Palmer Events Center
Education Damaged by Ideology of Every Spectrum
RECEIVED Tue., Aug. 5, 2014
Dear Editor,
Your article, “SBOE: No Scholars Need Apply” [News, July 25], is right on target in showing the problem of politicizing education, but politicization comes from both ends of the spectrum. Verity Educate has produced scholarly and expert analysis and reports on the factual accuracy of curricula and textbooks across the country, including for this current SBOE adoption, and every partisan group we encounter seems to decry inaccuracy until the inaccuracy is what they desire.
There are shocking inaccuracies in these proposed Texas textbooks that form a range of poor lessons, including a minimization of the struggles of African-Americans, a minimization of the dangers of historical communism, a minimization of the ideology of modern terrorists, and regular misinterpretations of primary sources. The textbooks are also rife with politically neutral information that is simply incorrect. Fixing all of these inaccuracies should not be a partisan issue. Good, honest, and accurate education is beneficial for everyone.
The truth is that even academics would not be capable of sufficiently analyzing the material under the constraints of the SBOE plan. Also, while a Ph.D. is a credential of experience and expertise, it does not indicate objectivity. As curricular material continues to be politicized – as seen in the article – objectivity and faithfulness to the truth are paramount in analyzing it.
Your article, “SBOE: No Scholars Need Apply” [News, July 25], is right on target in showing the problem of politicizing education, but politicization comes from both ends of the spectrum. Verity Educate has produced scholarly and expert analysis and reports on the factual accuracy of curricula and textbooks across the country, including for this current SBOE adoption, and every partisan group we encounter seems to decry inaccuracy until the inaccuracy is what they desire.
There are shocking inaccuracies in these proposed Texas textbooks that form a range of poor lessons, including a minimization of the struggles of African-Americans, a minimization of the dangers of historical communism, a minimization of the ideology of modern terrorists, and regular misinterpretations of primary sources. The textbooks are also rife with politically neutral information that is simply incorrect. