Information

[Flasher]

I've seen so many news stories over the last few days that have really irritated me. I think I should just stop watching the news. Anyway . . .

I was watching on CNN and Fox (both SEEM to be covering it equally without APPEARING to favor one side or the other) the story about textbooks in Texas. (I will note here and now that I don't know the whole story and have done no research. Just spitting back what I heard.)

I heard mentioned several times that there was discussion (either currently or in the past) of removing people like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Neil Armstrong from textbooks and adding other people such as (and this is a quote) "Mary Kay" and "Wallace Amos" (Famous Amos cookies). Then there's the whole idea of whether or not evolution should be placed into science books.

Now, I don't know that these changes will in fact take place. I'm sure Mary Kay inspired many women to strive to be competitive in the work force. And Famous Amos does make a yummy chocolate chip cookie. But, to remove people who have clearly helped change the landscape of America seems silly to me.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this matter?

It's times like this that I appreciate more than ever that we have the freedom to homeschool our children.

[scrappininAK]

Actually that was one of the reasons we chose to homeschool for a while - the things that the schools had to teach or not teach. History is being made as we speak so I think we need to include modern day world changers too. However, with the internet and world wide access to information I don't think there is actually any need to change textbooks. The new generation are researching online.

[milmomma]

I do think they should rewrite, but not take out the important parts, just the mumbo jumbo in between. Add in newer history.

[Flasher]

I hope I didn't leave the impression that I didn't think Famous Amos or Mary Kay were influencial or accomplished. I'm all for learning about any person who makes a success in America. I just don't think we should forget about those that came first, though.

[MLee]

We should have a smiley with a piece of tape over its mouth - that would be me politely and quietly walking away from my favorite topic...

[milmomma]

We should have a smiley with a piece of tape over its mouth - that would be me politely and quietly walking away from my favorite topic...

This was the best I could find-

[Kimandasmo]

the things they teach our kids now a day...makes you go hmmmmmmmmmm

[Jenn Kellams]

Knowing history, being married to a history buff, and workingi n the schools....i can tell you history in the classroom is so distorted already I don't know if it really matters at this point. I mean, don't get me wrong....I think this is RE-DICULOUS! But in all truthfulness, history hasn't been taught with accuracy for YEARS now anyway. One of the many reasons I hope I am able to homeschool my children one day!

[baltoscrapper]

I think they could add Mary Kay and others, but why take the others OUT? In my opinion, they all had some influence (obviously, some more than others. Where would ANY of us be without Thomas Edison?!?!). Can't we just add these people without removing the other important figures? It's ALL history, right?

[Flasher]

Knowing history, being married to a history buff, and workingi n the schools....i can tell you history in the classroom is so distorted already I don't know if it really matters at this point. I mean, don't get me wrong....I think this is RE-DICULOUS! But in all truthfulness, history hasn't been taught with accuracy for YEARS now anyway. One of the many reasons I hope I am able to homeschool my children one day!

I completely agree about history not having been taught with accuracy for many years.

[Trell]

I watched a Fox News special about that last year and it was just proof that extremely religious people have no place deciding what is taught in public schools.

[Retiree3]

I totally agree with you Laurie. As a former teacher, I feel that education is going backwards instead of forward. I'm basing that statement on the things that I experienced before I retired. I wouldn't have enough time or space to tell you all the things that I feel need to change in order to benefit education (children).

[scrapscot]

I've seen so many news stories over the last few days that have really irritated me. I think I should just stop watching the news. Anyway . . .

I was watching on CNN and Fox (both SEEM to be covering it equally without APPEARING to favor one side or the other) the story about textbooks in Texas. (I will note here and now that I don't know the whole story and have done no research. Just spitting back what I heard.)

I heard mentioned several times that there was discussion (either currently or in the past) of removing people like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Neil Armstrong from textbooks and adding other people such as (and this is a quote) "Mary Kay" and "Wallace Amos" (Famous Amos cookies). Then there's the whole idea of whether or not evolution should be placed into science books.

Now, I don't know that these changes will in fact take place. I'm sure Mary Kay inspired many women to strive to be competitive in the work force. And Famous Amos does make a yummy chocolate chip cookie. But, to remove people who have clearly helped change the landscape of America seems silly to me.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this matter?

It's times like this that I appreciate more than ever that we have the freedom to homeschool our children.

You see, that's our idiot governor Rick Perry....we have the 2nd worst education system in America here in Texas but he keeps getting voted in every election! Now he's "thinking about" running for President!! God help us all if that happens!!

[ScrapEgypt]

I have to admit - I am glad that my youngest is graduating and I don't have to deal with the "Texas Textbook" mentality anymore. For the most part, we didn't have any problems, but there were a few things that did bug me. Here's my favorite.....

The state required all high school students to take a 1 semester Health class. High school is too late for this topic, IMO, but that's a different discussion.
Now, I probably wouldn't have known about this particular "quirk" except that my older son couldn't fit Health into his senior schedule and had to take it as a correspondence class. In addition to purchasing the textbook, I had to download a required unit that was not in the textbook. And I also had to fax his assignments to the teacher at Texas Tech. So - I got a fair chance to see what he was being taught.

Bottom line - at no time during the class was contraception mentioned. Not once. Nada! Okey dokey - that's not so surprising around here.
BUT - the required unit I had to download was all about calculating child support payments based on various scenarios (# kids, marital status, etc).

Now, doesn't that just seem weird???? We can't teach kids about birth control, but we can require them to know (and be tested on) how child support payments are calculated? Is that supposed to serve as some sort of deterrent??

