Texas is reviewing social science curriculum to get ready for an update. Texas ideas filter out to the rest of the states thru textbooks because Texas buys so many textbooks that publishers will bend to the whims of Texas in order to get their books sold. Six people have been appointed to review Texas social science class content. One of those people is David Barton, President of Wallbuilders.
Wallbuilders mission is "Presenting America's forgotten history and heroes with an emphasis on our moral, religious, and constitutional heritage." The Wallbuilders also operate the ProFamily Legislative Network, which emphasizes "traditional values" for families.
Barton has a plan for how American government should be taught and understood in schools.
- There is a fixed moral law derived from God and nature.
- There is a Creator.
- The Creator gives to man certain unalienable rights.
- Government exists primarily to protect God-given rights to every individual.
- Below God-given rights and moral law, government is directed by the consent of the governed.
Students should also be taught "American Exceptionalism"
- the idea that America comes from the five point plan outlined above and is above all other governments. Barton also feels there is not enough emphasis on America's constitutional republic form of government (he does not say we have a democracy or democratic form of government.)
In his report, Barton states, "Additionally, not only should students be able to recognize the various forms of government but a specific comparison of our government should be made with other governments. Clearly, not all governments have the same outcome, and students must understand the consequences of certain philosophical ideas and be able to articulate why those forms of government are inferior to and provide less liberty, stability, and individual rights than that which is provided in a constitutional republic. This bolsters an understanding of American Exceptionalism."
Barton also wants some people out of the textbooks because he feels they have not contributed enough of the right stuff to American history. These people include Anne Hutchinson, Colin Powell, Cesar Chavez and Carl Sagan.
Barton also wants his take on what the American economy should look like taught in schools. Barton does not want the emphasis on scarcity of goods and production as a driving force, he wants abundance of products and services emphasized. Barton also wants "Freedom from government regulation, interference, subsidy" and "Private ownership" taught as pillars of the free enterprise system. This is indoctrinating students to a particular point of view that government has no role in the economy.Remember - what happens in Texas does not stay in Texas. If these people have their way, your children will be taught this version of history.
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