Texas Ed Board Approves Warning of Religious Bias in Textbooks
- Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:47pm by
Meredith Jessup
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AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas State Board of Education adopted a resolution Friday that seeks to curtail references to Islam in Texas textbooks, as social conservative board members warned of what they describe as a creeping Middle Eastern influence in the nation’s publishing industry.
The board approved the one-page nonbinding resolution, which urges textbook publishers to limit what they print about Islam in world history books, by a 7-5 vote.
Critics say it’s another example of the ideological board trying to politicize public education in the Lone Star State. Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, which advocates for religious freedom, questioned why the resolution came at a time when “anti-Muslim rhetoric in this country has reached fever pitch.”
“It‘s hard not to conclude that the misleading claims in this resolution are either based on ignorance of what’s in the textbooks or, on the other hand, are an example of fear-mongering and playing politics,” Miller said.
Future boards that will choose the state’s next generation of social studies texts will not be bound by the resolution.
“This is an expression of the board’s opinion, so it does not have an affect on any particular textbook,” said David Anderson, the general counsel for the Texas Education Agency, when asked by a board member what legal weight the resolution would carry.
“So this is a cosmetic exercise?” asked board member Mavis Knight, a Democrat from Dallas.
The resolution cites world history books no longer used in Texas schools that it says devoted more lines of text to Islamic beliefs and practices than Christian ones. Chairwoman Gail Lowe said the resolution cites old books because board rules prohibit them from discussing current books more than 90 days after their adoption.
“I believe that it’s happening in the current (social studies books) even though we can’t cover that in the resolution,” said board member Terri Leo, a Republican from Spring. The resolution sends a “clear message to publishers that it should not happen in the future.”
The resolution also claims “more such discriminatory treatment of religion may occur as Middle Easterners buy into the U.S. public school textbook oligopoly, as they are doing now.”
Two Republicans broke from their party to vote with the Democrats. Two Democrats — Mary Helen Berlanga of Corpus Christi and Rene Nunez of El Paso — were absent for the vote. The initial vote on the resolution was 7-6, but the board later reconsidered the measure. The second vote was 7-5 after a Democratic board member left the meeting.
The measure was suggested to the board this summer by Odessa businessman Randy Rives, who lost his Republican primary bid for a seat on the panel earlier this year. Members of a social conservative bloc of the board then asked Lowe to put the resolution on this week’s agenda.
During public testimony, which included comments from activists as well as a handful of parents, Jonathan Saenz, a lobbyist for the conservative Liberty Institute, argued that the board was “doing the right thing … to prevent any type of religious discrimination or treat any religion in a way that’s incomplete.”
Several times during the testimony, Lowe intervened, attempting to calm flaring tempers.
“The Board’s mission, and Texas’ future, is ill-served when the board chooses to use its limited meeting time to discuss and vote on discriminatory and politically motivated measures, such as this proposed resolution,” said Frank Knaack, of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.
The resolution concludes by warning publishers the “State Board of Education will look to reject future prejudicial social studies submissions that continue to offend Texas law with respect to treatment of the world’s major religious groups by significant inequalities of coverage space-wise and by demonizing or lionizing one or more of them over others.”
Social conservatives control the 15-member board for now, although the landscape is set to change after one member of the bloc lost his primary election bid and another chose not to seek re-election. The board in recent years has become a battleground for social conservatives and liberal watchdogs, each accusing the other of imposing ideological agendas into what about 4.8 million public school students learn in Texas classrooms.
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Comments (97)
chazman
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:54pmIslam is a CULT! It’s no longer a religion. A Theocracy at best, but a cult none the less.
Islam Sucks!!!
w4jle
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 11:10pmFirst thing say it sucks solves nothing. Please refrain from such silliness.
Report Post »There are two Islams, the religious and the political. The religious is what is proffered when ever an attack against the political rears its head. The political uses any means necessary to convert the world to Islam. Terrorism, sharia law, honor killing etc. It has one goal, to eliminate all religions except Islam.
