Intended Consequences

The textbook debate going on in Texas right now is instructive of a larger issue. Greta Van Susteren of Fox News ran a clip of Patricia Henry, Texas Board of Education member, saying, "Well, I think you have made it very clear that the [national] textbooks are the result of what comes out from this standard.... we are the largest purchasers of textbooks. So therefore, we do influence what happens in other parts of the country." California used to hold sway over textbook content, a fact which partially explains why content has become increasingly liberal. If the move to digital or on demand books takes over the textbook industry, one-state influence may cease to be a determining factor in curriculum content.

Until the digital revolution comes, the debate will continue. The big flap in Texas is that conservatives want certain things taught in their schools, radical things like American exceptionalism, individualism and the value of limited government, according to another Texas board member. These are indeed radical ideas, radical in the original sense of the word, coming as it does from the Latin, radix, meaning root. The conspiracy I hinted at in "Informed Consent" is plainly evident in the opposition to Texas conservatives. A picture posted in James McKinley's NY Times article shows protesters wearing shirts proclaiming, "Save Our History." Conservatives would answer that they are doing precisely that.

People might be confused by the progressives' actions if they don't understand the agenda. A teachers' union in California recently spent millions in support of SR1322, a bill which sought to end the practice of having public servants take a loyalty oath. Granted, the oath, a product of the 1950's, smacked of McCarthyism in some details, but on the whole, it was a pledge to defend the state and the nation from malicious influences. Reading the argument of the teachers' union reveals that they took exception to the idea that pride in one's state or nation should be fostered. It appears they believe that defense of and pride in one's country is demeaning to those from other states or countries. Even the RINO "Governator" Swartznegger saw clearly enough to veto the bill when it reached his desk.

Under its tiny brown cap, the little acorn hides the mighty spreading oak. The seed of tomorrow is planted by the deed of today. An article in Suite 101 says, "The dearth of knowledge in what is considered basic in Arts and Science classes is [increasing] every year among college freshmen and may be traced to earlier education... Part of the blame lies with high school teachers that [sic] often have only a rudimentary understanding of their subject area." College teachers today are themselves the product of the dumbed-down curriculum that plagues academia.

I don't know how the textbook debate in Texas will turn out. In a hundred years (if we last that long) the dominant ideologues may report their version of the squabble as "History." No generation is exempt from bias, yet there are those today who claim the exclusive right to invent the truth as they go along. Solomon once said, "Truth will continue forever, but lies are only for a moment." (Proverbs 12:19 NCV) If progressives have their way the truth may soon lie alongside Gutenberg and his children. Perhaps if Google succeeds in digitizing everything ever written, some future Ezra will electronically resurrect the authorized version. (See Nehemiah 8)