Jul -- News: Texas Board of Education approves radically conservative changes to school curriculum

Xkeeper

Level: 263

Posts: 15428/25353
EXP: 297140570
For next: 1819883

Since: 07-03-07

Pronouns: they/them/????????

Since last post: 3 days
Last activity: 52 min.

Posted on 03-21-10 06:14:22 AM

Link | Quote

I'm fairly positive that such portions of the constitution were rendered null and void upon, you know, joining the Union. Such is life.

____________________

Arisu
Member
game over.
Level: 22

Posts: 37/85
EXP: 52206
For next: 6144

Since: 03-09-10

Since last post: 11.7 years
Last activity: 12.0 years

Posted on 03-21-10 01:34:45 PM

Link | Quote

I know it's easy to get mad at them for being horrible Christian apologetics, but that's practically the best they could hope for: their aggressors overlook the actual changes and attack them directly instead, and the more neutral, having only seen these changes and support for them which has been left unscathed (except perhaps from those crazy atheists who just hate Christianity), are inclined to agree with the changes.

I mean maybe you guys could do with knowing more about Aquinas because then you'd know that he did same thing they're doing now, which is using every means at his disposal to defend Christianity. However, looking at the responses in this thread, it's obvious that everyone has it made up in their minds that these people are crazy fundies who don't warrant an argument, which I can't help but think is polemics all the same, i.e., "I'm going to attack this because of separation of church and state", even though there's nothing in the Constitution (a sort of holy grail from which truth can be discerned, on par with the Bible in terms of American reverence) stating that religious material ought to be omitted from the curriculum. Personally, the disturbing amount of religiosity in the social sphere makes it that much more important to study religion through the lenses of academia, disregarding the fact that the Bible is still the most influential work of all time, from writers and artists to even (the otherwise rather illiterate) general populace. Regardless of your religious beliefs, it's hard to try to pretend that the Bible is irrelevant, and proudly saying one hasn't read it shouldn't be grounds for boasting.

With that said, I am in no ways condoning this activity, and just by looking at the relevant changes that have been approved (quoted below for your convenience, and I encourage you to read the text in its entirety), it's hard to pretend that they're not just shoving the Christian agenda down the orifices of young Texan schoolchildren.

Originally posted by Blogging the Social Studies Debate IV

9:45 – Here’s the amendment Dunbar changed: “explain the impact of Enlightenment ideas from John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Thomas Jefferson on political revolutions from 1750 to the present.” Here’s Dunbar’s replacement standard, which passed: “explain the impact of the writings of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and Sir William Blackstone.” Not only does Dunbar’s amendment completely change the thrust of the standard. It also appalling drops one of the most influential political philosophers in American history — Thomas Jefferson.

However, with that in mind, we should first think of their target audience: not you, not me and probably not even another diehard Christian or these changes would be in place already--no, they are probably aimed at people far more neutral and willing to listen them out. However, when the diametrically-opposed "religion and state should not mix" comes into the equation, these people in the middle are all-too-likely to get caught in a crossfire between the two, and not knowing much else, will tend to think less of this second party for roiling up discourse. While we were chasing after all of those crazy extremists, those extremists got smart and decided to convert the moderates to their side instead of wasting their time on us (obviously this happens for a lot of things).

So what am I trying to say in a few words? Polemics, on either side, is harmful as it supplants productive discourse with a sort of twisted, utilitarian manipulation of discourse to fit one's personal and preexistent values and beliefs. I think this interview on Polemics, Politics and Problematizations explains why so much better than me, but I'll try to post a condensed version with relevant bits later.

Tanks

360? Yessum.
Level: 121

Posts: 3991/4170
EXP: 19808596
For next: 248100

Since: 07-10-07

From: VA

Since last post: 9.5 years
Last activity: 9.5 years

Posted on 03-21-10 01:44:49 PM (last edited by Tanks at 03-21-10 10:46 AM)

Link | Quote

Originally posted by Xkeeper
Originally posted by FirePhoenix
Yeah, it's not like Texas doesn't have the ability to do so. They should take advantage of that and just go. Then they can bastardize their education as much as they want to.

Actually, they don't, but that doesn't stop ~~Dick~~ Rick Perry from pretending they do.

Actually there's nothing in the US Constitution against secession. The Civil War only ever made it de facto illegal. So yea, Texas can and, who knows, might go for it.

@Arisu

Yea, I agree with you there. It seems to focus on the philosophies of the Enlightenment Era of history. But I can't help but think a few of these changes are just brainless, but then again, I haven't seen any real tangible portions of the new text books so I can't completely cast judgment just yet.

____________________

Arisu
Member
game over.
Level: 22

Posts: 38/85
EXP: 52206
For next: 6144

Since: 03-09-10

Since last post: 11.7 years
Last activity: 12.0 years

Posted on 03-21-10 02:54:03 PM

Link | Quote

Originally posted by Tanks
Originally posted by Xkeeper
Originally posted by FirePhoenix
Yeah, it's not like Texas doesn't have the ability to do so. They should take advantage of that and just go. Then they can bastardize their education as much as they want to.

Actually, they don't, but that doesn't stop ~~Dick~~ Rick Perry from pretending they do.

Actually there's nothing in the US Constitution against secession. The Civil War only ever made it de facto illegal. So yea, Texas can and, who knows, might go for it.