[AnnOminous]

Texas has long been notorious for its fights over what gets in textbooks. And usually the wrong side wins.


And please believe me that you don't want our governor as US President! He's good looking, but that's it. He was the lt. governor who became governor when Dubya got elected US president. The power of the incumbancy is huge here.

[scrapscot]

I have to admit - I am glad that my youngest is graduating and I don't have to deal with the "Texas Textbook" mentality anymore. For the most part, we didn't have any problems, but there were a few things that did bug me. Here's my favorite.....

The state required all high school students to take a 1 semester Health class. High school is too late for this topic, IMO, but that's a different discussion.
Now, I probably wouldn't have known about this particular "quirk" except that my older son couldn't fit Health into his senior schedule and had to take it as a correspondence class. In addition to purchasing the textbook, I had to download a required unit that was not in the textbook. And I also had to fax his assignments to the teacher at Texas Tech. So - I got a fair chance to see what he was being taught.

Bottom line - at no time during the class was contraception mentioned. Not once. Nada! Okey dokey - that's not so surprising around here.
BUT - the required unit I had to download was all about calculating child support payments based on various scenarios (# kids, marital status, etc).

Now, doesn't that just seem weird???? We can't teach kids about birth control, but we can require them to know (and be tested on) how child support payments are calculated? Is that supposed to serve as some sort of deterrent??

As a child support worker, I find that totally absurd!! If they want to know how c/s payments are calculated have them get a job with the Attorney General!

[AnnOminous]

I have to admit - I am glad that my youngest is graduating and I don't have to deal with the "Texas Textbook" mentality anymore. For the most part, we didn't have any problems, but there were a few things that did bug me. Here's my favorite.....

The state required all high school students to take a 1 semester Health class. High school is too late for this topic, IMO, but that's a different discussion.
Now, I probably wouldn't have known about this particular "quirk" except that my older son couldn't fit Health into his senior schedule and had to take it as a correspondence class. In addition to purchasing the textbook, I had to download a required unit that was not in the textbook. And I also had to fax his assignments to the teacher at Texas Tech. So - I got a fair chance to see what he was being taught.

Bottom line - at no time during the class was contraception mentioned. Not once. Nada! Okey dokey - that's not so surprising around here.
BUT - the required unit I had to download was all about calculating child support payments based on various scenarios (# kids, marital status, etc).

Now, doesn't that just seem weird???? We can't teach kids about birth control, but we can require them to know (and be tested on) how child support payments are calculated? Is that supposed to serve as some sort of deterrent??

I remember taking that class as a freshman. The boys and girls took it separately. And contraception was covered back then. But not calculating child support payments - unless only the boys got that!



I had a co-worker who home schooled his kids because he did not want them hearing about evolution. I thought to myself how weak is your faith if you think that hearing about evolution is all that is needed to turn them into atheists?

[ChrissyTina]

I had a co-worker who home schooled his kids because he did not want them hearing about evolution. I thought to myself how weak is your faith if you think that hearing about evolution is all that is needed to turn them into atheists?

I totally agree with you, Ann.

I know this might be inflammatory, so here's my disclaimer. This is my opinion and only my opinion.

I am more of a believer in evolutionism than creationism. I have a very logical and scientific mind and this is what I choose to believe. With that said, I don't have a problem with my kids learning about either theory of life. In my mind, the more knowledge they have, the more power to choose their own belief system. It also teaches my kids to be more tolerant and respectful of different viewpoints and take them into consideration when forming their own opinions. To omit one or the other because you don't agree serves as a HUGE disservice to EDUCATING children in this modern era. If someone doesn't want their child to learn about evolution, then send them to a private school.

[AnnOminous]

I had a co-worker who home schooled his kids because he did not want them hearing about evolution. I thought to myself how weak is your faith if you think that hearing about evolution is all that is needed to turn them into atheists?

I totally agree with you, Ann.

I know this might be inflammatory, so here's my disclaimer. This is my opinion and only my opinion.

I am more of a believer in evolutionism than creationism. I have a very logical and scientific mind and this is what I choose to believe. With that said, I don't have a problem with my kids learning about either theory of life. In my mind, the more knowledge they have, the more power to choose their own belief system. It also teaches my kids to be more tolerant and respectful of different viewpoints and take them into consideration when forming their own opinions. To omit one or the other because you don't agree serves as a HUGE disservice to EDUCATING children in this modern era. If someone doesn't want their child to learn about evolution, then send them to a private school.

And the truth is that not every Christian faith is against evolution. The Catholic Church is not against evolution. They just say that it was God who caused the genes to mutate, not random chance as Darwin says.

[MLee]

And not everyone who homeschools does so for religious reasons. I homeschooled all three of mine and all turned out to be above and beyond the highest achiever in government schools - as are most typical homeschooled kids. Government run schools are broken and nearly, okay probably, beyond repair. I wouldn't send my dog to one for obedience training much less my children whose futures have been placed in my hands.

As for the reason that Texas is deleting Thomas Jefferson from their textbooks... he is too liberal, was too much a part of the bohemian movement of the French and not a good example of what the American "forefathers" were all about - you know, God and all. (I am rolling my eyes and puking at this point at their absurdity and ignorance.)

The problem with Texas and their re-writing of science and history textbooks - and please, I do not think Mary Kay Ash belongs in an American History textbook - is that because they are the largest purchaser of textbooks the publishers of said textbooks will all follow suit and kids all over the country will be forced to learn this drivel. If you think this generation of American school kids cannot think and have no clue about science and history, just wait for the next one.