Our problem is we are not able to tell which is which, a Muslim is required to lie to an infidel and in the name of religion deny he is even a Muslim if it serves Islam.
We try to pin down a chameleon that changes from the religious to the political when it serves their purpose. The New York mosque is a classic example, the political Islam wants to rub our noses in a Muslim victory over the infidel while under the guise of the religious laments “they only want to share the peace”. The progressives that would shut down a Catholic or Baptist church in a minute will suddenly spring to action to defend religion when a Muslim is involved, or any anti American group for that matter… Go figure.
Tate
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:15pmWARNING! EVERYONE, Please see this movie about Muslims.
“LEARN WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO.”
ISLAM: WHAT THE WEST NEEDS TO KNOW.
They can lie or cheat at work, where they live and with anyone they deal with to hide what they are doing and what they plan to do. Don’t tell Me anything of what you think of Me. Watch this movie and then ask yourself if you still trust them. You have to see this. This is a very bad thing to come into any Country. They are going into every Country.
Leslie_Benedict
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:07pmGod Bless Texas.
Report Post »Waiting4George
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:58pmStealth Jihad.Like thieves in the night to steal our children’s minds.Taking advantage of every freedom they would deny us if they could. Look to the Netherlands. If you have not heard of Geert Wilders–then get busy researching and sharing with everyone you know. O.K–now declare your fatwa on me…
Report Post »Tate
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:16pmNo, You’re right. See this movie. ISLAM: WHAT THE WEST NEEDS TO KNOW.
Report Post »bhelmet
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:52pmThe sad thing is how tough a battle it was to put TRUE American History in the textbooks.
Report Post »LoisLane1951
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:20pmAfter the grownups take back congress, they need to start on the school systems…from kindergarten on up.
Report Post »Midwest Belle
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:33pmThe control of the school system(s) need to be turned back to the states, counties and towns. THEY know what’s best for their area. For example, schools in ghetto areas should concentrate on subjects that will help get the kids to be self sufficient. I mean come on, if a kid can’t read, what CAN he/she do? The kids should take the core classes, then vocational classes. THAT‘S what’s NOT being done. Filling the needs of the kids.
Report Post »llhughes41
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:43pmAMEN to all you commentors for speaking the truth! This is a sad time we are all living. I have grandchildren who I will not let be indoctrinated by any garbage the textbooks have in them. I believe my grandchildren will be homeschooled before this happens. We all need to make sure we monitor what our children are learning in public schools.
Report Post »WeAllDoBetter
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:32pmThe second largest shareholder of newscorp(fox news parent) is a muslim, hows that for a contribution to america?
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:33pmYour contention is that since Muslims know how to pick profitable investments, there is a reason for concern? I’m unclear how we prevent Muslims from buying into publicly traded corporations.
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:27pmLbreath writes: “equal coverage or exclusion is the goal”
No, that’s not an appropriate goal. It is impossible to accurately explore the history of America without acknowledging the profound influence of Christianity.
It is not logical to say that by virtue of Islam, Shinto, Buddhism, or Hinduism having zero influence, and thus zero mention, equality forces us also to ignore Christianity.
Christianity is relevant to any study of America, the others are not.
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:23pmConsidering what we know of the tactics of Islamic world domination, any extended mention of Islam institutionally in this country should be viewed with great apprehension, suspicion, and perhaps alarm.
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:19pmWe are a Christian nation, Islam has no historical merit in any American history curriculum. There is no discernable reason to mention it at all, unless we’re speaking to current events and disussing international terrorism.
There is really no other purpose in mentioning Islam, outside of a Comparitive Religion class, that I can imagine…in this country. The same can be said of Shinto, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. They are all equally irelevant to American history.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 4:52pmAnyone who’s ever attended any school should know that they don’t just teach American history. They give the history of the rest of the world at least a year. What are they supposed to teach, that the most important event in Medieval European history was the Crusades which were fought against some guys somewhere? That the Renaissance was caused in part by the reintroduction to Europe of the advanced scientific knowledge preserved by some guys somewhere?
