The curriculum culture wars have taken a new twist, with a brewing controversy in Texas about how much of the Bible belongs in American history. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins - via Wall Street Journal (Most Emailed)
Great reporting. Simon handles a difficult and divisive issue with as much balance as one can. I would like to know more about the politics of the board, and some more background on the history of TX curriculum development. It would also be helpful to know how other conservative states have handled the issue, and if perhaps there is a better model for resolving these issues while avoiding obvious conflicts of interest.
This article brings more focus to the ongoing debate that some states are having over educational standards and the role of religion in education. Texas is only the most recent state to have its academic standards fall prey to religious interests.
I can't believe that there even is a debate on what belongs in science classrooms. Furthermore, while the debates over historical focus and viewpoint are valid and necessary, the goals of the religious groups (to teach history from a "Christian" point of view) are asinine. Ridiculous
If American history can really be taught as it happened and not with some interest group's spin, this would be a very good thing. If this is the thin edge of the wedge for introducing creationism, then at least let creationism be taught correctly and historically.
"Culture wars" is exactly the right term for what this article describes. The writer does a good job of quoting both sides, which are far apart indeed. Teachers, stuck in the middle of this, deserve our sympathy.
In the past , most americans were not aware on how the history books were established. Today's journalism is in a position to expose all aspects of any given society which allows the general populace to express their opinions on those aspects that are being exposed and to understand the process on how thing are accomplished in establishing a nation.
The process of writting the true history of a nation shold be done from a gestalt perspective.The whole is greater than the sums of it's parts. In short, all influences that helped to create a nation should be included. However, in the past, significant contributions have by design been excluded. Rev. Peter Marshall, a conservativve minister along with other conservative christians who appear to be de facto segregationists are still trying to exclude certain races from the history ... More »
An interesting read. Some of the changes both sides are looking for seem fair, but a few seem a bit whiny and nit-picky. such as "Replace references to America's "democratic" values with "republican" values", pure politics.
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