I was watching PBS "Need to Know" show, while flipping channels. There was a blip about education, so I stopped to watch it. It don't think I've ever been so angry at Texas in my whole life! Maybe it was just because it hit so close to home. They were changing some things in the Social Studies Department. This segment was about the Texas State Board of Education. In a meeting to re-vamp the curriculum, they decided to change a few things....Here's what they decided to change in the Social Studies Core Curriculum. (The Core is what we as teachers use as our standards what to teach in class.)
Change number 1:
Social studies teachers are no longer to teach that American was imperialist at the turn of the century. "Imperialism", according the Board is an incorrect term for America at the time... Texas wants the word "expansionists". So if I were in Texas and I were teaching about how America had control over various countries at the turn of the century, like the Philippines, I'd have to say that American expanded its power over the countries of the Philippines, Guam etc. I would not "be allowed" to discuss the imperialistic nature in which they controlled those countries. Really! That is just ridiculous to me! If a country extends controlling power over a country, without its consent, it's imperialism.
Change number 2:
Texas does not want teachers to call our economic system, "capitalism" because it sounds bad. They said it reminds people of the phrase "capitalist pig". They want teachers to refer to it as "a free market system". But wouldn't it be more educational to the students of Texas to have the discussion of the term "capitalist pig" and why there is an argument over the form of market that America has? The rest of the world views America as a capitalist country so why are the kids in Texas going to be the only ones that know it as a 'free market'. Talk about isolation.
Change number 3:
Now this one just KILLS me. The Texas State Board of Education wants the word, "propaganda" to be removed and images that are propaganda, to not be taught as such. So what I am supposed to call posters encouraging women and others to support the war effort during WWII? Advertisements?! What is so wrong with the word "propaganda"? Wouldn't it be more powerful to explain and discuss with students the power and influence propaganda has on a country, community and society? Isn't more harmful to ignore propaganda than acknowledge it?
Now, I do have to give credit to the member of the Board who is the Social Studies Department head, she argued AGAINST every single one of these, but was overruled. Texas argued that the previous Core had an overly liberal feel and they believe that they are balancing it out. However, in my opinion, it's the teacher's job to present the balanced perspective of each arguement, not the State to dictate what can and cannot be taught because it, supposedly has a liberal agenda. Is the next step removing FDR's New Deal from the Core because that favors big government and is a liberal agenda?
