Texas Right wing conversative approve text books

[Darrien]

http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publis...le_58879.shtml

This is one of many articles, I stumbled upon the other day. Basically the right wing conservatives are putting their political beliefs in text books.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've been seeing this subject a lot lately...that Don McLeroy is a freakin' nutjob.

There's a guy on Fark.com (where I read most of the other articles I've seen) who is encouraging other members to contribute to the school board campaign of the mother of another member, so she can help get rid of this nonsense. He's even pledged, in at least a couple threads, to donate $1 for every post by certain people who are most likely trolling. He figures that if they're serious, they'll stop posting so she doesn't get the money, and then the board members won't have to read their nonsense anymore; and if they're trolling, they'll keep posting and she'll get more money. Either way, win-win.

[Talon]

Aronra aka the Texan Tank weighs in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQx_2j5nXuc

I wholeheartedly agree, this is classic Orwellianism.

[Fryk]

AronRa is awesome. And 100% correct here.

[smileyeagle1021]

This truly terrifies me... it is not hard to see them adding a message of hatred of homosexuals (they do mention there is a section discussing sexuality)... so now there may be a generation being taught bigotry and hatred by both their so-called churches as well as their government... we, as well as non-christians, are well and truly fucked.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

This is one of those things that is well and truly bad, but far from world-ending. Every once in a while someone does something that most of us find to be outrageous because of some stupid loophole or odd concentration of idiots. You find it, you fight it, and the world moves on.

It's remarkable how these are the same people who say that they want their children to have the 'choice' to be taught about religion or science while simultaneously trying to push other people's ideas and beliefs into the margin (something the Left has been doing for a long time now in higher-education, but I digress)

[smileyeagle1021]

(something the Left has been doing for a long time now in higher-education, but I digress)

yes, those terrible liberals teaching science
That said, liberals pushing their views on others will result in a world where there is tolerance of those who are different, there is both freedom of and from religion, and the words liberty and justice for all is more than just a empty phrase...
What these folks want to push is a world where those who are not Christian feel damn lucky if they are just denied rights... if the ultra right wing gets their way I would be put to death (they are getting their way in Uganda), you will have the freedom to be Christian and nothing else, and liberty and justice for all will be meaningless... forgive me if I tend to prefer the first option.

[Arcade Man D]

It's remarkable how these are the same people who say that they want their children to have the 'choice' to be taught about religion or science while simultaneously trying to push other people's ideas and beliefs into the margin (something the Left has been doing for a long time now in higher-education, but I digress)

How has the left been "shoving ideas into the margin" in higher education for a long time? Because most of academia is liberal? A recent study done by a conservative think tank showed that academia is liberal because liberals are attracted to academia. Much like business owners are conservative because conservatives tend to be attracted toward owning business.

On a side topic, as a religious person, I believe religion should never be taught in the same breath as science. Religion and science are not opposed, but are two entirely different subjects. Science relies on evidence, hypotheses, experiments, and studies. Religion relies on feelings, beliefs, and most of all, faith with no expectation of proof in either direction.

[Greenday]

Here's the real question: What dumbass let Texas, probably the most hardcore, extremist political group of people in the nation determine what happens with schooling?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Here's the real question: What dumbass let Texas, probably the most hardcore, extremist political group of people in the nation determine what happens with schooling?

Because, people go to school in Texas too? I know it may be hard to wrap one's head around but public education is everywhere and thus needs to be administered by someone... everywhere.

Moreover, while I really wasn't looking to start a debate on this point, the question's been asked and I'm obligated to reply:

How has the left been "shoving ideas into the margin" in higher education for a long time? Because most of academia is liberal? A recent study done by a conservative think tank showed that academia is liberal because liberals are attracted to academia. Much like business owners are conservative because conservatives tend to be attracted toward owning business.

You are correct, most of academia is liberal. And just like the subject of this thread, there are extreme cases where a student is expelled or otherwise punished for voicing an unpopular (read: not PC) opinion. That's marginalizing opinions in my book. Furthermore, there's the day-to-day stuff that's isn't as big or horrible but still isn't right. I, for one, was put in a position where my views regarding the right to self-defense and disbelief of global warming were dismissed by the instructor as inherently false and was forced to either take another viewpoint or fail the assignment (I made my complaint, withdrew and re-enrolled with a different class, which turned out much better.)

