Texas Social Studies Update: What the Media Didn’t Tell You

First of all, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Second, next Monday, I will have a new updated blog post about “the rest of the story”-what the media isn’t telling you about the Social Studies issue.

This story/issue is too important to post today, as you all will be focusing on time with family for the rest of the week leading up to Thanksgiving, and rightly so!

So take time to reflect on what you are thankful for and be sure to have your eyes wide open on Monday!

Texas Medical Association: Senate Plan is “Bad Medicine”; Liberal Texas Democrat is Texas Point man For Obama

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) has released a statement opposing the Senate version of the Government Takeover of healthcare.  Click here for their release. http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=8201

Quorum Report is reporting that Democrat State Representative, Garnet Coleman (D-Houston), is criticizing the TMA’s position. 

The QR piece says that the Obama Whitehouse asked Rep. Coleman to a be a pointman in Texas for selling healthcare reform. 

It should frighten all Texans that Obama wants Coleman to be a leader on healthcare issues, and it should tell us something about what type of “reform” Obama is seeking.

 Who is State Representative Garnet Coleman?  Well just a few recent details.  He supported HB 2221, by Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston),  filed this past Texas Legislative session, which would have forced Texas hospitals to give out emergency contraception (which can cause an abortion) to alleged sexual assault vicitms.  This would apply to public and private hospitals, including Catholic (as was specifically pointed out during the testimony of another person) and other faith-based hospitals, which would force doctors to violate their conscience by forcing them to participate in causing an abortion.

Can you say – taxpayer funded abortions?

This bill received a hearing in the House Public Health committee, and committee member Rep. Coleman (D-Houston), thundered away at us, in favor of this bill, when we testified against it.  Thankfully, this bill was never voted out of this committee.

Rep. Coleman himself, filed a bill during the now ended Texas Legislative session, H.B. 2968, that would have removed the current law that informs women, as a part of informed consent before an abortion, that there is a possibility of increased risk of breast cancer following an induced abortion.  This bill thankfully never received a hearing. 

These two bills failed in Texas Legislative session, but are prime examples for what the government is capable of doing when it has ultimate control over healthcare.  Forcing Catholic and other faith-based hospitals and healthcare providers to cause abortions, against their conscience, and censoring information about risks to women is the wrong directions for our state and our country.

Is this the type of reform Obama and Congress want for healthcare?

Democrats, Lieberman Ignore Public Outcry, Force Healthcare Takeover Passed Crucial Step; Only 38% Support by Voters

On Saturday, 59 Democrats and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who is categorized as an independent, forced a Government Healthcare takeover in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 60-39.  This was vote to determine if the Senate is anywhere close to having 60 votes on the healthcare issue and whether or not they can proceed to debate the bill. 

It is doubtful that any of the Senators have actually read the entire bill, as their goal is to cram this  bill through fast, before the end of the year.  They are hoping we’ll all be solely spending our time spreading Christmas cheer and celebrating the birth of Christ, that we’ll ignore this vital issue.

All 39 votes against, were by Republicans, with one Republican, Sen. Voinivich (R-OH), not voting.

Most recent poll shows only 38% of voters support such healthcare takeover. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform

Click here to see the record vote. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00353#state

Texas State Board of Education Contact Information

Click here to contact the SBOE members on the Social Studies issue.  http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3803

Action Item!! Government Takeover of Healthcare Vote-Tomorrow!

November 20, 2009

 

Special Message from Kelly Shackelford I usually don’t write a personal note on our alerts, but this is an exception.  This is the first vote in my life I have seen where I believe the future of our country is literally being endangered, not only for us, but for our children and grandchildren. The vote on the government healthcare bill (HR 3590) has been set for 8 p.m. on Saturday in the U.S. Senate.  This is the best chance to STOP this horrible bill.  A government takeover of our healthcare will ultimately ruin the best healthcare system in the world, rob Americans of choices, criminalize Americans who do not participate, explode new taxes, cause taxpayer-supported abortion, and ration healthcare.   Most of all, the government would take over 1/6 of the economy and the most precious freedom we have – control over decisions regarding our life and health.   If the Senate bill passes, no matter what is in it, it will go to a conference committee controlled by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.  Making sure this bill does not pass the Senate is crucial.   I am making a special request: even if you have never called your Senators, please do so now.  Ask them also to talk to their colleagues and stop this horrible bill.  Additionally, if you have family in other states, encourage them to do the same.  The future of our country, our entire healthcare system, and our freedoms are at stake.   God Bless You,     Kelly Shackelford   P.S.: The vote coming tomorrow is for cloture (on the motion to proceed), meaning this vote, which requires 60 ayes, will determine whether or not the bill is debated on the Senate floor.  This is the most important vote, because after this one, they only need a simple majority to pass the bill, and if they can get 60 Senators to vote for cloture, they can get 51 Senators to vote for the bill.

Special Update Coming Today in U.S. Senate Healthcare Vote!!

Check back later today for an important update!

Texas Social Studies Hearing Today-Live Blogging!

10:00 p.m. Local educator testifying, she is concerned about the TEKS looking “politically correct” and globalization language.

9:40 p.m.-Just finished testifying, got to make most of my points.  See points discussed below to basically see what i talked about.  A few questions.  Good exchange with SBOE member Mavis Knight.  We don’t always agree, but i enjoy interacting with her because she asks very sharp questions, and often helps clear up any misconceptions that exist.

