Conservative Vision Ascendant In Latest TX History Textbooks Draft; Gingrich, Schlafly Back In; because what social studies text books need is more emphasis on the positive cultural contributions of the NRA. No, really. I’m not even making this up.
Of course, the best bit come from TPM’s previous post on this topic:
In a note to curriculum writers last fall, McLeroy encouraged them to “read the latest on McCarthy — he was basically vindicated.”
Um… no. He really wasn’t. McCarthy was a horrible human being on a witch hunt and ruined a lot of innocent lives. Unless by reading the latest, you mean by one of well-known historian1 Ann Coulter’s vicious screeds, and in that case… still no. What planet is McLeroy living on anyway?
“The secular humanists may argue that we are a secular nation. But we are a Christian nation founded on Christian principles. The way I evaluate history textbooks is first I see how they cover Christianity and Israel. Then I see how they treat Ronald Reagan–he needs to get credit for saving the world from communism and for the good economy over the last twenty years because he lowered taxes.”
Oh. That planet.
Text books are important, and what’s in them is important as well. If you’ve never read Lies My Teacher Told Me, I cannot recommend it enough. Whether or not you buy the author’s political stance, his points regarding the presentation of history and how easily manipulated it is range from thought-provoking to terrifying.
1 – Yes, I was laughing as I typed this. Well, more like giggling. Possibly in a manner reminiscent of Joseph McCarthy.