TEXAS – WHERE EDUCATION GOES TO DIE
Posted on: February 4, 2013
PBS showcased a documentary this week on the Texas Board of Education meeting to decide what will and what would not be included in future textbooks for school children attending K through 12th grade. It was an eye opener to be sure.
First of all, this public meeting was opened by prayer. No such thing as the “separation of church and state” in this body of elected officials, most of whom seem to be Tea Party members doing their best to insert Creationism into the curriculum.
One of the members who was seeking the chairmanship believes that the world was created in 7 days and that Earth is no more than 10 thousand years old! How is that for “enlightenment”? He even went so far as to “create” a boat that represented Noah’s Ark which was to prove that yes, all species had enough space on this creation to withstand the “judgment of god” for ridding the world of sin. And he wasn’t alone in making this assertion.
The majority members of this assembly are from the Religious Right. Their overall goal is to bring the “word of god” into the classroom by arguing against science and evolution as merely a “theory”. Their votes would alter the current textbooks that would affect the nation at large and would be in effect until the year 2020 by which time scores of students would have been “indoctrinated” into the idea of “intelligent design” vs scientific truths. They succeeded.
But they didn’t stop there. Up next was the insertion of religious philosophy into history books. Thomas Jefferson was being replaced with the writings of John Calvin in explaining how America was founded on religious principles that are more in line with their personal beliefs. Students would be required to base their understanding of the Founding Fathers by embracing religion into political outcomes that are not represented by the Constitution.
The Texas State Board of Education is made up of elected officials. When the “favored” candidate for the chairmanship was defeated by two votes Gov. Rick Perry appointed another member who shared the same beliefs and who opened each meeting with a shout out to god for “guidance”. What is wrong with this picture?
The Tea Party movement is not simply confined to national campaigns. It is alive and doing quite well in places like Texas where they seem to have infiltrated a small group of elected officials determined to put their religious beliefs on display without fear. This is what “grass roots” and “states rights” represent when public forums take on the flavor of “old time religion” and prayer marks the opening of any assembly.
Watching these people with their eyes closed and arms raised to heaven as they call upon” god” reminded me of those who stood at attention giving the nazi salute as proof of their allegiance to a belief system that eventually overtook commonsense. I may be a bit “offbase” in my assumption but this attempt to foster religious theory in place of scientific proof left me unsettled.
It is more alarming to appreciate the fact that these are elected officials. They have a constituency out there who support their positions. And it is not confined to just this one state alone. In watching and listening to some elected members of congress who have emerged over the last few years these beliefs are finding their way into the public sector by way of proposed law. Just a few more sitting in these seats of power could have more dire consequences in years to come as the separation of church and state continues to dwindle under this form of ideology.
One cannot ignore the warning signs of this movement. They may not be a force in national elections as of now but they are gaining strength in local, regional and state elections where women’s issues and educational platforms have been infested with ideologues carrying bibles and fervor aimed at “the cause”.
The “cause” is the development of a Christian Nation and where better to begin than with the teachings provided by public school textbooks challenging the fundamentals of science with biblical renderings.
We are on the “road to ignorance” if policies continue to infuse the public sector. There is a well funded, highly supported “campaign” out there focused on doing just that.
25 Responses to "TEXAS – WHERE EDUCATION GOES TO DIE"
February 4, 2013 at 9:01 am
According to the producers of this show, only roughly 20% of voter turnout took place during these school board elections. And those represented the highly funded Tea Party candidates who were running to fill the seats.
Apparently few in Texas care enough about the curriculum to actually turn out to vote which is why these officials are currently serving and “revising” the curriculum to suit their ends.
Their policies instruct the textbook manufacturers to insert whatever is approved for a period of years and cannot be altered until the year 2020 when they meet to again “revise” what is being taught.
They are tampering with history, literature and science as a means to insert religious philosophy into the school system but it is not confined to just this one state.
Watching a public forum turn into a prayer event is unsettling. The consequences cannot be ignored.
February 4, 2013 at 9:41 am
20% turnout is outrageous considering local government is responsible for the services that affect daily living – at least it is here. Our municipal councils are responsible for education, policing, emergency services, public health and social services (child support, welfare etc) transportation and utilities to name just a few. They also determine the property and school tax levels. Why don’t people get off their behinds and vote? I don’t understand.
February 4, 2013 at 9:56 am
You have a governor in Texas who called for a public prayer meeting in a football stadium where only “Christians” were welcomed to pray for the end of a drought.
You have Texas school districts who openly defy laws that prevent kids from praying before every school event (essentially football games).
You have judges calling for the placement of the Ten Commandments within the courthouses. In Texas you do not need to look very far to find the Religious Right inserting their beliefs into every aspect of public life.
You also have a state that promotes voter suppression and has also passed laws like “stand your ground”.
When they speak of “state’s rights” this is what they are talking about. The right to pre empt federal laws and ignore the Constitution. This tells me that there are more who prefer those beliefs over any constitutional amendment that calls for the separation of church and state.
February 4, 2013 at 11:18 am
Amazing that they would replace Jefferson with the writings of a (boooooo!)
