Thread: Hooray for Texas... :(

Apologies to everyone outside America, but I just had to bring this up. How can anyone in their right mind think that THIS is a good idea? Seriously.

The linked article is a very brief summary of the situation, but I'll condense it further here: the Texas board of education has just approved a complete re-write of the public school curriculum. Included in the edits? Oh, just some innocuous stuff like the deleting Thomas Jefferson from the list of influential figures in American history and replacing him with a couple true founding fathers. Like Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. Who never set foot in America.

This wouldn't be so bad if textbook companies didn't tailor their teaching materials to meet Texas standards (since it is one of the largest single purchasers of texts in the U.S.). As it stands now, the majority of American children will be taught that Jefferson Davis' inauguration speech (for presidency of the Confederate States of America) was just as important as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in shaping the direction of the country. And that advances in military weapons and tactics are on equal footing with Sir Isaac Newton's theory of gravity.

Does anyone think this is a good idea?

For a slightly more detailed overview, The Guardian has a decent article on the subject.

Just think of the foreign policy ramifications! I weep for my countrymen.

TWO LEGS BAD FOUR LEGS GOOD
TWO LEGS BAD FOUR LEGS GOOD
TWO LEGS BAD FOUR LEGS GOOD

Oops! I mean: why do you hate freedom DanCol?

If Texas can't reshape American history to their liking the terrorists win.

Oh, and they'd doing it to protect the children.

I always had my suspicions about Jefferson. Hell, his house had an Italian name. What does THAT tell you?

On the other hand, those Calvin and Hobbes guys are a riot.

Originally Posted by DanCol

Apologies to everyone outside America, but I just had to bring this up. How can anyone in their right mind think that THIS is a good idea? Seriously.

The linked article is a very brief summary of the situation, but I'll condense it further here: the Texas board of education has just approved a complete re-write of the public school curriculum. Included in the edits? Oh, just some innocuous stuff like the deleting Thomas Jefferson from the list of influential figures in American history and replacing him with a couple true founding fathers. Like Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. Who never set foot in America.

This wouldn't be so bad if textbook companies didn't tailor their teaching materials to meet Texas standards (since it is one of the largest single purchasers of texts in the U.S.). As it stands now, the majority of American children will be taught that Jefferson Davis' inauguration speech (for presidency of the Confederate States of America) was just as important as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in shaping the direction of the country. And that advances in military weapons and tactics are on equal footing with Sir Isaac Newton's theory of gravity.

Does anyone think this is a good idea?

For a slightly more detailed overview, The Guardian has a decent article on the subject.

Just think of the foreign policy ramifications! I weep for my countrymen.

american bigotry at it's peak.

Please stop confusing 'America' with 'United States of America'. I live in the part of America called Central America. A phrase like 'American bigotry' can be seen by some as including all of America.

I've never made that association.

What is not written to someones specifications? What kind of people specify? Do you believe any of them? I don't.

BitofanInkling - I've met people in distant parts of the world who have a confused idea about the Western Hemisphere. For many, 'America' means the U-S, and in the minds of many the U-S owns everything that has the word 'America' attached. When I tell them there are 35 countries in America, and the U-S is only one of them, they don't understand. The spread of literacy in the rural areas of Asia and Africa is changing some attitudes like that, but slowly, slowly.

i come from rual asia....-_-...

How do you have a history book (at least, history of the United States) without Jefferson?

"Then, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was written and a committee of five worked on it, including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman and some other guy..."

"The President of the United States was John Adams, until 1801 when Aaron Burr took over the Vice Presidency. Then, in 1805, George Clinton became the fourth Vice President, until James Madison became President in 1809..."

"Then, Louisiana bought itself..."

It just don't make sense!

Lamperoux - I just now saw your post from almost a month ago. Where exactly are you from?

This is why home-schooling is becoming so popular.

Originally Posted by garza

Lamperoux - I just now saw your post from almost a month ago. Where exactly are you from?

thanks goodness i'm on a computer. I have basically a memorized speech about my heritage, i've had to say it that much lol. Now i just have to type it instead of say it.
well, here goes.

i came from the Karnataka province of india, i lived in the city of Udupi. But, the most well known city, if you know a thing or two bouts india, is Bangalore. My mom is half protueguese, so is my dad. But only one grandparent is fully portuguese. I live in the U.S. now, but i identify myself with india.

Anyone who controls the history also control the future

Orwell’s 1984.

Wait, wait, wait. Is Thomas Jefferson the guy who made the lightbulb???? Or is that Benjamin Frankilin?