Erasing History

KVUE Story

The debate over the content of social studies curriculum has begun here in Texas. If we are to truly study history, we can not pick and choose only the parts that are agreeable with our own personal beliefs.

We can debate all day long whether this country was founded by religious men. However, of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, all of them had a religious affiliation. Of the 48 signers of the Articles of Confederation, all of them had a religious affiliation. And of the 55 signers of the Constitution, all of them had a religious affiliation. Do I agree with the religious views of these men, like the one that had 15 wives? Uh, no. Does that mean that I will chose to not teach my children about these 3 founding documents? NO!

Thomas Jefferson was said to have written his own version of the Bible because he didn't believe in the resurrection, the miracles or the Trinity! I certainly don't agree with this thinking. However, I am smart enough to know that good old TJ was a key player in the foundation of our government as well as our 3rd president.

Many of these men were Deist, which is a far cry from the definition of Christians of today.
Deism rejects supernatural events and states that God doesn't intervene with the affairs of human life. Deists see the Bible as a fictional work written by a man, not a work inspired by God and written by man. Deists believe that God didn't make us to worship him, but to reason.
I don't know many Christians who would be comfortable labeling themselves as Deist.

The current debate comes down to a few things:
1. Which religious holidays to include in the curriculum. Give me a break. The real question should be which holiday is going to be on the TAKS test? After all, isn't that the only real thing that they are concerned with?

2. Should students receive a democratic or republican form of citizenship instruction? LOL! I have been a teacher and I can tell you that the citizenship unit in the textbook was maybe 5 pages. People who come to our country to apply for citizenship know more about our country than seniors who just walked the stage for graduation. I wonder if that has anything to do with having football coaches teach government on their off periods?

3. The role religion and the Bible played in the creation of this country. You can't rewrite history. No one said you had to agree with everything you learn.
HOWEVER....
they want to include the Hindu holiday, Diwali. Yes, that will certainly make for better citizens.
Students of all religions or no religion at all having a great understanding of Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, but not Christmas and certianly nothing about the men who wrote the 3 founding documents for our nation.

Attention America: Your one way ticket to Hell in a hand basket should be ready in about 10 years, if not sooner.