Texas Gets It Right

We have all heard about the good things that are happening in Texas–the state economy is booming, the population is growing, laws have been passed to encourage businesses to relocate there (and businesses are relocating there). Well, Texas has done something else right–it has rejected the Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) Curriculum put out by the College Board. I recently posted an article detailing a few of the ideas put forth in APUSH (rightwinggranny.com).

Yesterday a website called education views.org posted an article detailing what the State of Texas has done with APUSH. Texas is regarded as the state that sets the standard for textbooks across the nation.

The article states:

Texas has decided that the curriculum standards adopted by the elected members of the SBOE (State Board of Education) will prevail and that the College Board (a private entity that is totally aligned now with the Common Core) will not be allowed to dictate its biased and revisionist curriculum to Texas students.  

The free enterprise system and American exceptionalism will prevail in Texas, and many other states are expected to follow Texas’ example.

Please follow the link to the article to see the videos of the testimony of Larry Krieger and Alice Linahan as they testified before the SBOE.

The article also includes the Resolution which adopts the SBOE standards. That Resolution includes the following:

WHEREAS the Texas Education Code (TEC) Section 28.002(h) states:  “The State Board of Education and each school district shall foster the continuation of the tradition of teaching United States and Texas history and the free enterprise system in regular subject matter and in reading courses and in the adoption of instructional materials.  A primary purpose of the public school curriculum is to prepare thoughtful, active citizens who understand the importance of patriotism and can function productively in a free enterprise society with appreciation for the basic democratic values of our state and national heritage.”; and  

…WHEREAS the Framework reflects a view of American history that is critical of American exceptionalism, the free enterprise system, and emphasizes negative aspects of our nation’s history while minimizing positive aspects; and

 WHEREAS Howard Zinn’s book A People’s History of the United States is recommended as supplementary material in the four model syllabi originally presented at the APUSH 2014 Summer Institute and online; and

 WHEREAS the Framework omits discussion of various critical topics, including the Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence, constitutional principles, significant religious influences, military history, commanders and heroes, as well as individuals who have traditionally been part of APUSH; and

…RESOLVED, That the SBOE strongly recommends that the College Board revise the APUSH Framework so that it is consistent both with the course’s traditional mission and with the shared purpose of the CCRS, the TEKS and the Texas Education Code; and be it further

 RESOLVED, That the SBOE respectfully requests that the College Board revise the key concepts of the APUSH Framework and examination in a transparent manner that accurately reflects U.S. history without an ideological bias and that restores and encourages flexibility to states, school districts and teachers in how to teach the course; and be it further

 RESOLVED, That the SBOE will diligently monitor the proposed actions of the College Board to ensure that the remedial measures set out above are implemented in an effective and meaningful manner; and be it finally

 RESOLVED, That upon approval of this resolution the Texas State Board of Education shall deliver a copy to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House.

Thank you, Texas, for showing America how to deal with APUSH!