Report Post »whitaker
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:11pmIslam is practicing stealth jihad in the western world through media, politics and education. Look at major shareholders in media companies and publishers. Look how community groups influnce politics in the US and europe. Look at the 50B weapon deal with the saudies. In my research im finding more links to liberal agenda and islam using saudi money. Notice the aig and citibank connection which are linked to WH from mr becks shows.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7iHxl90CD0
emqcrcu
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:02pmislam is now, always has been and forever will be our enemy. It is against everything we are for and for everything we are against. People in the USA who think mosques should be in the USA need to find out and report back to us, with photos and more proof than we have of the no-man’s background, just how many open and functioning CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND JEWISH SYNAGOGUES are open and functioning FREELY (without persecution) in islamic countries. Also, check out how many articles favoring CHRISTIANITY AND the JEWISH FAITH are in the text books of islamic countries in schools and universities THEN talk to me about mosques and muslims and their “rights” in our country.
Report Post »lazylranch
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 6:10pmI believe that number would be a big fat ZERO!
Report Post »mcellu
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:56pmParents. Teach your children well.
Feed them on your dreams.
can’t you see we must be free
to teach your children what you beleive in.
You can NOT rely on schools to teach your children. They can learn reading, writing and ‘rithmetic, but if they don’t hear your prayers, your hopes, your principles, they can not learn them. Or know them.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:45pmYes !
Report Post »Sarah
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:41pmI don’t have a problem with them putting the FACTS about Islam in our text books. But it’s the facts and all of the facts that need to be in our history books! The Good the Bad and the Ugly…. This idea that the progressives have put into place that we can just pick and choose and then “Change” what they want our children to learn and know is ridulous and is killing our American youth. If you listen to Glenn Beck regarding this issue it’s really scary that this has been going on for a long time. I can’t tell you how many times my father would say – “I can‘t believe they aren’t teaching you that in World History” – and this was over 20 years ago. Our kids NEED to know what Islam is all about in order to have a FEAR of what it can produce… and YES I would say the same about Christianity, etc. For example: If everyone knew the true history of Islam – there’s NO WAY we as a People would stand for that Mosque to be built right next to the World Trade Center Bombing!
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:30pmEverything I seem to know about islam is not good. Keep it the hell out of our books unless we teach ALL our children about jihad, islamic terrorism, ill-treatmenet of muslim women. and the law of sharia. If the truth can not be told then keep the whole damn subject out of our history books. I am sick and tired of hearing about islam, moslems, mosques, and their law of sharia. Screw the law of sharia damn it, this is America and we are a Judeg-Christian nation. I know of one one good thing islam has done in this country, not ONE!
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:28pmI have a hard time understanding why Christianity and Judaism is portrayed only in a bad light and Islam only in a good one, especially when there are very recent cases of stoning, beheading, honor killings, and the murder of those who say things against Allah or even draw an image of him. Also, what religion are all of the suicide bombers, who claim before hand that they are doing it for religious reasons?
Report Post »Islam is mentioned 27 times in the table of contents for World History book for Texas and Christianity once. It seems as though the writers either have an agenda or perhaps are afraid of having someone angry at them. I am not proposing a white wash, just some balance.
Ferrets
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:40pmIn both my grammar and high school, Christianity was presented in a positive light.
twolamb
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:08pmBalance is absolutely necessary at the very least.
Report Post »w4jle
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:57pmIt is because the Muslims have lobbyists that push the textbook manufactures and even write chapters for inclusion in the textbooks. Propaganda is the name of the game and the propagandists know they can find willing dupes among progresses. Residents of LaLa land willing to shed crocodile tears when ever the fabric of kumbya is rippled.
