Texas Textbook Controversy
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Texas textbook controversy- Analysis
Kim Stevenson
Eastern New Mexico University
CI 531 1WW
March 3, 2013-
Abstract:
Ever since the 1960s, the Texas textbook controversy has had an issue in America. The Texas school board is meeting to make revisions to their textbooks and curriculum. But are they also revising history? Educators across the country are watching to see the effect this issue will have on students. The choices the board members are making will affect politics, religion, monies spent thru-out the Texas school system. Christian conservatives on the state education board want curriculum changes. Parents and student would like the curriculum to remain the same, or not be so drastic. This analysis will show how, what, when and why the Texas Board members want the History of textbooks to be changed.
What does the history of Texas have to do with Textbooks?
Texas State Board of Education members Cynthia Dunbar, Barbara Cargill, and Gail Lowe discussing curriculum standards, Austin, May 2008. Cargill, who was appointed chairwoman last year by Governor Rick Perry, has expressed concern that there are now only ‘six true conservative Christians on the board.’
“What happens in Texas doesn’t stay in Texas when it comes to textbooks:
”No matter where you live, if your children go to public schools, the textbooks they use were very possibly written under Texas influence. If they graduated with a reflexive suspicion of the concept of separation of church and state and an unexpected interest in the contributions of the National Rifle Association to American history, you know who to blame.
When it comes to meddling with school textbooks, Texas is both similar to other states and totally different. It’s hardly the only one that likes to fiddle around with the material its kids study in class. The difference is due to size—4.8 million textbook-reading schoolchildren as of 2011—and the peculiarities of
Texas textbook controversy- Analysis
Kim Stevenson
Eastern New Mexico University
CI 531 1WW
March 3, 2013-
Abstract:
Ever since the 1960s, the Texas textbook controversy has had an issue in America. The Texas school board is meeting to make revisions to their textbooks and curriculum. But are they also revising history? Educators across the country are watching to see the effect this issue will have on students. The choices the board members are making will affect politics, religion, monies spent thru-out the Texas school system. Christian conservatives on the state education board want curriculum changes. Parents and student would like the curriculum to remain the same, or not be so drastic. This analysis will show how, what, when and why the Texas Board members want the History of textbooks to be changed.
What does the history of Texas have to do with Textbooks?
Texas State Board of Education members Cynthia Dunbar, Barbara Cargill, and Gail Lowe discussing curriculum standards, Austin, May 2008. Cargill, who was appointed chairwoman last year by Governor Rick Perry, has expressed concern that there are now only ‘six true conservative Christians on the board.’
“What happens in Texas doesn’t stay in Texas when it comes to textbooks:
”No matter where you live, if your children go to public schools, the textbooks they use were very possibly written under Texas influence. If they graduated with a reflexive suspicion of the concept of separation of church and state and an unexpected interest in the contributions of the National Rifle Association to American history, you know who to blame.
When it comes to meddling with school textbooks, Texas is both similar to other states and totally different. It’s hardly the only one that likes to fiddle around with the material its kids study in class. The difference is due to size—4.8 million textbook-reading schoolchildren as of 2011—and the peculiarities of
References: [/i] Retrieved from http://www.modern-simplicity.com/2010/12/eat-wholly.html http://video.pbs.org/video/2325563509 [/i] Retrieved from http:// www.capitol.state.tx.us/statues/ed/ed003100toc.html Lebo L., (2010). [i] Texas Textbook Massacre Deceitful Propaganda Campaign or Tempest in a Teapot. [/i] Retrieved from http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/05/19/19467/? Moyer, B. (July 2012) Bill-Moyers-messing-with-Texas-textbooks. Retrieved June 29, 2012, http://truth-out.org/news/item/10188.