The new Texas textbooks have debuted and, thanks to the America deification crowd, history will now be viewed through a Palin-esque prism.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or John Adams? They are nowhere to be found in the new high school TEKS. Students apparently learned everything they need to know about them in eighth grade.
A Texas high school history teacher points out that “both the positive and negative impacts of … country and western music” will be taught, along with the historical importance of Estée Lauder.
If you think she is one of the 68 most important historical figures, you agree with the board. Yes, the board included her in the state curriculum, but not George Washington.
The new textbooks also vindicate alcoholic conspiracy theorist Joe McCarthy, confirming the findings of the House Committee on Un-American Activities. That’s patently false, and not up for debate, but in Texas it’s taught as fact — at least to the unwashed masses.
 I will not have to deal with that issue in some of my classes because my Advanced Placement U.S. History classes are not required to follow the state curriculum. I am guessing that the Texas Education Agency realizes that students could never pass national exams while learning the state-mandated curriculum.
Hard to distinguish between reality and parody.
That’s Texas for ya.
Filed under: Education, Texas, Texas textbook du jour
