AMERICAN POLITICS:

KEEP TEXAS SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOKS TRUTHFUL:

Sometimes the shear strangeness of American politics leads this little Canuck to a jaw-dropping moment. One of these occurred when I read the following appeal from the United Farm Workers. The 'culture wars' of the USA seem interminable, and one of the strangest aspects of these, from a Canadian point of view, is the determination of the American right wing to keep the facts of history away from children. no doubt there are those in my own country who would dearly love to emulate such nonsense, but the simple fact is that they rarely dare to make their designs public. One wonders who the right wingers in Texas think should replace Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall in the history books. Robert E. Lee perhaps ? George Wallace ? Oh, I know...Anal Roberts. Ah well, here's the story.

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Tell Texas not to remove Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall from school books:
There is an education war going on in Texas that you need to know about and get involved with. The TX State Board of Education is currently preparing to adopt new social studies curriculum standards. These standards have major national implications as Texas is such a major purchaser of textbooks and their state’s required curriculum drives the content of textbooks produced nationwide.

Please read the following and then take action and forward this to as many friends as possible.

The TX State Board of Education has hired 6 "experts" to determine what will be in the books their schools use. Some of these "experts" are arguing that the state’s social studies and history textbooks are giving "too much attention" to some of the most prominent civil rights leaders in US History, namely Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall.

David Barton, one of these "experts," claimed Cesar Chavez "lacks the stature, impact and overall contributions of so many others." Another of these "experts" evangelical minister Peter Marshall said, "To have Cesar Chavez listed next to Ben Franklin"--as in the current standards--"is ludicrous." He went on to say Chávez is not a role model who "ought to be held up to our children as someone worthy of emulation."

The same "expert" wants to eliminate Thurgood Marshall, a prominent Civil Rights leader who argued the landmark case that resulted in school desegregation and was the first African-American U.S. Supreme Court justice. He wrote that the late justice is "not a strong enough example" of an important historical figure to be presented to Texas students.

Board members and their appointees have complained about an "over representation of minorities" in the current social studies standards. This is ironic in light of the changing demographics of our country. Sadly, Latino and African-American children have the highest drop-out rates in the country. It’s essential to ensure schools are providing students with role models and historical figures whose experiences reflect their own.

We must be concerned when the contributions of Cesar Chávez, Thurgood Marshall and other individuals who have contributed so much to the landscape of American democracy are cast aside and ridiculed. We should welcome the inclusion of all Americans who have helped to make this nation great.

It is horrific to discover that the TX State Board of Education has allowed these panelists to use our children's social studies curriculum as a platform for their political agendas. Please take action today to stop this travesty from going forward. Send your e-mail to the Chair of the Texas Board of Education Gail Lowe (R).

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to the Texas State board of Education.

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I'm shocked and dismayed to discover that the TX State Board of Education is choosing to allow biased "expert" panelists to use their children's social studies curriculum as a platform for their political agendas.

Board members and their "experts" have complained about an "over representation of minorities" in the current social studies standards. This is ironic in light of the changing demographics of our country. Sadly, Latino and African-American children have the highest drop-out rates in the country. It is essential to ensure schools are providing students with role models and historical figures whose experiences reflect their own.

Some of these "experts" said that the state's textbooks are giving "too much attention" to some of the most prominent civil rights leaders in US History, namely Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall.

One of these "experts" claimed Cesar Chavez "lacks the stature, impact and overall contributions of so many others." Another, evangelical minister Peter Marshall said, "To have Cesar Chavez listed next to Ben Franklin"( who, ironically enough.to my knowledge was a "deist" and therefore not a "Christian" in the holy roller sense-Molly)--as in the current standards--"is ludicrous." He went on to say Chavez is not a role model who "ought to be held up to our children as someone worthy of emulation."

Cesar Chavez is widely acknowledged to be a national hero. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, his face appeared on a U.S. Postage stamp, and his birthday is an official holiday in 8 states. To suggest that his life story does not merit being taught to Texas students, in a state whose population is 36% Latino, is ridiculous and offensive.

A member of this biased "expert" panel also wants to eliminate Thurgood Marshall, a prominent Civil Rights leader who argued the landmark case that resulted in school desegregation. He wrote that the Marshall is "not a strong enough example" of an important historical figure to be presented to Texas students.

This is absurd. Thurgood Marshall, the first African American in history to sit on the Supreme Court, is also a man whose life story is an important one for students to learn and be inspired by.
We must be concerned when the contributions of individuals who have given so much to the landscape of American democracy are cast aside.

Don't be known as the state that took Cesar Chavez, Thurgood Marshall and other significant figures out of the history books. Live up to your responsibility--and the mixed demographics of your state--by having the books that teach your children represent the diversified population of your state and this nation.