Posted on 03/07/2010 10:21:23 AM PST by LS
All: I'm scheduled to appear on three separate Fox shows tomorrow and Tues., including Fox and Friends twice about the upcoming Texas curriculum controversy. I think I have a handle on it, but I'd especially like Texas Freepers to weigh in, especially with any very recent developments I should know about.
Is there still a move to make all U.S. history instruction start at 1877, or has that been killed?
Are they still seeking to remove Christmas to make room for a Hindu holiday?
I can’t offer you any advice on the Texas situation but I can say “Knock ‘em out Larry!!”
Houston Chronicle
January 13, 2009
Texas will not compete for a potential $700 million in federal grant funding for schools, Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday, because it could give Washington too much say in deciding what the state’s students should learn.
.................................
Texas Curriculum
January 11, 2010
In 2010, Texas school districts will be faced with new open source textbook materials,
also known as online content. The transition to digital content represents a dramatic
step forward for Texas classrooms. But the same oversight, review and regulation that
the state has always used with print materials should apply to digital and online content
as well. To continue reading, click here
Click here to learn about Innovations in Reading Instruction
Click here to learn about Publisher-Developed Instructional Programs
Click here to learn about New English as a Second Language Materials
“Open Source” Textbooks Are Reason for Grave Concern
Here is what I found... good luck!
http://thedailycougar.com/2010/02/26/panel-examines-reform-of-states-social-studies-curriculum/
Thanks, Larry
Great job, what time?
Pray for America’s Freedom
Thanks. Helpful.
Wow, very cool. The reason that Texas should NOT take the bait of federal money is that it will drive what textbooks we use in our schools...and that is a MAJOR factor, if not the top factor, in the decline of American Education.
Math is something I know a bit about, and here are a couple of things to look at:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/28/fuzzy-math-a-nationwide-epidemic/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI
The bottom line is that curricula like Everyday Math is so BAD...that parents are FORCED to get their kids remedial help (either teaching the kids themselves, tutors, or after school learning centers...which you might note ONLY use traditional methods). Therefore, we DO NOT want to burden parents with this additional expense (or time needed), when the kids should be learning in school, instead. It’s just too expensive for Texas parents...and many parents, particularly minority parents, cannot even get their kids the help they need to counteract these programs, and their kids simply do worse and worse.
This is a start...I’m sure I’ll come up with more today.
As far as I can tell, they did the science (and math?) last year, including the big evolution/creation debate. This year it’s social studies.
Bummer...but if you can get them on math, it’s much easier to argue.
LS...that was in North Carolina only, not Texas/nationally.
Are you certain? Some Texas people told me otherwise.
montag is correct
it is not Texas who wants to start American History at 1877.
When you consider how mostly still conservative Texas is it becomes obvious Texans would not want to short change the founding of the country.
We may have some who would like to include creationism in the curriculum but we don’t have anyone who wants the history our founding left out.
North Carolina is looking at doing that however
I think the feds should set a minimum standard of what kids should be taught as merely a guide. Anything in excess should be at the states’ (or parent for homeschooling) discretion. The Dept of Education should be seriously downsized and the money divided up among the states by what percentage of the US population lives in each state.
I think the feds should set a minimum standard of what kids should be taught as merely a guide. Anything in excess should be at the states’ (or parent for homeschooling) discretion. The Dept of Education should be seriously downsized and the money divided up among the states by what percentage of the US population lives in each state.
My daughter lives in North Carolina and she knows this is the change they wanting to make there......unfortunately too many parents don’t have a clue as to the ramifications of this. When told how it could affect their childrens education in the long run they just shrug and think people are just over-reacting to change...
This is why I personally get upset over today’s younger people...my grandkids are great and claim to be conservative and yet their views are very different than mine...it’s all in what they grow up with as being the “norm”. When I was their age I certainly never would have predicted the world as it is today..........
Sorry...got off on a rant there...but I have only heard of history after 1877 in NC...have you googled to see if it is anywhere else?
FOX was reporting this morning that the Board of Education will consider history beginning only in 1877 and no one is sure what part Perry is going to play in all of this. Not sure of any sources to go to but perhaps they know something we don’t. My grandchildren go to private schools and the parents have a huge say so about what is taught and their history course includes study of a long time before 1877.
I’d recommend that you call Brian Russell who is in a run-off for State Board of Ed.
I’d recommend that you call Brian Russell who is in a run-off for State Board of Ed.
Fine. Do you have a number?
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