@Arisu

Yea, I agree with you there. It seems to focus on the philosophies of the Enlightenment Era of history. But I can't help but think a few of these changes are just brainless, but then again, I haven't seen any real tangible portions of the new text books so I can't completely cast judgment just yet.

The relations between textbook publishers and the educational system are as about as sweet, but less Christianity and more profits-mongering-at-cost-of-meaningful-education, but that's another subject that I'd be more than willing to discuss.

Sine
2310

Level: 94

Posts: 1965/2316
EXP: 8200604
For next: 156053

Since: 07-07-07

Since last post: 3.7 years
Last activity: 289 days

Posted on 03-21-10 05:42:13 PM

Link | Quote

It's an enigma
----------------------------------------------------
I really think this quote sums up the whole article.

Originally posted by The Article
"We have manipulated strands to insert what we want it to be in the document, regardless as to whether or not it's appropriate."

:|

____________________
00:00 2/7/10

Gabu

Star Mario
Placeholder Ikachan until :effort: is found
Level: 172

Posts: 2744/9981
EXP: 67989280
For next: 112954

Since: 08-10-09

Pronouns: they/them, she/her
From: Santa Cruisin' USA

Since last post: 56 days
Last activity: 4 days

Posted on 03-26-10 04:45:41 PM

Link | Quote

I am writing to urge you not to lower your standards to appease the anti-science, ultra-conservatives on the Texas State Board of Education who are seeking to rewrite history to reflect a far-right ideology.

As a publisher of textbooks, you are an important steward of our children's education. Do not bend to pressure from a few ideologues in Texas. Parents, teachers, librarians and children are depending on you to stop this attack on our educational system.

If you write the Texas curricula standards into textbooks for the national market, children will not learn anything about Thomas Jefferson's political philosophy or his thoughts on the separation of church and state.

When they learn about the Civil War, they'll have to study Jefferson Davis' inaugural address alongside Abraham Lincoln's. And when they study the civil rights movement they'll have to learn about the "unintended consequences" of Great Society programs, affirmative action and Title IX.

Your job is to educate our children, not cater to the whims of a small minority who wish to indoctrinate them. We understand that the Texas State Board of Education exerts enormous market pressure on your company. But we are counting on you to take a stand and resist the pressure to replace history with propaganda in our nation's textbooks.

I got this in my e-mail account today from change.org (had previously joined to vote to bring the drinking age issue in the list of ten ideas to send to Obama).

The second to last paragraph horribly conflicts me on whether to sign or not, since they are good points, but I'll likely ultimately sign anyway. :|

____________________

Lyskar
12210

-The Chaos within trumps the Chaos without-
Level: 192

Posts: 5095/12211
EXP: 99320970
For next: 552601

Since: 07-03-07

From: 52-2-88-7

Since last post: 7.4 years
Last activity: 7.3 years

Posted on 03-27-10 02:50:05 AM

Link | Quote

Stats

Time/Date
03-26-10 08:50:05 PM
Posts
5095
Days Here
997
Level
104

Metal_Man88's Post

I'm guessing that second to last paragraph is there to say "You know, history itself isn't liberally-slanted, Texas Republicans."

____________________

Don't let an old saying get in the way of a good idea.

Eisnaught - SSQ² - Mobius Roleplay - SSS

Zushakon
40

Level: 17

Posts: 19/46
EXP: 20743
For next: 4000

Since: 03-26-10

From: Sweden

Since last post: 12.0 years
Last activity: 11.7 years

Posted on 03-27-10 11:14:37 AM

Link | Quote

Whoa.. that's offensive, and I'm not even American..

____________________
Madness, as you know, is a lot like gravity, all it takes is a little push.

Gabu

Star Mario
Placeholder Ikachan until :effort: is found
Level: 172

Posts: 2752/9981
EXP: 67989280
For next: 112954

Since: 08-10-09

Pronouns: they/them, she/her
From: Santa Cruisin' USA

Since last post: 56 days
Last activity: 4 days

Posted on 03-28-10 01:27:21 AM

Link | Quote

Originally posted by Metal_Man88
I'm guessing that second to last paragraph is there to say "You know, history itself isn't liberally-slanted, Texas Republicans."

Yeah, decided to sign anyway, even if it did mean not teaching both sides since ultimately getting this repealed would be for the greater good.

____________________

Arisu
Member
game over.
Level: 22

Posts: 40/85
EXP: 52206
For next: 6144

Since: 03-09-10

Since last post: 11.7 years
Last activity: 12.0 years

Posted on 03-28-10 07:48:38 AM

Link | Quote

What is really disturbing is that politicians, administrators and publishers have neigh-absolute control over the curriculum while actual educators are mere conduits through which social conditioning and profits-mongering can be effected, and academics ultimately suffers in this sort of inefficient top-to-bottom system. Teachers need to have the authority to teach as their primary duty, which proves difficult when they have to handle administrative/clerical/disciplinary tasks as well.

Register - Login
Views: 99800549	Main - Memberlist - Active users - Calendar - Wiki - IRC Chat - Online users Ranks - Rules/FAQ - Stats - Latest Posts - Color Chart - Smilies	05-03-22 06:38:56 AM

Query execution time:	0.089155 seconds
Script execution time:	0.023530 seconds
Total render time:	0.112685 seconds