Texas

[Tawny Frogmouth]

Speaking of pisshole states I wouldn't be caught dead in:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/1 ... 97440.html

And then of course there's Utah:

http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=12287

We're in the throes of a backlash from the ultra-right, now more energized than ever by what they rightly perceive as the collapse of their corrupt worldview. On the way out they're burning and salting the political and social landscape, and it's going to take years to undo their damage.

GlennBeckistan is a failed state from the outset... but it's infuriating to see them shit on the lives of so many people as they go down in flames.

[aliciadarling]

Whar's the 3 R's an why ain't they learnin the kids that?

Some states are so backasswards looking they don't know whether they is a comin or agoin!

[AlisonRain2]

not to be pedantic, Frogmouth,
but I'm pretty sure you would be caught dead in Texas, were you to be seen cavorting guilt-free across its wide-open wastelands.

[elliebean]

It hasn't troubled me any.
When I do get out, I move about freely without any problems. But where I live I guess I don't stand out that much. Not because I pass or there are so many like me, just that people here are so diverse in general.

The Texas School Board is still a POS though.

[lisagurl]

but it's infuriating to see them shit on the lives of so many people as they go down in flames.

Sounds like CA and NY to me.

[lisagurl]

I'm pretty sure you would be caught dead in Texas,

The great society of LBJ was a product of Texas. He said when the Government spends money there is money to be made.

[Tawny Frogmouth]

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-pol ... 44354.html

Board member Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands, objected to a standard for a high school sociology course that addressed the difference between sex and gender. It was eliminated in a 9-to-6 vote.

She worried that a discussion of that issue would lead students into the world of "transvestites, transsexuals and who knows what else."

"This is very, very inappropriate for high school students," Cargill said.

[DYSSONANCE]

TF, I agree.

ON hearing about that, I informed one BF that not only would I not be moving to Texas, but I'm likely not going to visit again for a while either.

The changes made have a good chance of getting into textbooks elsewhere, and will affects generations to come.

Aside from removing gender itself (which is going to have a ripple effect throughout a lot of subject matter), they also erased Jefferson, and added in as great American heroes people like Schafly.

Ewww.

Just, totally, ewww.

[Tawny Frogmouth]

That they have removed Jefferson is what blows my mind. The author of the Declaration. One of the truly great minds at our founding.

I can see Texas kids coming to DC, wondering who this guy is and why there's a memorial to him... or worse, sneering at his legacy.

The freaks in this country are doing everything they can to turn their back on the Enlightenment, and every humanist/intellectual value. They want a new Dark Age, in preparation for their Rapture.

[kristibot]

Yes, this WILL have a ripple affect nationally, which is probably a big reason the right-wingnuts are focusing on school boards in Texas. Texas buys more textbooks than any other state, so the publishers of those text books rework the books to MEET whatever guidelines the Texas school system has set in order to sell their books to them. Those same books are then sold to districts in other states, many of whom probably have no clue they are de facto adopting the academic standards of Texas in the process.

One glimmer of hope lies with e-books. The reason the textbook companies only want to publish one version of the books is because of printing costs. With e-books there is minimal cost in editing the books to meet different states' standards. Either that, or other states need to stand up and REQUIRE the textbook publishers print books that meet that individual states' standards, not simply crib them from Texas.

[lisagurl]

When I went to school the teacher read the textbook before using it. Many teachers would point out bias things such as calling it the war between the states instead of the civil war. Or they would tell us about the Pilgrims stealing the food from the unoccupied Indian camp and calling it thanks giving or the Columbus was a drunk that was having an affair with the queen and had to leave to save his life from the king.

Yes our whole education system is manipulating children and the national Dept of Education is the worst offender. Read Deliberate Dumbing Down of America get a free down load at
http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/index.html

My town and many other's have done away with textbooks the budget has been used to replace them with apple computers. We are that backward state that only spends 4K per student a year but we do the best with what we have and do not try to fight lawsuits and give all the money to lawyers.

Our state does have a balanced budget even if some money comes from the feds to buy votes on things like the health care bill. CA on the other hand has mob rule and all the problems and costs that go with all that regulation.

[kristibot]

The sad fact is that funding education is simply not a priority for our so-called "leaders" in government. Perhaps because we have so many affluent politicians whose children attend private schools? And I'm not just pointing a finger at Republicans on that, though their open disdain for public funding of ANYTHING - lest we become *gasp* socialists! - is clearly a big part of the problem.

When I was a kid I remember how people in Minnesota would talk with pride about how good our education system was, but (just like the rest of the nation) it has been slipping ever since the 1970s. Yes, we're still ranked well nationally, but the national bar has been dropping, and I think there's an obvious correlation between cuts in funding and lower performance. Just try to find a public school teacher who isn't buying supplies for the classroom out of their own pocket, and their average annual salaries are not only an insult but I believe reflect exactly this nation's (lack of) commitment to public education.

