Source: http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/ The Texas Board of Education is voting on the new curriculum in 2010-11, and some of the new proposals will be downplaying the Civil Rights movement. As a history major, I am, to say the least, shocked. Don McLeroy had instructed the curriculum writers to downplay the role of minorities in the civil rights movement because it was the majority that got the Civil Rights Act Passed.
Don McLeroy was appointed to the Texas State Board of Education by Rick Perry. He is an avid proponent of creationism, and just as avid opponent of evolution. Some of his actions include trying to convince textbook publishers to focus on the strengths of creationism while highlighting the weaknesses of evolution. In an October 2009 interview he commented on his approach to textbook evaluation, "....we are a Christian nation founded on Christian principles. The way I evaluate history textbooks is first I see how they cover Christianity and Israel. Then I see how they treat Ronald Reagan—he needs to get credit for saving the world from communism and for the good economy over the last twenty years because he lowered taxes."
Fortunately this guy is on his way out, but this last act of his could be hinder public school social studies for the next 10 years. I urge you to read the letter that was sent to the SBOE and send one of your own if this “downplay of history” upsets you as much of as it upsets me. Downplaying the roles of MLK, Malcom X, Rosa Parks, and other influential minority leaders is a great injustice.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1253 Last Friday the board passed the state school board passed the recommendations to change the textbooks. It would seem that American children will no longer be taught that Thomas Jefferson was an influential man in the founding of our country. The man who penned the Declaration of Independence, was the first U.S. Secretary of Treasure and was the third president of the United States is being downplayed because of his belief of separation of Church and State, the same belief that was shared by John Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. George Washington, an Anglican, who stated that in no way is the United States founded on Christian beliefs.
This is just a one of the absurd changes being made. The final ratification of these changes will take place in May, and if you don’t want your children learning about a distorted history speak up and voice your opinion to the Texas Board.