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The Texas Board of Education has decided that students should no longer be taught that the United States is a democratic republic. They should be taught that it is a constitutional republic. Huh?????
Until this semester, I had never heard of B.C.E. and C.E. I thought it must be because I graduated so many years ago. Nope. "In final edits leading up to the vote, conservatives rejected language to modernize the classification of historic periods to B.C.E. and C.E. from the traditional B.C. and A.D." My daughter will be scratching her head when she first hears it, too.
The full article is here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100521/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_schools_social_studies
This is our tax dollars at work...
24 comments:
I went to University in my late 20s. I was amased at just how many 'FACTS' that I was fed in primary and high school that were so much horse shit.
But the thing you need to watch in this situation is the separation between the fee paying schools and the public ones. For you will find that the very people that are most vocal about this are the very people that will send their own kids to schools that will fast-track them into world class Universities like Harvard. Where BS facts will not be looked at with much kindness.
All in all, in situations like this you will find that the Religious argument from those on that side is intrinsically wrapped with the social and class.
I was wondering what you thought about this when I heard it yesterday...
Changing the name of the "slave trade" to the "Triangle Trade?" Who are they kidding? I'm sure they'll probably hear good things about William Jennings Bryan and the Scope's Monkey Trial. But since they're advocating the gold standard, the students should at least have to read his 1896 speech on not crucifying him on a cross of gold.
so glad i pay so much in taxes...hmmm....the winners rewrite history to suit their needs...
What next?!
Saw that on the news last night.
Actually, I've been hearing about the BC/BCE thing for awhile. Let's see... doesn't that stand for "common era" and "before common era" or something like that?? Takes away the "Christian" aspect of BC and AD.
The way we're heading, we can call it anything they want- but it will be Socialism!
it makes me glad my kids have graduated from high school. interesting times we live in
betty
@Vince: The best private schools in Texas seem to be run by religious groups. I moved to the poorest section (which is actually a pretty nice neighborhood) of an affluent community so my daughter could go to a better public school. And I'm choosing to remain unemployed so she can complete her education there.
@sage: We never learned about the Scopes Monkey Trial and can't remember ever learning about evolution in school. What I know I learned from watching TV and this semester in college. I asked my daughter if they were teaching evolution and she said, "What?" Guess not.
@Brian Miller: And continue to rewrite it. But wait...we lost the war...why are WE rewriting it?
@Buckeroomama: I'm afraid to ask.
@Kelly: I think so. I'm still confused.
@buffalodick: Controlling what children learn and spinning "facts" sounds more like communism.
Here's MY OPINION: Religious PRIVATE schools have every right to refrain from teaching something that contradicts religious teaching. In public schools, children should learn without religious censorship. Did the world end when we found out it wasn't flat, that the earth wasn't the center of the universe? No. Did we stop believing in God? No. We stopped believing everything the church told us.
Some changes are for change sake. Some changes sell more books and some changes make no sense. It Has always been so, and unless you are in the position of authority and decision making, WE the rest, can only fuss and complain. Sometimes it helps, other times it is like blowing into the wind (or something else).
@That corgi: Mine is almost done. I'm very happy.
@jack69: It does feel like blowing into the wind. Even CNN covering it didn't deter them.
I just finished a class on this. The founding fathers didn't intend the country to be a democracy but a republic. When you really read the constitution and other old documents you can see that.
There is a book called the 5000 year leap that talks about this...
http://www.skousen2000.com/political%20products/fivethousand.htm
Not saying I agree...but it is interesting!
Glad I'm Old!
Lot's of changes very fast!
Good stuff!
John
@Christiejolu: We studied it, too. The ancient Roman Republic appointed representatives, whereas we elect them. Greece was a direct democracy. The founding fathers combined elements of both types of government. My question is why does the Texas School Board think they have the right to rename everything to serve their own agenda.
Oh, well. At least they are learning to read. A literate country with freedom of the press. That's the most important thing.
I looked up that link CJ. That does look like an interesting book.
I've heard on the news about other weird changes that the Texas is making to history books. Doesn't this negate the whole idea behind teaching history?
Hmm, is that because they don't think it's democratic, or because countries with "Democratic" in the title are almost invariably not...? I'm oblivious to the politics of this kind of decision, I'm afraid, so I would love it if you could enlighten me!
Again we're reminded that the most important things to teach kids are to think for themselves, and to question everything.
Huh?...is right. They just can't leave well enough alone.
Sitting in "old Europe" certainly of interest to read. Guess that times indeed changed much, since last I went to school.
Please have a wonderful Sunday.
daily athens
HEy! I thought of you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwM-b8wJtDc
I personally don't think anyone should cover this song...but they nailed it!
@Ms Sparrow: I think we should let historians write the history books, but that's just me...
@Rachel: I'd love to enlighten you, but I'm a little confused myself. I'm not sure why they did what they did. Some changes may be for good reason. Some just leave me scratching my head.
@Christiejolu: Thanks for the link. They did a great job. Brent Smith has an amazing voice.
I saw that on the news the other day and I was a bit confused. I had forgotten about it, till now. I had to look it up to see what the big deal was and the significance. Something about BC/AD being found to be inaccurate. Lots of people will be confused as I was.
informative,
my kids are big,
17 and 12,
no more daycare fees, but no more child credits as well.
thank you for sharing!
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