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Same song, second verse –
In a conference room at the Texas State Board of Education, 15 people are deciding what the next generation of school children will learn about America’s history. The figures they choose to highlight, and the way information is presented will color the way children educated in the nation’s public schools view events of the past.
Originally posted by dawnstar
I kind of see the idea of a few radical left and right wingers having it out as kind of non-productive. I mean, should our kids be taught the left wing dogma or the right?? or maybe, just maybe, they should be taught from a more moderate view.....
Quote from : Wikipedia : Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States is an oath of loyalty to the flag and to republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892.
The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with the most recent change adding the words "under God" in 1954.
The Pledge is predominantly sworn by children in public schools in response to state laws requiring the Pledge to be offered.
Congressional sessions open with the swearing of the Pledge, as do government meetings at local levels, meetings held by the Royal Rangers, Boy Scouts of America, the Freemasons and their concordant bodies, other organizations, and some sporting events.
The current version of the Pledge of Allegiance reads:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
According to the United States Flag Code, the Pledge "should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute."
Originally posted by damwel
Well said, star and flag to you
Originally posted by rich23
Perhaps it would be better to teach children the difference between "fact" and "opinion"... followed by some tough lessons about what elusive things "facts" actually are.
But of course the people framing the debate either cannot or will not distinguish between fact and opinion themselves, and there's a distressing tendency to call on the Great Invisible Bearded Dude as some sort of authority.
It's pitiful and superstitious, but that's America for ya.
Originally posted by hotbakedtater
Or maybe parents should educate their own children to the facts of life that matter to them, and allow the school to be what it is, a system of social networking for future jobs and college.
Honestly any parent that is allowing a public education system to be the final authority on knowledge will raise children as ignorant as themselves.
Originally posted by hotbakedtater
Or maybe parents should educate their own children to the facts of life that matter to them, and allow the school to be what it is, a system of social networking for future jobs and college.
Honestly any parent that is allowing a public education system to be the final authority on knowledge will raise children as ignorant as themselves.
Originally posted by Kandinsky
reply to post by SpartanKingLeonidas
Hiya SKL, the English National Curriculum is constantly being stirred by political issues. Every year new changes are implemented and schools are forced to comply with new Govt guidelines. League tables have distorted the ideal of a 'rounded education.' A lot of kids are being left behind and leave school without the literacy and numeracy to do well in the world. In the past 10-15 years, England has plummeted in the literacy tables...we're now hovering around 17th in Europe.
Originally posted by Kandinsky
Your OP isn't about the UK or any other country than the US...and the State of Texas. The reason I raise the problems of the UK is as an example of what political interference can do to education.
Originally posted by Kandinsky
I have an interest in education and have followed some of the twists in the Texas education policies. As you point out, politics is driving the curriculum. Allied to the politics is religion. Neither should have more than a cursory influence on the setting of a National Curriculum.
Originally posted by Kandinsky
Politicians should have little more involvement in the Curriculum than allocating budgets.
The Board of Education is debating what to include in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the standards that must be taught in their public school classrooms.
Originally posted by Scramjet76
Someone already beat ya too it!
Sorry not trying to destroy this thread, just FYI.
As to the topic- I think the public education system is ridiculous. At least the small rural one that I attended. I went to a major university right out of high school and honestly a small rural public education just didn't cut it. The problem wasn't that the material was "liberal or conservative."
This country needs to a major overhaul on the public system and frankly praying to God won't help!
Originally posted by jam321
reply to post by SpartanKingLeonidas
Would like you to look at these links and tell me what you think in relation to your OP. Thanks.
Full Board
TEKS Social Study
Quote from : Texas Curriculum Controversy Has Far-Reaching Implications
The Board of Education is debating what to include in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the standards that must be taught in their public school classrooms.
Armed with recommendations from TEKS review committees and expert reviewers, the Board began hashing out what to include in the standards, which has stirred controversy around the country due to the hysterical nature of some media reports.
Fox news and The Houston Chronicle both reported that Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Independence Day and Veteran’s Day are being deleted from the textbooks, when in fact they are still currently part of the curriculum standards—although they have not been officially adopted and changes can still be made.