In a sad, yet unsurprising move, Republican theocrats in Texas have broadened their efforts to evangelize public school students from teaching creationism and "intelligent design" in science classes to now attempting to teach a rewritten biblical American history:
The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state's social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.
Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.
Six reviewers, three appointed by the ten Republicans on the Texas Board of Education, and three selected by the five Democrats. Here are the two groups. Let's see if you can decide which group represents which party.
Group One:
*David Barton, founder of WallBuilders:
WallBuilders' goal is to exert a direct and positive influence in government, education, and the family by (1) educating the nation concerning the Godly foundation of our country; (2) providing information to federal, state, and local officials as they develop public policies which reflect Biblical values; and (3) encouraging Christians to be involved in the civic arena.
*Rev. Peter Marshall, Peter Marshall Ministries:
By officially removing the Ten Commandments from our courthouses, by officially stamping with the approval of the judicial system the homosexual behavior that God calls an abomination, and by continuing to officially allow the slaughter of our unborn children, this nation is officially rejecting God.
*Daniel Dreisbach, public affairs professor at American University
Group Two:
*Jesús F. de la Teja, chairman of the history department at Texas State University
*Lybeth Hodges, professor of history, Texas Woman's University
*Jim Kracht, associate dean and professor, College of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University
Is anyone having any trouble figuring out which side is which? Didn't think so.
Some of the conservative reviewers ideas for improving Texas' social studies program include removing Thurgood Marshall, Ann Hutchison, and Cesar Chavez from study while adding Billy Graham, and teaching how Christianity was the basis of the Founding Fathers' design (.pdf warning) for a new America:
The Founding Fathers' Biblical worldview taught them that human beings were by nature self-centered, so they believed that the supernatural influence of the Spirit of God was needed to free us from ourselves so that we can care for our neighbors.
The reviewers appointed by the Democrats on the Board have some reality-based and educationally beneficial ideas, such as including study of Arab nations and adding information about minorities' contributions to society, but they have their work cut out for them. At the end of the day, it is still the Republicans with 10 board members and the Democrats with but five.
That means that Texans who believe in the separation of church and state and teaching reality can never stop fighting against these evangelical whackjobs.
The theocrats understand what is at stake:
"We're in an all-out moral and spiritual civil war for the soul of America, and the record of American history is right at the heart of it," said Rev. Peter Marshall
I only hope we do, too.