AUSTIN — Biographies of Washington, Lincoln, Stephen F. Austin? Not fit reading material for children in the early grades.
Cesar Chavez? Not worthy of his role-model status.
Christianity? Emphasize its importance.
Such suggestions are part of efforts to rewrite history books for the state’s schoolchildren, producing some expert recommendations that are sure to inflame Texans, no matter their political leanings.
According to a preliminary draft of the new proposed standards, biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Stephen F. Austin have been removed from the early grades, said Brooke Terry of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The early draft, which is likely to change multiple times in the coming months, also removes Independence Day, Veterans’ Day, and anthems and mottos for both Texas and the United States in a section on holidays, customs and celebrations, she said.
The Cesar Chavez deal has always been odd to bordering on bizarre. He organised watermelon pickers and promoted their rights. Fine and good. If if I were a watermelon picker I'm sure I'd have a shrine to him in my backyard. Kick him off that pedestal and put up a real hero like Juan Seguin.
Social studies/history in Texas schools is a complete waste of time. I have never been so bored, and I LIKE history/anthropology. I found errors in my textbooks constantly.
My DH has a number of young TX HS grads working for him. He occasionally tests their knowledge of history. None of them could name a WWII general or give a good answer to "Who was Hitler?" They have never heard of Stalin. They cannot come close to the dates of the Civil War. It's just sad.