Texas schools to get controversial US History Syllabus/Books

[Esper]

As much as I don't like what the school board did, I'll be even more angry at these textbook publishers if they do what everyone says they'll do: pander to these new educational standards. It's kind of sad that we don't even question that they'll do this, that none in that industry will say: "Hey, wait a minute. They're politicizing history. We can put a stop to that."

 

[Yamikarasu]

There are obviously a lot of stupid things in this, mainly that the UN is a threat to American freedom. It might just be my opinion, but the closer we are to identifying all humans as one people, the better.

Also, a lot of things in this seem to support the idea that America is somehow better than other countries. That is obviously not true at all. We may be the most financially prosperous, but we've done more than our share of bad things (think occupation of the Philippines and Japanese internment camps). Crap like this just enforces the stereotype that Americans think they're better than everyone else. America is one country among many, and that's what the schools should teach.

Maybe in History classes, students should just be taught how to analyze historical facts? A complete overhaul of the way we teach History is what's needed, in my opinion.

 

[TRIFORCE89]

The United States in concert with the rest of the Security Council do run the UN. Any one Security Council member can veto anything and vetos can't be overruled.

What's wrong with what Texas is doing? It's not any worse than students being fed Al Gore or Michael Moore propaganda.

Well, yes it is worse.

I would imagine that watching a Michael Moore film or An Inconvenient Truth is not part of the curriculum and that it is ultimately the teacher's decision to display that material.

You may have a teacher with an open bias. But that's very different (and worse) than requiring that all the teachers promote another bias. That's brainwashing.

 

[SBaby]

Rumors are wrong.

Yeah. If anything, I'd put my money on Arizona breaking from the Union first.

Personally, I think that whatever Texas does is their own business. I'm sick of the government getting involved in our daily lives.

 

[dc_united]

Doesn't really matter if they get controversial stuff or not. The right-wingers are just going to cry communism if the books are banned, and Joe Populist is going to go do his patriotic duty to stop the spread of communism.

Something tells me that the American people need to sit down and sort out their priorities. Instead of screaming and behaving like children over something as stupid as differing views in religion or politics, we all need to sit down, crack our knuckles, do something about the economy, make some jobs, give money to the schools, and worry about who's a liberal and which textbooks contain the Theory of Evolution later.

 

[Rich Boy Rob]

Doesn't really matter if they get controversial stuff or not. The right-wingers are just going to cry communism if the books are banned, and Joe Populist is going to go do his patriotic duty to stop the spread of communism.

I seriously don't understand the american people's hatred of communism. I mean sure, I agree democracy is superior due to it's elected government, but apart from the (I admit major) problem of it being a dictatorship, I agree with many communistic ideals.

 

[lx_theo]

I seriously don't understand the american people's hatred of communism. I mean sure, I agree democracy is superior due to it's elected government, but apart from the (I admit major) problem of it being a dictatorship, I agree with many communistic ideals.

Many people here are ignorant and only see it as an enemy due to the Cold War. They hear it and immediately associate it with the worst. Any form of it is seen as evil because of the patriotism that was riled up during the Cold War.

 

[Netto Azure]

And for those who actually try to know what communism is, they are "against it" because of economic reasons, or blind love for capitalism.

 

[Aether]

Why the heck can't these people agree to disagree and teach history objectively? You could argue the pros and cons of a free-market economy or communism, but instead they feel the need to push their agenda on their own children by making everything black and white.

This is indoctrination, to put it bluntly. It's sickening.

 

[Tinhead Bruce]

Yeah. If anything, I'd put my money on Arizona breaking from the Union first.

Personally, I think that whatever Texas does is their own business. I'm sick of the government getting involved in our daily lives.

You're kidding, right? The Texas Board of Education is a part of the Texas state government. The government is getting involved with the daily lives of the citizens of Texas by changing the history textbooks. You're expressing contradictory opinions.

And for those who actually try to know what communism is, they are "against it" because of economic reasons, or blind love for capitalism.

Your wording is alarming. "Try" to know what Communism is? You're implying that those of us who are as you say "against it" don't really know what Communism is. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to be "against" Communism.

 

[lx_theo]

Your wording is alarming. "Try" to know what Communism is? You're implying that those of us who are as you say "against it" don't really know what Communism is. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to be "against" Communism.

To be fair, many people barely understand its basic idea and don't differentiate between the different extremities of it. For example: There's a major difference between communism and socialism, but many don't realize it and people like Fox News use it to take advantage of people.

 

[Tinhead Bruce]

To be fair, many people barely understand its basic idea and don't differentiate between the different extremities of it. For example: There's a major difference between communism and socialism, but many don't realize it and people like Fox News use it to take advantage of people.

I understand, but some of us do, and the fact that most don't understand it still doesn't give one the right to make a gross over-generalization about those who are against it.

 

[lx_theo]

I understand, but some of us do, and the fact that most don't understand it still doesn't give one the right to make a gross over-generalization about those who are against it.

That's why I chose many, not most as the beginning word for my statements. I understand there are some legitimate arguments against the ideas and such, but nearly every person I've ever talked to about it do fall into the group I described and Netto Azure added on.

 

[Netto Azure]

Your wording is alarming. "Try" to know what Communism is? You're implying that those of us who are as you say "against it" don't really know what Communism is. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to be "against" Communism.

Well you know what I meant. I should have worded it better, but the whole partisanship just makes me take a stand. Anyways, I know you guys do understand what it means, that's what I said "for economic reasons"

 

[Tinhead Bruce]

Well you know what I meant. I should have worded it better, but the whole partisanship just makes me take a stand. Anyways, I know you guys do understand what it means, that's what I said "for economic reasons"

Alright. I was a bit harsh, and I apologize.
Anyways, I never said my opinion on the textbooks. I think the changes are ridiculous. I would give my reasons, but I can't quite work up the energy to think right now.

 

[dc_united]

I seriously don't understand the american people's hatred of communism. I mean sure, I agree democracy is superior due to it's elected government, but apart from the (I admit major) problem of it being a dictatorship, I agree with many communistic ideals.

Because it's apparently un-American, and god forbid someone to express themselves with free speech in today's society. Plus they shove crap down your throat at school about the 'Evil Empire' and some people still believe that Cuba and Vietnam are going to invade the USA.

It's very sad, to the point where if you try to educate people they just call you a 'Commie Nazi.'