At the same time the economy is more global in nature every day, and our little dullards will have to compete with the graduates of European and Asian school systems that actually require students LEARN something. The only possible advantage I can see to this? Well, as the USA slips into "third-world" status the multinational corporations will bring the jobs back here - for the cheap labor. Perhaps that IS the long-term plan of our corporate-owned politicians?

[Andina]

LMAO I remember about two years ago when the local headlines reported that the education quality in South Carolina had IMPROVED. Instead of being last in the nation, we were tied for last. Ain't statistics grand!

[aliciadarling]

LMAO I remember about two years ago when the local headlines reported that the education quality in South Carolina had IMPROVED. Instead of being last in the nation, we were tied for last. Ain't statistics grand!

Maybe the other state slipped a bit?

Maybe they are so dumb, they're smart as some in them parts like to say.

[lisagurl]

Perhaps that IS the long-term plan of our corporate-owned politicians?

The Bilderberg Group?

[REM1126]

The sad fact is that funding education is simply not a priority for our so-called "leaders" in government. Perhaps because we have so many affluent politicians whose children attend private schools? And I'm not just pointing a finger at Republicans on that, though their open disdain for public funding of ANYTHING - lest we become *gasp* socialists! - is clearly a big part of the problem.

There is a private school a few miles from where I live with an annual tuition of $4,000 per student, and unlike public school, that price includes the cost of the school building and the administration. That private school offers a good education (better than the local public school that spends more than twice that amount on each student per year). There is no real correlation between dollars spent per student and the quality of education. The difficulties in educating are quite different from place to place and school to school. The cost of living in some places is also quite different. Living in New York state on $15K per year is quite different than living in Mississippi on the same amount.

I am sure that if you live somewhere other than the place with poorly performing schools, it is quite easy to say that the poorly performing systems are simply doing it wrong, whether you consider their error improper funding or something else. Poor people cannot afford to spend as much. Poor people also usually have a lot of other factors which make educating their kids more difficult.

[kristibot]

I am sure that if you live somewhere other than the place with poorly performing schools, it is quite easy to say that the poorly performing systems are simply doing it wrong, whether you consider their error improper funding or something else. Poor people cannot afford to spend as much. Poor people also usually have a lot of other factors which make educating their kids more difficult.

Well, I grew up in a rural area which was one of the poorest and most underpopulated counties in the state at the time. Both my parents worked, but we never lived above the "poverty line." My school district had pretty much nothing, and when I compared my education and opportunities both in and out of school to my cousins (who lived in the suburbs) I knew what I was missing out on. I'll take city life over a small town any day of the week.

[Sam]

I'll take city life over a small town any day of the week.

Welp, I live in a "town" of less than 1500 denizens... and our school ranks among the top in the country. Go figure. Then again, I suppose most of you would hardly call living in a city of less than 400k people (which is where our largest city sits)... city life. But still, you know... some people like to say "size doesn't matter"... and sometimes they're right. Quite often really.

Some poor bastard once (ehhh, probably more than once) said "it's all relative", or something along those lines. And that poor bastard was a high school drop out. Made it pretty far, I think. Was it bad education? I'd bet on something else. Bad teachers. And we all know there's plenty of those. Now, back to our tiny school... I know all the teachers there, some of them were my classmates. And I can say they're all passionate about what they do and thus achieve good results. All good teachers, some better than others... but there's no bad one.

Quick example of a bad, disinterested teacher... My high school math class. She failed 30 out of 32 students ( was one of them). It's very, very unlikely there'd be so many bad apples. In fact, impossible. I mean... we were not stellar, far from it. But we didn't suck that much either. And among those 30 folks, there was a grammar school country math champion. Failed. He switched schools later, and strangely enough performed in the top 10% in the country (but the damage done by this particular teacher, and a couple others who didn't fare much better) so the person lost any motivation and belief in the school system. Coincidentally... that math teacher hung herself a few years back. Indicating there were problems in her life that obviously interfered with her teaching. Shame... she was really good at math.

Love,
Sam

[kristibot]

The town I grew up outside of had (and still has) a population of less than 400. It was the largest of the several towns that were part of the school district when I was a kid. Things didn't get better until we combined with a neighboring district of town of about 1500. Finally the school could field athletic teams by itself, there was a marching band, drama club, and tiny computer lab.

As for the teachers? Most of them I had growing up were really passionate and encouraged me. I wouldn't have gotten a scholarship to college if not for the glowing letters of recommendation a couple wrote for me.