It doesn't matter whether your views are liberal or conservative, allowing only what you agree with to be presented/argued is the opposite of good academia or science. College should be a place where ideas are shared and discussed. Instead, I damn well better believe in global warming... or else. It matters less to me why a majority who's abusing it's position came to be, and more that they are, and that's enough for me.

yes, those terrible liberals teaching science
That said, liberals pushing their views on others will result in a world where there is tolerance of those who are different, there is both freedom of and from religion, and the words liberty and justice for all is more than just a empty phrase...
What these folks want to push is a world where those who are not Christian feel damn lucky if they are just denied rights... if the ultra right wing gets their way I would be put to death (they are getting their way in Uganda), you will have the freedom to be Christian and nothing else, and liberty and justice for all will be meaningless... forgive me if I tend to prefer the first option.

How this could possibly not be hypocritical is totally beyond me. You don't want people to control your life based on pre-conceived notions, right? so why does it matter who's doing it if that's what you're against?

A liberal world would have all those things, and global warming / environment bullshit. Huge racial discrimination *cough* affirmative action *cough*, no right to defend one's belongings or life, and similarly constrain the freedoms of people who don't agree with them.

There are both good and bad things to both parties (in fact, most all the rest, too) for one to get it's way on everything is exactly the opposite of what we want. You're acting like liberals are Utopian perfectionists who are capable of no wrong. Fuck that naive crap, I don't want them controlling the country on their own any more than I would conservatives. Hell, I'm a libertarian and I wouldn't want *us* to have total dominion either. It's not fair and it's certainly not freedom and justice for all.

[wolfie]

Here's the real question: What dumbass let Texas, probably the most hardcore, extremist political group of people in the nation determine what happens with schooling?

It's a matter of economics. I'm not involved in the educational system in the U.S., but from what I've heard, Texas (and California) approve/disapprove text books at the state level, rather than at the local level like most states. Because of this, if a text book is approved in Texas, it's guaranteed a large market, and is likely to be profitable for the publisher. If it's disapproved in Texas, it's guaranteed to be shut out of a large market, and is likely to be unprofitable for the publisher. Therefore, publishers tailor their content to what's likely to be approved in Texas, and local boards in other states have the "choice" of which Texas-approved book to use, but don't have any influence on the content of what is published.

[AdminAssistant]

Here's the real question: What dumbass let Texas, probably the most hardcore, extremist political group of people in the nation determine what happens with schooling?

I think it's because of the way the textbook industry works. They won't just make these special textbooks for Texas; they'll sell them to a lot of other states as well.

You are correct, most of academia is liberal. And just like the subject of this thread, there are extreme cases where a student is expelled or otherwise punished for voicing an unpopular (read: not PC) opinion. That's marginalizing opinions in my book. Furthermore, there's the day-to-day stuff that's isn't as big or horrible but still isn't right. I, for one, was put in a position where my views regarding the right to self-defense and disbelief of global warming were dismissed by the instructor as inherently false and was forced to either take another viewpoint or fail the assignment (I made my complaint, withdrew and re-enrolled with a different class, which turned out much better.)

Yes, most of the academics I know are liberals, and I'm just about as liberal as it gets. However, there are conservative academics out there - especially in the hard sciences, history, and political science.

I don't understand professors (or TAs) who force their opinions on their students. I always tell my students that they can disagree with me. (Most of them love a play we read called Reasons to be Pretty that I cannot stand.) That said, if a student tries to turn my class into their soapbox (for either side) they'll be asked to be quiet or leave the classroom. Discussions about climate change and whether to allow concealed carry on campus don't belong in Theatre 100.

[Greenday]

I think it's because of the way the textbook industry works. They won't just make these special textbooks for Texas; they'll sell them to a lot of other states as well.

I know, it affects my home state. Which makes me wonder whose dumbass idea it was to let people from one of the most extremist states out there choose this stuff.

[Arcade Man D]

I know, it affects my home state. Which makes me wonder whose dumbass idea it was to let people from one of the most extremist states out there choose this stuff.

Capitalism let them decide. Texas is the single largest purchasing state for text books. So rather than make multiple editions of texts, they make the ones that will be bought by Texas.

[smileyeagle1021]

How this could possibly not be hypocritical is totally beyond me.

I never claimed not to be hypocritical... but considering the other side wants to force me to either be something I'm not or in extreme cases, wishes me to be put to death... I'll take my hypocrisy over their honesty.