Much ado..............

[pamagain]

on the news this mornin about Texas and their history book changes..............I've gone a read a few articles...watched a few different news channels...tryin to get a handle on it.

Since there is so much discussion in here all the time about the state of education I figured yall would be all over it but nobodys said anything LOL.

The fact about history is it all relative.........relative to which side is tellin the story. If anybody was truly serious about teaching "real" history to kids they would present those children with the writings and thoughts of the people who MADE said history....ALL of it......that's the ONLY way to know what REALLY happened.

The changes Texas are wanting to make really don't alarm me except for one thing...for the things they are puttin in they are taking OUT what "they consider" to be be "liberally slanted" views and replacing them with what "they consider" to be more correct "conservative views. It's the same story that has been the shortcoming of Man since the beginning......they all have their "VIEW" and consider it to be the only one worth having or teaching.

The "golden" age of education ended when LIMITING knowledge to what the teacher or parent or school board or religious entity thought was politically correct became more important than teaching the facts and EXPANDING the knowledge of the student even if it had warts or disagreed with the personal pet agenda of said teacher/parent/school board/ religious entity etc.

That is MY personal view LOL 

[Catwoman]

The ultimate goal of education is not just the transfering of knowledge from one individual to another.  It is to enable the student to become a thinking individual who is a contributing member of this United Stated society.  I have always viewed my position as an educator to be that of a mentor...One who, through the use of Socratic questioning, assists the student in thinking their way into the life they are supposed to lead...The path that Texas is taking is one that leads down a slippery slope.  I agree with you, Pam...

[pamagain]

 and I totally agree with you Cat.  We do children no favor when we take the reins and "allow" or "don't allow" them to know things. Teach them to think and they will be able to discern for themselves what does or does not ring true.

I have had times in my kids school careers where I had to present them with the "rest of the story" so to speak and I have had times where I had to make decisions about what the school wanted to teach them and you know what I have never signed one of those slips "please excuse my child". I just talked to em about what they learned when they got home and actually asked them what they thought about it and steered them to information from the "other side" As a result I have 3 children who have minds and opinions of their own who for the MOST part respect others opinions whether they agree with them or not (including their mother LMAO) Hopefully they will do the same with THEIR kids.

Teachers have a very tough job nowadays especially GOOD teachers and I salute you all for your dedication.

[Diane Amberg]

I agree with you both  and have yet to understand what Texas is doing.They may be doing a disservice to kids who move to another state or region during their school years. As far as history goes, I think historians should be writing history books, with the help of teachers who know the proper presentation,reading levels and vocabulary for various grades. It's historians that have the interest and access to all the old books, papers and documents and are more likely to be objective. Then the teacher can help with discussion ,school research, stories from within the kids' elder relatives and so on. But that's just me.