Report Post »Chalupa
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:25pmAs someone with an interest in religion, spirituality and philosophy, I have looked at a number of religions some of which are very small. Nearly everyone is based on non-violence save one and that is Islam. I also believe there is a symmetry in the universe and to appreciate heat, there must be cold. To appreciate love, there must be hate. To appreciate compassion, there must be aversion. When these become asymmetrical, negative actions occur. America must maintain its founding principle or we are doomed.
Ferrets
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:24pmI never learned about the crusades in my catholic grammar school nor my public high school textbooks.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:46pmOkay….,
Report Post »But, was Islam in the table of contents –and, numerous times?
OklahomaBound
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:09pmIf Islam were part of American history and a religion of peace the left would of course seek to have any mention of it removed from our history books, but since Islam is a religon of hate and murder that is an obvious enemy of America it is embraced by the left because any leader, country, idiology or religion that is an enemy of America is a friend and ally to the left. The enemy of their enemy is their friend.
Report Post »Conserving Ink
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 9:01amAmen, and welcome to Oklahoma – we’re glad to have you.
Report Post »ne14puertorican
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:06pmTHANK GOD!!! I live in Texas!
Report Post »teahugger
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:10pmI hope to be able to say that myself shortly…lucky you
Report Post »MSP22
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:39pmAgreed time to move, ne14puertorican want to rent a room.
Report Post »CanadianForGod
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:12pmWe owe all these people so much. They were awake and fighting long before most of us even knew what was going on. Thankyou and thankyou FOX news and Glenn Beck for being brave enough to provide a place for the truth to be told and telling it!
Report Post »lazylranch
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 6:02pmYou and me both Darlin’!
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 6:03pmThank God I homeschool! We learn about Christianity every day… we also learn about Islam… like when the Visigoths invited the Moslem general Tariq bin Ziyad to come help them… well, he helped them all right… helped them become part of the Caliphate!
I’m glad that, for now, Texas is doing the right thing.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:06pmPreventing any type of religious discrimination or treating any religion in a way that’s incomplete is a good basis that I hope other states may find it easy to adopt.
Report Post »LBreath
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:11pmDitto…equal coverage or exclusion is the goal.
Report Post »Sefton
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:29pmJust saw a report on Fox News that said one of the board members had done a review of one textbook that mentioned Islam 27 times and Christianity only once.
Red Blooded
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:58pmIslam is not a religion, it’s an ideology, and frankly one Americans reject for its inhumane treatment of women, as less-than-second class citizens and using female circumcision, among other tenants of their beliefs, including, but not limited to-the conversion or death of everyone one the planet. Good Job Texas!
Report Post »Obi-Wan Kenobi
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:14pmIslam is a religion, a political system, and a military system.
The only way they can have peace on earth is when all the population is either Muslim or slave.
That is their stated purpose.
BRAVEHEART
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 12:42amTechnically Islam is a violent political cult as opposed to a true religion
Report Post »roninshaman
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:59pmThe histories and behaviors of Judaism and Christianity differ for Islam in one significant way. Judaism and Christianity went through reformations. Islam at large has not agreed to stop using violence and subterfuge as tools. The Jihadsts are acting on a political level of Islam. I heard a peace loving Muslim talk about this just last week on television.
When a lunatic commits an act of violence in the name of Christianity, most Christian leaders speak out against it with righteous anger for defiling our faith. When a lunatic commits an act of violence in the name of Islam, we are shown Muslims in various parts of the world celebrating the death of our citizens. Is it really a surprise to many Americans are suspicious about Islam.
The unfortunate thing for the modern world is that Judaism and Christianity made progress on their violent actions when we were still using swords and arrows. Islam is going through this in a world with RPGs, ICBMs and NUKEs.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:55pmCue the high-pitched wails and gnashing of teeth of the Loony Left Bedwetters: Music to my ears.
