Currently there is a concerning buzz humming around The Texas State Board of Education. There is an effort by the board to remove and/or censor history based on political views by today’s ultra religious conservatives. The State Board of Education is again on its way to embarrassing the State of Texas and its educational system.
Let us start off by recognizing that when it comes to educational ranks among the United States, Texas is not keeping pace with front runners. An editorial from the Houston Chronicle points out some alarming political pressures are showing up on the state boards agenda with regards to the content showing up in textbooks.
The Texas State Board of Education is making a mockery of the public school system by essentially trying rewrite history. Examples include efforts to push evolution out of the curriculum, replacing words that some say evoke negative connotations toward certain political parties(right wing neo conservatives), and even managing to slice out Thomas Jefferson’s philosophy of the separation of church and state. Christian conservatives are now trying to censor school textbooks on mentioning information pertaining to “gross pro-Islamic/anti-Christian distortions”. Then, “warning they will be looking into rejecting future submissions that continue to offend Texas law…significant inequalities of coverage space wise.”
I agree with the author’s opinion as this relates to being an “attempt to capitalize on the current hostility toward Islam”. I think it’s important for us, as citizens of Texas, to teach our children real and accurate history. This includes talks of Christianity along with worthy mentions of other religions, including but not limited to Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism. We should be teaching our students to be culturally sensitive, and no matter race creed or origin, as a society we must learn to live and respect each other.
Here is an excerpt from the Chronicle showing that some people, regardless of religious affiliation or cultural views, are working together to create a harmonious neighborhood for themselves and their children.
"Not all Texans share the xenophobia. In the Clear Lake area, for example, a mosque was built last year on the same plot of land as a Unitarian-Universalist church, which had been there 18 years. Currently, reported the Chronicle's Safiya Ravat on Sunday, the two congregations share parking, recycling facilities and sometimes child care. Now that's something our kids could learn from."
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