677 Yeeeehah Scholarship

677 Yeeeehah Scholarship

There's a country song, "All My Exes Live in Texas." Maybe they should write one called "All My Excess Lives in Texas." Talking here about the school book controversy. This is where the right wing muscles in (continues to muscle in) on the content of school text books. The state orders so many of them that publishers routinely give 'em all the warping they want and then shove those books down the throats of buyers in the other 49 states.

The state school board votes on content. Not literally, of course but in practice. And you can argue that these board members are elected and have a right to do so. Yes, they do. Fine if what happens in Texas STAYS in Texas. But it doesn't.

So in the latest round of shoving, we get great detail (call it boosterism) for Reagan's economic policies and Newt's contract with/on America. But we don't hear much about the Latino or African American contributions to society. Maybe Texas SHOULD secede, as some politicians want. Then we could get neutral text books. Or even objective text books, perish the thought.

Here's the view from New England -- from New Hampshire Public Radio:

... the Board approved a curriculum that portrays historical events a bit differently than how you might remember them being taught in school. The new standards reject the separation of church and state, ensure lessons about the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 90s and the moral majority, include lessons on the “unintended consequences” of affirmative action, and defend the actions behind McCarthyism. As a next step, the Board puts the approved standards up for public comment. The final vote is slated for May.

And no one questions the conservative qualifications of New Hampshire. But there's conservatism and Conservatism.

After the next round of book printing, you'll find "Creationism" elevated to a science. You'll learn that President Obama was born in Africa. You'll find Rush Limbaugh's biography, but maybe not Jefferson's. Martin Luther WHO? Maybe they'll also tell you how to buy gold, stockpile non-perishable food, how to form a Joe McCarthy fan club, a local militia and how to look and act like a skin head.

Shrapnel:

--Happy St. Patrick's Day. It's one of the times it's hardest not to miss New York. The parade, the camaraderie, and especially the green bagels, and, of course, no snakes.

--Finally found something totally off base recommended in Consumer Reports. It's a calendar website called Cozi.com. Looks like a central collection point for your data and journal reports you write about your family doings.

--Could General Electric revive it's early slogan "Progress is our most important product" today? Probably not. It's hard to think of a conglomerate like that as a closet left wing organization because it isn't, but some right wing organization might latch onto the "progress" part as a coded message to the initiates.

I'm Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you're welcome to them.®

©WJR 2010