Texas Board of Education at it again Banning textbooks - Page 10

mrscoach · 09-24-2010, 03:19 PM

If a textbook doesn't make it to the approved list in Texas it can still be used, but the school will not get state funds to pay for it.

Texas is still big on local control of schools, within certain parameters. They are doing away with the broad standardized tests and implementing End Of Course exams, which allow a teacher to teach their style, but make sure they cover the material that will be tested over. There are good points and bad to this, but that's what we're getting now.

As for Texas not liking the Federal government, that isn't true. We have many politicians there, and a large number of the military are from Texas. The same military that protects the Federal government and all Americans. We may not like individual politicians, but who doesn't? There is a very small faction in Texas that has gotten press because they want Texas to become it's own country, but they are the crazy uncle in the corner with his underwear on over his pants that no one likes to acknowledge.

ardeegee · 09-24-2010, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrscoach

There is a very small faction in Texas that has gotten press because they want Texas to become it's own country, but they are the crazy uncle in the corner with his underwear on over his pants that no one likes to acknowledge.

You mean fringe figures like-- the governor?

mrscoach · 09-24-2010, 03:45 PM

I remember when that happened. It was just a way of making a point that we were not happy with how things were going, it was never actually brought up anywhere official.

The groups I'm talking about usually live on ranches in western Texas and want Texas independence. I can't think of the name of their group right off hand. I'll look it up.

Ok, I found the Republic of Texas group and The Texas Nationalist Movement.

rrburton · 09-25-2010, 08:06 AM

Come on, you all know this.....

We study history so that we may learn from it. By limiting what is taught, Texas is setting up the next generation to be less knowledgeable. By not teaching (insert subject matter here) students won't know why it is bad and will be more likely to repeat the mistakes of history..

GeoffC · 09-25-2010, 08:28 AM

They can only repeat the mistakes of the past if they know what those mistakes were - hence the need for as much information as possible, and from more than one source in order to obtain a balanced viewpoint.

mrscoach · 09-25-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

The resolution concludes by warning publishers the “State Board of Education will look to reject future prejudicial social studies submissions that continue to offend Texas law with respect to treatment of the world's major religious groups by significant inequalities of coverage space-wise and by demonizing or lionizing one or more of them over others.”

Here is the link to the local article. http://www.oaoa.com/news/islam-53330...esolution.html

Part of the problem was that Islam was mentioned favorably, while Christianity when mentioned was more likely to be referred to negatively (along with the more mentions of Islam over Christianity).

nguirado · 09-25-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

I'll agree with the liberal bias in CA schools; it's one of the reasons I put up with the cost of living here.

You have kids and you want them in a liberal school?

Quote:

We study history so that we may learn from it. By limiting what is taught, Texas is setting up the next generation to be less knowledgeable. By not teaching (insert subject matter here) students won't know why it is bad and will be more likely to repeat the mistakes of history..

So, students in California are more knowledgeable? Going from a conservative emphasis to a liberal emphasis (that's what we're talking about here, not about light versus darkness) makes kids smarter about history?

HarryT · 09-25-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nguirado

You have kids and you want them in a liberal school?

What do you mean by "liberal", nguirado? I'm always a little confused when I see it appear to be used in American politics almost as though it were an insult. Here in Europe, liberal parties generally espouse moderate left-of-centre policies, somewhere between left-wing labour, and right-wing conservative parties. But schools here aren't in the business of instilling any particular political agenda.

obs20 · 09-25-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrscoach

Here is the link to the local article. http://www.oaoa.com/news/islam-53330...esolution.html

Part of the problem was that Islam was mentioned favorably, while Christianity when mentioned was more likely to be referred to negatively (along with the more mentions of Islam over Christianity).

Unfortunately some events in history cannot be discussed in a balanced matter. The Inquisition is one of those topics which make it hard to put a smiley face on the Church(although there were individuals who did oppose it). The conquest of Native-Americans is another instance.
None of this is written to condemn the descendants of anyone but the past is what it is.

ardeegee · 09-25-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obs20

Unfortunately some events in history cannot be discussed in a balanced matter. The Inquisition is one of those topics which make it hard to put a smiley face on the Church(although there were individuals who did oppose it). The conquest of Native-Americans is another instance.
None of this is written to condemn the descendants of anyone but the past is what it is.