One of my best friends is a high school teacher in a terrible school (his students are gang bangers and other delinquents literally sentenced to attend class by the courts). He gets paid less than teachers in the regular district and has had to work a weekend job for the entire decade he's been teaching there. Every semester he shells out over $400 from his own pocket for classroom supplies the school has no money to provide. His students aren't interested in learning because they don't think they have a future - and some of them are right, he's had students killed in gang violence. The only explanation for what gets him into work every morning is his "dedication" to teaching. But dedicated teachers alone obviously aren't enough. The students have to give a damn too. A teacher might inspire a student to aspire now and then, but for the most part the value of education is instilled by influences outside of school (parents, for example).

[Andina]

One comment on my experience regarding education, that is somewhat in the news now.

In Australia, every high school student in the country does the same final exam for middle and high school graduation. The papers are not graded by the school. So if a job applicant presents graduation papers they are meaningful. This does not prevent individual schools from adding local curriculum above and beyond the basics.

Since moving to the USA I've been in the position a number of times for hiring for jobs ranging from bartender to engineer. In this country I don't even ask to see academic achievement records, they are useless for making comparisons. In all cases I will create a 5 minute simple "check the boxes quiz" for applicants to fill out. That will weed out 95% of the people before you spend time on details.

Even worse than the meaningless education standards is the despicable trick the US military plays on recruits. They pretend to give you a specialized background in electronics that will give you a future when you leave the forces. Bullshit. While they do teach discipline and responsibility, they do not teach any electronics theory or analytical ability. They teach you how to read a maintenance manual and find out what piece to replace with one off the shelf.

Setting passing grades by selecting a level that will pass most and reject a few is disastrous for universal education standards. Despite the alleged trauma that failing a student can produce and the inability of teachers to step up to national standards I think this is a long overdue addition to education in the USA.

[elliebean]

Even worse than the meaningless education standards is the despicable trick the US military plays on recruits. They pretend to give you a specialized background in electronics that will give you a future when you leave the forces. Bullshit. While they do teach discipline and responsibility, they do not teach any electronics theory or analytical ability. They teach you how to read a maintenance manual and find out what piece to replace with one off the shelf.

I suppose it depends which branch of service and what specialization, but generally that's true. I was actually taught quite a bit of electronics theory in the Air Force, and was tested on it regularly; it was my own failure to retain any of it. I sucked at my job. But that's not really where I disagree with your assessment. My main (mild) disagreement is with this idea that the US military teaches discipline and responsibility in any way substantially better than they teach anything else. It's true that you "grow up" faster while in basic training, but after that most people's maturity level plateaus at about 22 until they get out or retire. I think it's because most of them exchange their dependency on Mom for dependency on Uncle Sam. But that's just from my rather brief experience, well over a decade ago.

[lisagurl]

A general education should not leave you with a job. It should give you the tools to pursue the life you want to live. Different towns and areas have different cultures. Each should have the ability to promote their own. If would be very advisable to go to college or University in a different location. Community colleges teach vocations. The first 4 years in the university should teach higher level thinking and knowledge. Then in Graduate school you can specialize in a subject.

Our educational system has been brought down by the National Board of Education and all their one size fits all. As well as tying strings to tax money we send to Washington that they send back with rule requirements.

Again a degree means nothing compared to your abilities.

[REM1126]

A general education should not leave you with a job. It should give you the tools to pursue the life you want to live. Different towns and areas have different cultures. Each should have the ability to promote their own. If would be very advisable to go to college or University in a different location. Community colleges teach vocations. The first 4 years in the university should teach higher level thinking and knowledge. Then in Graduate school you can specialize in a subject.

Our educational system has been brought down by the National Board of Education and all their one size fits all. As well as tying strings to tax money we send to Washington that they send back with rule requirements.

Again a degree means nothing compared to your abilities.

Wow, I agree with everything you said there.

Has someone else logged on to Lisa's account? Or, am I just getting more contrary as I age?

[kim1963]

I would take things from the Huffington Post with a grain of salt. I live in Texas and it's wonderful. Very accepting and friendly, most would feel welcome here.

[Tawny Frogmouth]

Do you care to actually refute anything in the HuffPost article on the basis of fact, or is your own personal comfort all you have to offer on the subject?

I have no doubt that there are some sane, civil people in Texas. One hears that Austin is an enclave. But this is the state that elected George Bush its governor, that is infamously punitive, and whose state Board of Education - an elected, and therefore representative body - is a singular example of the "conservative" effort to enshrine stupidity in our culture.

I'm glad you're happy there. I'm also glad that I'll never see the place from anywhere but 30,000 feet.

[lisagurl]

is a singular example of the "conservative" effort to enshrine stupidity in our culture.

Deliberate Dumbing Down of America

http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/index.html

[DreamingEmerald]

Do you care to actually refute anything in the HuffPost article on the basis of fact, or is your own personal comfort all you have to offer on the subject?

I have no doubt that there are some sane, civil people in Texas. One hears that Austin is an enclave. But this is the state that elected George Bush its governor, that is infamously punitive, and whose state Board of Education - an elected, and therefore representative body - is a singular example of the "conservative" effort to enshrine stupidity in our culture.

