Social Studies Update: American Exceptionalism In, Jefferson As Well, Desperate Liberal Media Run False Reports

Since the Texas State Board of Education meetings ended, liberals have been in a fdesperate frenzy trying to slam the good work that was done.  However, as is common in hard-fought victories like this one, the truth is distorted by those who lost.  Our victories included returning the following to the standards: people such as Albert Einstein and Neil Armstrong, learning  issues raised by judicial activism and judicial restraint; and teaching students about “American Exceptionalism” was added. Liberal media/bloggers claimed that Thomas Jefferson was eliminated from the standards.  False-Jefferson is emphasized more in the social studies standards than anyone else, other than George Washington.  Jefferson was simply taken out of a list of philosophers in a World History section, as he’s known for his American contributions.  He’s still in many other sections.   A California legislator (from San Francisco) even used this false information to attack Texas.  This bad judgment tells you why California is in financial ruin, and Texas is standing strong.  If you haven’t gotten involved yet, there’s still time – the Board will meet in May to hear testimony and take final votes on the social studies standards. 

Email us at [email protected] to get involved.  We need to hear from educators and professors as well!

Click here for Texas SBOE Chair, Gail Lowe’s response to false media reports. http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=24183

Click here to see how one news source, the Houston Chronicle, handled this issue correctly.  http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2010/03/post_114.html

Click here to see the shameful and false reporting of San Antonio-Express News, falsely claiming that Jefferson has been excluded.  http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/SBOE_confusing_ideology_education.html

See below:  A SAMPLE OF THE APPROVED SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS:

“American Exceptionalism” added, to be studied.

Mother Theresa, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Neil Armstrong, Louis Pasteur (voted back into standards, previously removed by unelected teacher groups)

Landmark Civil Rights cases for study: Brown v. Bd of Education, Edgewood I.S.D. v. Kirby, Sweat v. Painter, Hernandez v. Texas.

Milton Friedman, famed economist, added

Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, including Vernon J. Baker, Alvin York, and Roy Benavidez.

Important Tejano, Texian and other leaders who participated in the Texas Revolution

All 189 persons who died at the Alamo

Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Thurgood Marshall (twice), Martin Luther King, Jr., Garrett Morgan (African American Inventor), W.E. B. Dubois (African American writer, editor, Civil Rights leaders, for African American to graduate from Harvard), Irma Rangel (Hispanic Texas State Legislator), Sojourner Truth (African American abolitionist and womens’ rights leader), Oprah Winfrey, Harriet Tubman (African American abolitionist and humanitarian), Wallace Amos (African American businessman), Roy Benavidez (Hispanic Medal of Honor Recipient from Texas),Phillis Wheatley (African American Poet), Cleto Rodriguez, Scott Joplin(African American composer and pianist), Ellen Ochoa (female Hispanic Astronaut), Johnny David Olivas (Hispanic Astronaut from Texas), Raul Gonzalez (first Hispanic on Texas Supreme Court), Henry B. Gonzalez, Hector P. Garcia, Jose Antonio Navarro, Juan  Seguin, Carmen Loma Garza (artist), Lorenzo De Zavala, Vernon J. Baker (African American Medal of Honor recipient), Lydia Mendoza (Hispanic/Tejano guitarist/singer), George Washington Carver (African-American botanist, inventor); (all of these named were approved).

And many more.

Explanation regarding the contributions of the Founding Fathers;

Phrase: “Holding public officials to their word”.  SBOE members Allen, Knight & Hardy voted against this.

Phrase:  “Explain major political ideas in history including the laws of nature and nature’s God, inalienable rights, divine right of Kings, social contract theory, and the rights of resistance to illegitimate government.” (SBOE members Berlanga, Nunez and Knight voted against this).