These are the people who wanted to call slave trade "Atlantic triangular trade." They have absolutely no interest in balanced discussion.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Educati...iangular-trade

TGS · 09-25-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

But schools here aren't in the business of instilling any particular political agenda.

Are they not?

HarryT · 09-25-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Are they not?

I don't believe so. Do you? Exam syllabuses are not set by politicians, nor textbooks approved by them. Exam boards (which do set the syllabuses) are independent of political control.

SameOldStory · 09-25-2010, 02:15 PM

Are there no issues that should not be taught in K - 12?

THE SCHOLARS ON WIFE BEATING
"Below is a large selection of commentary from some of the greatest scholars in Islam on 4:34. You will notice that their positions are uniform primarily, agreeing upon the superiority of men, the required obedience of the wife, and the right of the husband to beat his disobedient wife. Quranic verses will be in bold font. I would like to thank brother Mutee’a Al-Fadi for doing the translations of Arabic into English for the commentaries of Tabari, Baidawi, and Qurtubi. His testimony is found here: http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Alfadi/testimony.html"

Or NAMBLA? If you want the website, look it up yourself.

Just to be "fair", lets teach both of these.

HarryT · 09-25-2010, 02:20 PM

Just as the Bible says that it's perfectly OK to sell your sister into slavery (as long as it's to a foreigner) and stone your children to death if they are disrespectful

.

Really, one has to take these things as products of the cultures in which they were written, not try to apply them unquestioningly to today's completely different society.

ardeegee · 09-25-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

Just to be "fair", lets teach both of these.

http://controversy.wearscience.com/

09-24-2010, 03:19 PM	#136
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	If a textbook doesn't make it to the approved list in Texas it can still be used, but the school will not get state funds to pay for it. Texas is still big on local control of schools, within certain parameters. They are doing away with the broad standardized tests and implementing End Of Course exams, which allow a teacher to teach their style, but make sure they cover the material that will be tested over. There are good points and bad to this, but that's what we're getting now. As for Texas not liking the Federal government, that isn't true. We have many politicians there, and a large number of the military are from Texas. The same military that protects the Federal government and all Americans. We may not like individual politicians, but who doesn't? There is a very small faction in Texas that has gotten press because they want Texas to become it's own country, but they are the crazy uncle in the corner with his underwear on over his pants that no one likes to acknowledge. Last edited by mrscoach; 09-24-2010 at 03:23 PM.

09-24-2010, 03:45 PM	#138
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	I remember when that happened. It was just a way of making a point that we were not happy with how things were going, it was never actually brought up anywhere official. The groups I'm talking about usually live on ranches in western Texas and want Texas independence. I can't think of the name of their group right off hand. I'll look it up. Ok, I found the Republic of Texas group and The Texas Nationalist Movement. Last edited by mrscoach; 09-24-2010 at 03:53 PM. Reason: added groups

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09-25-2010, 08:06 AM	#139
rrburton Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 942 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: iPad	Come on, you all know this..... We study history so that we may learn from it. By limiting what is taught, Texas is setting up the next generation to be less knowledgeable. By not teaching (insert subject matter here) students won't know why it is bad and will be more likely to repeat the mistakes of history..

09-25-2010, 08:28 AM	#140
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	They can only repeat the mistakes of the past if they know what those mistakes were - hence the need for as much information as possible, and from more than one source in order to obtain a balanced viewpoint.

09-25-2010, 02:15 PM	#148
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	Are there no issues that should not be taught in K - 12? THE SCHOLARS ON WIFE BEATING "Below is a large selection of commentary from some of the greatest scholars in Islam on 4:34. You will notice that their positions are uniform primarily, agreeing upon the superiority of men, the required obedience of the wife, and the right of the husband to beat his disobedient wife. Quranic verses will be in bold font. I would like to thank brother Mutee’a Al-Fadi for doing the translations of Arabic into English for the commentaries of Tabari, Baidawi, and Qurtubi. His testimony is found here: http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Alfadi/testimony.html" Or NAMBLA? If you want the website, look it up yourself. Just to be "fair", lets teach both of these.

09-25-2010, 02:20 PM	#149
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,549 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just as the Bible says that it's perfectly OK to sell your sister into slavery (as long as it's to a foreigner) and stone your children to death if they are disrespectful . Really, one has to take these things as products of the cultures in which they were written, not try to apply them unquestioningly to today's completely different society.

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