being satirical. Geez, you can't make this stuff up.

[Kablooie]

9. Here are some of the changes in the text:

Some of the changes are reasonable in theory such as placing the cold war as a historical event instead of a current one, adding 9/11 attacks and updating which notable persons to study.


I've just been glancing through it so here are a few of the specifics for your edification :


Lots and lots of additions requiring enforcement of "Celebrate Freedom Week."

They drop Native American history in Texas and call them indians again.

Phil Gram is eliminated as a notable Texan.

Study of Sadako and the 1000 Cranes is eliminated.

Drop study of Eisenhower bio, The Jungle, MLK's letter from Birmingham City Jail.

Drop studying the use of propaganda to promote a policy, idea or cause.

Change study of third political parties. It used to be Eugene B Debs, Ross Perot and George Wallace. Now it's Populist and Progressive parties.

Add an evaluation of the leadership of Roosevelt and Truman during WWII.

Added how Bill Clinton's impeachment affected people's trust in federal government.

Dropped Roosevelt and Chisholm from significant political and social leaders
and added Hector P. Garcia, Thurgood Marshall, Billy Graham, Barry Goldwater, Phyllis Schlafly, and Hillary Clinton.

Additions:

(F) explain the home front and how American patriotism inspired exceptional actions by citizens and military personnel

...

(B) describe how McCarthyism, the House Un-American Activities Committee
(HUAC), the arms race, and the space race increased Cold War tensions and
how the later release of the Venona Papers confirmed suspicions of
communist infiltration in U.S. government ;

...

(B) describe the role of political organizations that promoted civil rights,
including ones from African American, Chicano, American Indian, women’s,
and other civil rights movements;
(C) describe the role of groups that sought to maintain the status quo;

...

(9)(10) History. The student understands the impact of political, economic, and social factors
in the U.S. role in the world from the 1970s through 1990. The student is expected to:

(A) describe Richard M. Nixon’s leadership role in the normalization of relations with China and the policy of détente;
(B) describe Ronald Reagan’s leadership in domestic and international policies , including such as Reaganomics and Peace Through Strength;
(C) compare the impact of energy on the American way of life over time;
(D) describe U.S. involvement in the Middle East such as support for Israel, the Camp David Accords, the Iran-Contra Affair, Marines in Lebanon, and the Iran Hostage Crisis; and
(E) describe the causes, key organizations, and individuals of the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s, including Phyllis Schlafly, the Contract with America, the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority, and the National Rifle Association; and
(E)(F) describe significant societal issues of this time period

...

(E) discuss the meaning and historical significance of the mottoes “E Pluribus
Unum” and “In God We Trust.”

[UTUSN]

10. I can't find the link, think it was from Salon.com, said, "Relax: TX doesn't control

the market anymore, and, besides, IT'S NOT LIKE KIDS PAY ANY ATTENTION TO TEXTBOOKS!1" (paraphrasing)

[Roland99]

11. If they want to get good grades on their homework, quizzes, and tests they will!