Texas recently rejected a social studies text because it was historically inaccurate. Publishers scrambled to write a series that would please Texas or suffer financial consequences.
Texas Sets the Tone for Nation’s History Textbooks
Texas is located in the Bible Belt and many conservatives were concerned about the liberal slant of new textbooks. Many felt that the emphasis on key points in history were not given the importance they deserved and history was being re-written.
With a 9 to 5 vote (one board member abstaining), the Texas Board of Education determined that some key points were to be included in the textbooks. Like what?
- The words "separation of church and state" are not in the Constitution.
- Evaluate whether the United Nations undermines U.S. sovereignty.
- Judeo-Christian religion influenced the nation’s Founding Fathers.
- U.S. government be referred to as a "constitutional republic" and not "democratic."
- Study the decline in the U.S. dollar’s value, including the abandonment of the gold standard.
- Thomas Jefferson is an example of an influential political philosopher. [1]
It became a Republican vs. Democrat battle for the final copy of the text with well over 200 objections.
History Leaning Toward Left for Past Twenty Years
History books have been slowly drifting to the left point of view with many in education finding it difficult to find accurate textbooks for purchase. Complaints have been made that Marilyn Monroe got more coverage than some of the Founding Fathers and presidents.
Political correctness has crept into history books and many are concerned that the emphasis will not be on accurate aspects of history but rather social points of view. Conservatives want to return to accurate history and not "modern interpretation" of history and want to bring the pendulum back to the middle.
Politicians Comment on Texas Social Studies Textbooks
While textbooks should be based on accuracy, they have become political. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated after the Texas vote, "Such decisions should be made at the local level and school officials should keep politics out of curriculum debates. Parents should be very wary of politicians designing curriculum." [1]
Republican board member, David Bradley, said, "The curriculum revision process has always been political but the ruling faction had changed since the last time social studies standards were adopted. We took our licks, we got outvoted. Now, it’s 10-5 in the other direction … we’re an elected body, this is a political process." [1]
Democrats are painting the picture of conservatives taking over the content of history books. Republicans argue that textbooks have been changing toward the political left for over twenty years and it is time to get back to the center and historical accuracy.
[1] "Texas Board Approves New Social Studies Curriculum," Associated Press, May 22, 2010.
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