Report Post »GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:54pmThese are the same right-wing pinheads who want the textbooks to leave out the concept “separation between church and state”, and consequently are eliminating Thomas Jefferson’s view of this topic. So unless you are a total idiot, don’t be so quick to jump on their bandwagon of ignorance, demagoguery, and revisionism. Anyone who writes a history book can bias things, but these dipsticks basically want to re-write history books to match up with their view of the world, even if it means omitting bits of history that conflict with their view.
Report Post »ClockKing
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:18pmYou mean the Left-Wing MIS-READING of separation of Church and State. You mean the Leftist idea of SELECTIVE use of separation (Islam, Wicca, Buddhism, Animism – OK. Christianity, Judism – not OK).
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:26pmMoronicSeminarTroll writes: “[Constitutionalists] are eliminating Thomas Jefferson’s view of [wall of separation]”
No, troll, we aren’t. We‘re upholding Jefferson’s view. Jefferson wanted to keep government out of religion, he didn’t desire to keep religion out of government….or out of the public square.
You Atheists are an amusing bunch. Always carrying on as if what you practice is other than a religion, by virtue of recognizing no deity. Very kindergarten.
As if the ploy that you have no religion, when you most obviously do, changes the reality that what you attempt is establishing Atheism as the state religion…thereby excluding all other religious expression, and disenfranchising all those who practice other than Atheism from public office.
You’re not fooling anyone.
Report Post »Republic
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:32pmNever fear…they will sue and take it to the liberal judges to decide.
Report Post »thepatriot
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:50pm@GlennBeckIsADemagogue
You are truly a fool. Thomas Jefferson believed in a separation of State from Church, meaning the State wouldn’t control the church, not that all things state must have no reference to God. When the time comes that all men will see that God is real I hope to find you and ask your opinion on the subject.
Report Post »H2OBoardem
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:54pmDemigogue, Once again you prove that you are uneduacted and ignorant. Please, go find someone else to whine to.Your ignorance of the truth is overwhelming.
Report Post »jazman1960
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 12:06amJeffersons papers used to call for seperation look to his line…building a wall of separation between Church and State, but forget he said it ….. It must rest with the States, as far as it can be in any human authority. again you cant just have it one way if you want to say seperation then you have to say its then up to the states to controll.
Report Post »KingArthurUp
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 3:01ambut they aren’t the same left wing idiots that take names like GlennBeckIsADemagogue and demonstrate an idiocy that could have only elected an Obummer.
Report Post »PostProgressiveAmerican
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 6:25amDemagogue, Jefferson’s view, as expressed in his 1802 to the Danbury Baptist Association, referred to the NATIONAL “wall of separation between Church & State” under Amendment 1 of the Constitution which reads, in part, “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. This interpretation was later expanded to apply to the States via Supreme Court interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
Aside from all of that, Americans have been subjected to revisionist textbooks for years which promote left-wing, anti-Christian, anti-American, anti-Capitalist history and philosophies. I find in amusing when the same people who implemented the revisionist approach in the first place now warn against efforts to shift the content back towards reality.
Report Post »JKN
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:25am7-5? Too close for comfort in my book…
Report Post »ericclapner
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 8:43amTroll boy is arguing an ignorant, centuries-old superstition, the belief that there is such a thing as freedom from religion.
Report Post »Listen here, troll boy, every government is a theocracy. Your child-president is proof of that. Your messiah is overseeing an inquisition, he is purifying his subjects. Those who disobey are excommunicated.
See troll boy, Christians just want our government to be explicit about which theology the country is really and truly founded on. Your idea that it is really and truly founded on *nothing* is, as I said, a childish superstition.
So don’t kid yourself troll boy. You love theocracy plenty. You just hate Christians.
timeteller
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 3:58pmAmen and amen!
Report Post »T.E.A.PARTNER
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 12:50pmAmerica was founded upon Judeo-Christian writings,morals,and beliefs. NOT muslin, shinto, buddhist, or any other. THAT’s what the text books must inform students of. PERIOD! That’s the FACT of history—get a clue.
Report Post »