Frenchman. If they keep this up, they will lose their Freedom Fries franchise,
February 4, 2013 at 1:34 pm
I really wish the federal government would allow Texas to secede. I mean, what do they bring to the table besides crap like this?
February 4, 2013 at 2:18 pm
DYB said: I mean, what do they bring to the table besides crap like this?
Oil and gas.
February 4, 2013 at 2:21 pm
I remember seeing a piece about the book board (or whatever) some time ago and it seems that because Texas purchases sooo many textbooks (are they used?) their selections become the de facto choice for the rest of the country. I’m sure they will fit in well with lil Booby’s chosen charter and other start-up schools that are part of his “education reform”.
February 4, 2013 at 2:30 pm
I don’t know how many of you were watching the Super Bowl last night, but it just happened that a tv crew was in the control room doing another piece when the blackout happened.
You can read an article about it here.
February 4, 2013 at 3:54 pm
In an article, I think it is the one Fredster cites, there was a quote from a member of this august TX body saying someone of Hispanic/Latin origins should be eliminated from any mention in the history books. When she was asked why, she said, “I just do.”
These people are the protestant/christian version of Sharia law — of course, given their lack of education, they lack the logical reasoning to understand their own sophistry.
If ignorance is bliss, these meetings must be the happiest place in the world.
Pat, thanks for bringing this back to our collective attention — this really is one of the greatest threats to our country. If you can’t refute science, then ignore it by not teaching it.
February 4, 2013 at 4:45 pm
I wonder what these dunderheads will do when the U.S. is finally and completely overtaken by other countries who encourage science – in education, training and research. Will they wonder how it happened and think about their very big contribution to their country becoming third world in these areas, or will they blithely continue on in ensuring it becomes third world in every other way?
February 4, 2013 at 4:49 pm
Here’s a vid from the La Senate where a 19 year old Zack Kopplin (now attending Rice Univ.) get a lecture from a Sen. Julie Quinn, a lawyer about teaching “religion” in the classroom. She gets a little snarky about some people in the audience noting they have ” little letters” behind their names conveniently forgetting that she has them too: a .j.d.
February 4, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Here’s another where:
A creationist Senator in Louisiana wants to know how E. Coli. turn into humans during a debate over whether to repeal Louisiana’s creationism law. Notice the head holding around 1:02 seconds.
February 4, 2013 at 5:15 pm
That sick sonuvabitch that was holding the child hostage here in Al has released the kid and killed himself. Good for him!
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/20960766/ala-child-hostage-standoff-ends-after-7-days
February 4, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Thank goodness that the child is okay. About the kidnapper one wonders about untreated mental illness. I’m not excusing what he did, for that he deserves condemnation, but I wonder with all the mentally ill people not having the treatment they need how many more of these incidences we will see.
February 4, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Ht@18: I’ve been following the story but not that closely so I don’t know all of the particulars about the guy.
February 4, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Fredster I don’t know if he was mentally ill, but how else to explain his insane actions? I’ve known several people with mental illness including my own mother so whenever I hear or read about something like this, it pops into my head. One case was a fellow who worked for me – he kept missing work and I finally confronted him because he was a good worker and I did not want to lose him. His brother was a diagnosed schitzophrenic who heard voices. He thought he was jesus. Poor Rob had to deal with the demented results of his brother going off meds. The other situation that springs to mind was my neighbours son, George who was also schitzophrenic – he thought everyone was against him when he also went off his meds. Those are only two situations. My mothers was far more complex and caused by hormonal issues that medications only exacerbated – of course she died in ’83 so perhaps things have progressed since then. Since then I’ve been very sensitive to situations that might be related to untreated or treated badly mental illness. I dont’ know if this man or Adam Lanza or others were mentally ill, but it is always a consideration. Particularly when mental illness is viewed as nothing in today’s governments – the same governments that slashed funding for the treatment and housing. It’s a bugabear with me. Apologies for the long comment.
February 4, 2013 at 6:35 pm
HT@21: I’d say it’s safe to say the guy was crazy, but I’m just not sure. I saw part of one newscast that said he was a loner, tried to or shot a neighbor’s dog for getting on his property and stuff. Perhaps more will come out now that he’s dead since I believe he was watching news shows and the authorities probably did not want to say much at the time.
February 4, 2013 at 10:26 pm
Wait a minute, how E. Coli turns into humans??? I think I would have said: “Well, you tell me being that you are clearly spawned from E. Coli.”
February 4, 2013 at 10:30 pm
About that kidnapper, obviously there were serious mental problems. We’ll find out more soon. The authorities had to be extremely careful about what they said about him and the situation while he still had the child with him. The media also had to exercise extreme restraint. But now that it’s over – watch out, all hell is going to break loose!
February 5, 2013 at 1:41 am
DYB@22: In the tea-bagger, creationist world, I’m sure it’s entirely possible that E.Coli could become a human, but only if God ordained it! LOL!!
February 5, 2013 at 1:44 am
DYB@23: Exactly right. My understanding was that he had either a radio or tv or someway he was following what was going on, on the outside. As you said, probably a lot will come out now.
Comments are closed.
February 4, 2013 at 8:31 am
Pinch me – I thought this was the 21st century. That is very fightening stuff. What were the voters thinking? Same for the ones too lazy to get out and vote.