Private: New Texas Social Studies Standards Rewrite American History

By Rob Boston, senior policy analyst, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Once again, the Texas State Board of Education has made the Lone Star State a national laughingstock.

The board spent the past few months examining social studies/ history standards. A faction on the board aligned with the Religious Right was determined to rewrite American history. Among other things, the new standards eject Thomas Jefferson from a list of influential Enlightenment-era figures and replace him with theologian John Calvin. The standards extol the influence of right-wing groups like the Eagle Forum and the Heritage Foundation.

Study about some important minority figures was summarily axed. Hispanic leaders in the state had pressed for more inclusion of Latino civil rights pioneers, but the board rebuffed the move. The New York Times reported that one board member, Mary Helen Berlanga was so upset she walked out of a meeting, proclaiming, "They can just pretend this is a white America and Hispanics don't exist."

The new standards reflect a bogus and long discredited "Christian nation" revisionism that has more to do with promoting a right-wing political ideology than educating young people. When one board member proposed teaching about how separation of church and state and secular government protects religious freedom, the board rejected it on a party line vote.

This disgrace comes just months after the board flirted with creationism in state science standards, adopting new guidelines that many observers believe are designed to encourage teachers to sneak creationist concepts into science classes.

Texas can't say it wasn't warned. Last year, the board appointed David Barton and the Rev. Peter Marshall, two notorious "Christian nation" propagandists, to an advisory body that examined the social studies standards. To no one's surprise, Barton and Marshall (neither of whom is a legitimate historian) proposed a raft of suggestions that reflect Religious Right dogma.

Texas has plenty of well-regarded public and private universities full of actual historians, so why did the board appoint these two? (Marshall doesn't even live in the state.) It was obvious that the battle all along was about ideology, not education. The board, unhappy with actual U.S. history that shows our country was founded with a secular government, demanded a rewrite. 

In the board's new version, Jefferson, a revered figure and one of our most brilliant statesmen, is downplayed in one section because he was one of the architects of secular government and church-state separation. Calvin, a man Jefferson regarded as a dangerous zealot, is elevated in the standards - even though the society he inspired was a harsh, intolerant theocracy.

It would be amusing if the consequences weren't so devastating. If the board has its way, a generation of Texas schoolchildren could grow up being taught Religious Right mythology instead of actual history.

The damage could be much worse if these changes find their way into textbooks. Modern technology gives book printers the option to produce special "Texas editions" of history texts tailored to the board's demands -- but will publisher do it or simply load this raft of lies and misinformation into one book that is then exported to other states as well?

What can be done? There is some evidence that residents of Texas are weary of the board's stunts. Don McLeroy, a creationist board member, lost his seat in a Republican primary recently. But McLeroy doesn't leave the board until after the general election in November, and his pending departure won't stop the board, which is bent on ramming these changes through.

The Texas legislature could also act. Some lawmakers are tired of the black eye the board has given the state. The legislature has the power to rein in the board and even strip the body of its power to influence textbooks - but that process could take a long time and is not guaranteed to succeed.

What about lawsuits? The strategy is uncertain. Pushing religion in the classroom is unconstitutional, but promoting bad history, while certainly misguided, may not rise to the level of a constitutional violation.

At the end of the day, the parents of Texas will have to speak up. Their children's education is at risk. That should be enough to inspire parents to fight back.

Most parents want the best education possible for their children. Youngsters who are taught ideology instead of education in social studies class will be at a disadvantage when they enroll in college. They'll need to take remedial course to "unlearn" the bad information they have been taught. Is this what Texas parents want? History professors at Texas colleges and universities need to get organized and speak out as well. The proposed new standards are an insult to their profession; they must lead the charge to overturn them.

Finally, parents in other states need to be on alert. They need to take a firm stand against pseudo-historical textbooks from Texas invading their states. If parents elsewhere keep the pressure up and make it clear that these books aren't welcome, textbooks publishers won't dare introduce them.

The Texas tragedy should be a lesson to us all. Religious Right extremists, far from fading away, continue to hold positions of strength and influence. We must continue to work against them - for the sake of our children.

[image via Colin Purrington] 

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