Preserving Accuracy in Academia In Texas Schools
Freedom and liberty will not be maintained unless our children “understand the importance of patriotism and can function productively in a free enterprise society with an appreciation for the basic democratic values of our state and national heritage “(Texas Education Code). “Rewriting history” or teaching politically correct propaganda will not accomplish this. Our forefathers sacrificed all to insure that we enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Texas CSE is leading the campaign to insure that Social Studies, History and Economics textbooks scheduled for adoption in Texas this year instill patriotism in our students and are free from propaganda.
Social Studies, History and Economics textbooks are scheduled for adoption by the State Board of Education (SBOE) in November 2002, and have a shelf life of six to eight years. In 2001, Texas CSE and our members found hundreds of errors and anti-American sentiment in proposed science textbooks. As a result of our members work, one textbook was rejected but more importantly, the propaganda which has become rampant in textbooks gained state and national attention.
In view of the hundreds of factual errors, errors of omission and propaganda found in textbooks last year, it is crucial that the legislature craft and implement a plan that restores academic integrity to the process which controls our educational process. Until that time, however, citizen involvement can play an important role (as it did in 2001) in the textbook selection process.
Texas CSE’s members, our coalition partners and legislators who are concerned with accuracy in academia will work together to insure that textbooks are factual and not propaganda. Collectively we have hundreds of members across the state who will review textbooks based on the criteria for facts that we have developed. We will initially work with the publishers to correct errors and propaganda. We will also work with the State Board of Education and legislators as a second line of defense. Finally, we will rate the textbooks that are adopted and send this information to local school boards.
Concurrently, we will be working with legislators on draft legislation which will insure that elected officials and taxpayers determine appropriate curriculum and that state employees serve only to facilitate that process and not control it.
Our children deserve the best education we can give them. Propaganda has no place in the classroom. Texas Citizens for a Sound Economy rejects revisionist history, anti-free market and anti-American sentiment and “politically correct textbooks” which promote advocacy. Factual information only be taught in textbooks and auxiliary material paid for by Texans.
PRINCIPLES FOR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Texas textbooks should adhere to the Texas Education Code: Ch 28, Subch A, Sec 28.002. “A primary purpose of the public school curriculum is to prepare thoughtful, active citizens who understand the importance of patriotism and can function productively in a free enterprise society with an appreciation for the basic democratic values of our state and national heritage “ (bold emphasis added).
Textbooks used in public schools should:
Parents and citizens should be encouraged to work with teachers and elected officials to help make sure the textbooks used meet these principles for academic integrity.