I'm glad you're happy there. I'm also glad that I'll never see the place from anywhere but 30,000 feet.

I once visited a friend in Texas. As I was eating a pickle in a parking lot some guy pulled up in a muscle car and told me "I have a pickle for you."

I was also asked at pretty much every place I went if I played basketball. Fact: All tall women play basketball in Texas, no exceptions.

[tara_giles]

Hey. There's some good people in TX! Like me!!

I would look at the national picture and bitch about that. And yes, I'm packing.



didn't even read the article but everywhere sucks right now so don't pick on just one state.
If anybody wants to come over for tea I'll have a party.

[elliebean]

...didn't even read the article but everywhere sucks right now...

Since you didn't read it, the point of the article was that everywhere will suck more, thanks to the Texas school board.

Sigh.

[Erica]

Since you didn't read it, the point of the article was that everywhere will suck more, thanks to the Texas school board.

I understand that economics is at work here, but I really don't see how TX could be holding anyone hostage. Printing isn't anywhere near so complicated as it used to be, and I can't imagine it would cost that much more for book makers to make even state specific volumes if they so chose. The problem is people don't want to pay that extra price to get books made that aren't tainted by TX political wrangling. It's nuts. Yes we're a big state but we're still a small fraction of the total pie.

The reason this is such a terrible situation is that it's altogether to easy for organized religion to "petition" the school board members to cater to them. In TX of course a petition is a white envelope stuffed with Franklins. Don't imagine for a second that it's not going on. So is TX to blame or is the rest of the country complicit for allowing the situation here to have any affect them? The situation might change entirely if the thumpers who are doing the lobbying knew that their focused actions weren't going to have a broad ripple effect.

[SarahElizabeth]

On the upside, the state of Texas is slowly transitioning. With the growth of the Hispanic population and with areas of enlightenment like Austin and other areas where educated people live, the state may eventually turn away from the dark side. There was an article in The National magazine about a year ago talking about the changing populous in the state of Texas.

[tara_giles]

How's that Obama $ working for y'all?
Can't wait till he starts funding SRS in the Health Care Bill.
We may all be living on the streets but at least we can get a job as a hooker.

time for me to find a less political TG forum.


Cya

[corvus.corax]

We may all be living on the streets...

Speak for yourself.

time for me to find a less political TG forum.

Or more to the point, one whose prevailing politics better reflects your own worldview.

I understand the teabaggers just love transpeeps.

[tiffany_elizabeth]

That is so wrong. When I was in school I was fed up with seeing what I saw as a liberally biased curriculum, but there are a lot of things wrong with this. There was absolutely no reason to remove Thomas Jefferson from the curriculum, and John Calvin had about as much to do with the founding of America as Ana Ng did.

And who says John Calvin is even an icon of the religious right? I'm a member of the religious right and I consider the doctrine of Calvinism a joke. I don't know if he achieved icon status when I wasn't looking or if Huffington is just making assumptions.

[corvus.corax]

...or if Huffington is just making assumptions.

No.

Here’s the amendment Dunbar changed: “explain the impact of Enlightenment ideas from John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Thomas Jefferson on political revolutions from 1750 to the present.” Here’s Dunbar’s replacement standard, which passed: “explain the impact of the writings of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and Sir William Blackstone.” Not only does Dunbar’s amendment completely change the thrust of the standard. It also appalling drops one of the most influential political philosophers in American history — Thomas Jefferson.

from Blogging the Social Studies Debate IV

John Calvin had about as much to do with the founding of America as Ana Ng did.

The Puritans were Calvinists. It is the essential core of our Northern European (especially English) Protestantism. Our country was and still is deeply affected by the toxins of Calvinism, which are carried in the blood of modern Evangelicals.

Edit: in retrospect, I'm surprised that the wingnuts on that board would exhibit - let alone permit - any interest in the Enlightenment at all. It would seem antithetical to their program.

[elliebean]

Edit: in retrospect, I'm surprised that the wingnuts on that board would exhibit - let alone permit - any interest in the Enlightenment at all. It would seem antithetical to their program.

They're ok with it as long as they get to rewrite it.

[Althea Raine]

He who controls the past controls the future?

[tiffany_elizabeth]

The Puritans were Calvinists. It is the essential core of our Northern European (especially English) Protestantism. Our country was and still is deeply affected by the toxins of Calvinism, which are carried in the blood of modern Evangelicals.

That's odd. Every evangelical I know, myself included, seem to be more in line with Jacobus Arminius.

I'm going to have to really get into researching this, because it seems that everything I've been raised up with has been a blend of Calvinism and Arminianism. That's like trying to blend fire and water to get a new element, and it seems like it's going to take work to purge the Calvinist heresy from my otherwise Arminian worldview.