I think I finally figured out why they do stuff like this.
The State Board of Education tentatively approved new standards for social studies Friday with members divided along party lines — some blasting them as a fraud and conservative whitewash, others praising them as a tribute to the Founding Fathers that rightly portrays America as an exceptional country.
The standards, which will influence history and government textbooks arriving in public schools in fall 2011, were adopted by 10 Republicans against five Democrats after weeks of debate and across a racial and ideological chasm that seemed to grow wider as the proposal was finalized Thursday.
Many of us are secure enough in our belief about the true nature of America that we want our children to be taught the basic facts about its history on the assumption that in the end they’ll realize for themselves that they live in a pretty good place. Other people, like certain members of the State Board of Education, seem to think that unless children are given only a carefully edited set of “facts” about America, they won’t grow up to be as intolerant of dissent about things like America’s greatness as they themselves are. Once I realized this was a matter of self-esteem, it all made sense to me. Perhaps if we spiked their water pitchers with Prozac for their next meeting, things will go better. It’s worth a shot, anyway. Steve Schafersman, The Texas Trib, TFN, Steve Benen, and Hair Balls have more.
Need more proof of their low self esteem? They’re too afraid to use the “c” word, lest they be taunted.
“Let’s face it, capitalism does have a negative connotation,” said one conservative member, Terri Leo. “You know, ‘capitalist pig!’ ”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html
You know what worries me? That standards have gotten so low that “Anybody but MacLeroy” is sufficient reason to cheer.
And I love how they profess reverence for the Founders but tossed out Thomas Jefferson, who coined the phrase “a wall of separation between Church & State.”