8:40 p.m.  Member of the Sikh religion is testifying, asking to be added to the TEKS in two places in World History, and 6th grade Social Studies, to be listed as one of the religions who has a religious holiday listed.  She mentioned that Sikhism is the 5th largest world religion.  Maybe by raw numbers, but by percentage, Sikhism makes up approxiamately 0.35% – 0.40% of world religion numbers.

8:26 p.m. Social Studies, now about to begin!  Bill Ames is testifying, he claims he was only non-educator and conservative on the U.S. History curriculum writing team.  He is basically listing general concepts and not specific.

SBOE member Knight asked for a definition of revisionist  history-History not based on a uniform standard that is based on a quota system.

SBOE member Knight and Bill Ames engage in a back and forth.

7:38 p.m.-Sorry again.  Still waiting for them to complete voting on the amendments for Agenda Item # 9.  By the way, if you like our work, please consider signing up for our weekly email alert!-www.freemarket.org/Default.aspx?Page=50151255-bff0-40af-ae75-e7ee7a6048d8

6:55 p.m.-Sorry, the SBOE is now voting on amendments for Agenda Item #9, which is taking a while.  Social Studies is up next.

6:15 p.m.  Social Studies starts in 15 minutes.  First, SBOE member Mary Helen Berlanga, is taking a personal privilege and reading a letter from the Mexican-American Caucus, to express concern about Latinos in Social Studies.

Let me make something very clear.  Any criticism of the proposed changes and content of the proposed new TEKS should primarily by placed on the appointed curriculum writing team members.  Now, we do recognize that these persons were appointed by the SBOE members, these writing teams members have already had to be reigned in because they drastically exceeded their authority when they first dumped the entire Social Studies TEKS, and started over with curriculum standards provided by the liberal Texas Council on Social Studies. http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=8341

5:57 p.m.-Almost there for Social Studies-by the way, there is a particular section where students were previously required to “summarize the rights guaranteed in the Texas Bill of Rights.”  The update version of proposed language has changed this section to say “identify rights of Texas citizens”.  This leaves a teacher with no defined criteria for “rights” and will send the message to kids that they decided what their “rights” are, instead of the Texas Constitution.

5:35-Still waiting for Social Studies to come up.  Additional note, Albert Einstein is still eliminated from the World History curriculum, where he was once taught for the past 10 years, at least.  He was eliminated along with Sir Isaac Newton, and Louis Pasteur.

Also, Columbus Day is back in, but it we eliminated in the previous draft of proposed changes.

4:43-still on Agenda Item #9. our testimony will also point out other  strange and outrageous suggestions for changes made by the writing teams.  One example is the treatment of Christopher Columbus.  He has been reduced to just one specific mention, in addition to the mention of “Columbus Day.”  He was actually mentioned specifically one other time before the writing teams recently eliminated him from 4th grade.

So currently, Mary Kay Ash is mentioned just as often as Columbus.   I am sure there is value to having students know about the achievement of Mary Kay, but the point is Columbus and others are being reduced, and eliminated in some places, to a less significant role in the curriculum, and then replaced with others.  If there is an interest to add new persons, that can be understandable.

But do we need to eliminate Neil Armstrong, while we add the person Wallace Amos?

_________________________________________________

3:26-There are many issues we will be blogging about, which  will probably be broader than our 3 minute testimony.  First of all, we have reviewed the updated revisions of the TEKS for Social Studies, as recommended by curriculum writing team members, not SBOE members.

In regards to  Christmas, it has been restored/returned to the TEKS where it had been for at least 10 years before a “writing team” proposed removing it.  However, this same writing team has also added to the list of religious holidays and observances, for Islam-”the annual hajj”, and for Sikhism-”Vaisakhi.”

3:20 p.m. Just completed local TV interview on the Social Studies issue.  SBOE is now on Agenda Item #9, Social Studies is next!

2:11 p.m. – State Rep. Norma Chavez is now addressing the SBOE.  The SBOE has not officially started discussing the issue of Social Studies, but it appears they have allowed Rep. Chavez to speak now as a courtesy. She is concerned about her reading of the TEKS and the amount of Latinos, or lack their of, in her opinion, in the TEKS.

She has specifically stated that she serves on the House Appropriations Committee in the State Legislature

12:56 p.m.-SBOE is breaking for lunch until 1:30 p.m.

11:38 a.m.  The Social Studies issue is Agenda Item #10, and the State Board of Education (SBOE) is currently on Agenda item #4, so check back after lunch for an update.

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New Details on Texas Social Studies/Christmas Debate

See blog entry below.

Texas Social Studies, Round Two: Hearing Next Week!

Will Christmas stay or go? Will Columbus be buried in a lone corner of the curriculum? Will our state and national religious heritage be changed?  And much more!

Just a few questions that could receive more clear answers next week at the State Board of Education hearing on Social Studies, next Wednesday.

We need educators (former and current) and parents, and others to come testify with us at the hearing!

This Friday (today) from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., you can call  512-463-9007 or fax: 512-936-4319 to have your name on the testimony list for the Wednesday hearing at the TEA building, here in Austin.

Tell the phone operator you want to testify on item #10-Social Studies TEKS.

If you plan to testify and/or attend, please let us know so we can be of help to you.  email us at legislative@freemarket.org

If you cannot come to testify, please call your State Board of Education member and let them know your concern for the future of Social Studies curriculum in Texas.  Click here for contact information. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3803