The Texas Board of Education is considering some drastic changes in its history texts. Some of the changes they are thinking of making include:
- Removing references to Daniel Boone, General George Patton, Nathan Hale, Columbus Day, and Christmas.
- Including the cultural impact of hip hop music, ACLU lawyer Clarence Darrow, and the Hindu holiday of Diwali.
- Replacing the term “American” with “Global Citizen”– stating that students need to be shaped “for responsible citizenship in a global society” without any mention of citizenship in American society.
- Replacing expansionism and free enterprise with imperialism and capitalism.
So, no more talk about General George Patton and his impact on World War II. Instead, let’s discuss how Biggie Smalls and Tupac’s West Coast/East Coast rap war impacted America’s culture. Yeah, that’s some good education.
So what if Texas makes these changes to their texts? You don’t live in Texas and your children don’t go to school in Texas. Why should you care?
Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, is warning Americans to speak up before only eight people, with a majority vote, have a chance to literally rewrite American history.
He appeared on the “Huckabee Show” to explain why the board’s vote matters to the rest of America. Staver said Texas and California are the two largest textbook purchasers in the nation.
“Whatever textbooks they select affect the rest of the country because publishers publish those kinds of books, and the rest of the country follows,” he said.
But because of California’s budget crisis, the state hasn’t been able to purchase as many new textbooks, he explained. So the default is Texas.
“So when this 15-member board – eight people of that will make a majority – make a decision, it will affect the entire nation,” Staver said.
Those eight people could decide what children will learn in various other parts of the country.
Behold the long reach of government. Eight people in Texas decide what a nation of school children learn.
Or, you could send them to a private school. Or better yet, homeschool.
One thing you should at least do is this:
The Board’s next meeting is in March and the final reading and adoption of the social studies guidelines will be in May.
Make your voice heard now, before the next meeting. Please be courteous when you call the board members to encourage them to promote traditional, pro-American language in their guidelines, or, you may also email them at sboesupport@tea.state.tx.us. Please note that this e-mail address automatically distributes to all 15 board members so duplicate messages are not necessary.
UPDATE:
Here’s the video from Huckabee:
