Conservatives say the social studies curriculum revisions 'add balance'; liberals accuse them of rewriting history.
A battle in Texas over proposed changes to the curriculum for new social studies textbooks will ultimately impact what many children are taught in schools across the country. Many states purchase textbooks that are created by Texas standards, as it is the second-largest buyer of textbooks behind California.
State Board of Education members are meeting in Austin, Texas, this week for a final vote on the curriculum changes, which were originally proposed by a committee of teachers and community members. After some revisions, board members voted 10-5 in March to adopt some socially conservative changes, which angered the liberal members of the board.
Board member Cynthia Noland Dunbar told MSNBC the curriculum changes “promote patriotism.” “We are adding balance. History has already been skewed. Academia is skewed too far to the left," board member Dr. Don McLeroy told the NY Times. On the other hand, Democratic board member Mavis Knight accused conservatives on the board of inserting their political and religious views into the standards "whether or not it was appropriate," according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.
The recommendations include adding language to say the country's Founding Fathers were guided by Christian principle; requiring that students learn about the 'unintended consequences' of Great Society legislation, affirmative action and Title IX legislation; replacing the word 'capitalism' with 'free-enterprise system'; and renaming the slave trade the 'Atlantic triangular trade.'
The proposed changes have touched off a national controversy, pitting conservatives against liberals. Democratic Senator Leland Yee has already introduced legislation to prevent the Texas changes from being incorporated in California textbooks, calling them 'historically inaccurate and dismissive of the contributions of minorities.'
What do you think of the proposed curriculum changes? Leave your comments below.
» MSNBC: Texas ready for textbook showdown
» Fox News: Texas Textbook Wars
» Dallas Morning News: Conservatives on Texas board leaving legacy in schools but losing clout
» My Fox Tampa Bay: Textbook Debates Lead to Death Threats