Leave your partisan politics at the public school door and out of its textbooks.
Public education should be based on academics, not representatives” politics.
The Texas Board of Education voted Friday to make changes to the state”s history and social sciences curriculum.
Though the changes may seem small, using one word over another or emphasizing an issue or person more than others, the board will push textbooks requirements to the right if the changes are again approved in May.
Students would learn about the Judeo-Christian influences on the Founding Fathers.
Though many religious people are influenced by their faith, I would rather learn in school about philosophies, movements, people and history that influenced the Founding Fathers. I don”t believe religion is as relevant for a child to know in a history class as the influences of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke and the Roman Republic.
The textbooks would not highlight the philosophical rationale for the separation of church and state.
The man who coined the term to separate religion from government, Thomas Jefferson, would also be cut from a list of people whose writings inspired revolutions.
I remember learning about the accomplishments of Jefferson and his influences on our nation and others and thinking how brilliant he was, not only to draw a divide between government and God, but to stand up for freedom with eloquence and intelligence.
The curriculum would give more positive attention to Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.
References to “capitalism” and the “free market” would be changed to say “free enterprise,” because capitalism apparently has a bad reputation at the moment.
Textbooks meant to educate children should use academic yet everyday terms the students can easily relate to. To avoid saying capitalism in a social sciences class would be foolish.
Books would present Republican political philosophies and figures in a more positive light, including Joe McCarthy, Phyllis Schlafly and the National Rifle Association.
The texts would refer to the United States form of government as a “constitutional republic,” rather than “democratic republic.”
The changes would also give Confederate president Jefferson Davis equal footing with Abraham Lincoln.
Conservatives who believe Davis inspired as much positive change as Lincoln did would have a hard time convincing me of the same.
But a child may not have such an adverse response.
Children”s minds can be melded by what their parents, teachers, friends and books say, among many other influences.
Although some teachers focus on critical thinking, not all educators make sure their students understand textbooks are a tool written by people and are not infallible or unbiased.
Public schools are not the place for indoctrination, they”re a place for education.
Katy Sweeny is a staff reporter for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at kdsweeny@gmail.com or 263-5636, ext. 37.
