Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
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Post by Bando on Jul 14, 2009 16:55:38 GMT -5
On part of this issue, I recommend "Dave Barry Slept Here", which, in addition to copious references to the Hawley-Smoot tariff, talks about the contributions made by women and minority groups "despite having the legal rights of gravel". I'm not so sold on original documents at the middle or high school level, save a few basic, short ones (Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, speeches by famous leaders) - the time for that study is late in high school and college, when you begin to really learn to think critically. It's unreasonable to expect these for tests. Some points on each side are good - I like the focus on Texas history (a more local focus engages students), and Thurgood Marshall isn't a particularly sexy choice. The really interesting proposal that has no shot? Religion. The US is, like it or not, consistently more religous than almost anywhere else in the developed world. If you're going to understand how the United States developed and evolved, you've GOT to discuss religion and its role. I don't really get the Cold War opposition - fifty years of US history was based on it, and you can't really ignore it. Is religion in US history not covered well now? I remember learning a lot about Puritan beliefs, as well as hitting on major periods like the Great Awakening and whatnot. In ninth grade we got a survey of world religions. Or is this just Texas or something? |
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Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Canes Pugnaces
Posts: 5,304
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 15, 2009 9:18:42 GMT -5
Okay, long story short: The State Board of Education used to be a down ballot race that nobody cared about. It was populated mainly by retired teachers who chose to go into public service. After Texas transitioned to a one-party state in the 1990s, with Rove types running the GOP party apparatus, the SBOE became a cause celebre of social conservatives. Candidates started even to include people who homeschooled their children and wrote books advocating the dismantling of the public school system. After these people started getting support/financing, they started winning primaries and bouncing the moderates on the board. Because the state Democratic Party was/is a complete shambles, the primary was the only race these people needed to win. The board is now virtually comprised entirely of the kind of Republican I don't like -- the kind who think they were elected to push a social conservative agenda at all costs. (ON EDIT: Okay, "virtually comprised entirely" is actually not accurate, it just seems that way because the social conservatives vote as a bloc.) Here are some more fun facts: www.texasmonthly.com/2008-10-01/feature5.phpThings are changing -- the Democratic party is creeping back into Texas politics, and cooler heads in the Texas Lege voiced their displeasure by refusing to reconfirm the SBOE chairman this spring. I expect some spirited SBOE races in 2010. As a side note, my brother (and not a few other Obama campaign veterans) have moved to Texas to work for the TX Democratic party. We'll see if it pays dividends. |
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Post by jgalt on Jul 16, 2009 5:38:57 GMT -5
Is religion in US history not covered well now? I remember learning a lot about Puritan beliefs, as well as hitting on major periods like the Great Awakening and whatnot. In ninth grade we got a survey of world religions. Or is this just Texas or something? In my opinion and experience (Montgomery County, MD public school system), religion is a focal point of learning about this country, from the puritans all the way through religious reactions to events in the 60s and 70s. The stance though is not "christianity made this country great" which is what these people seem to want. |
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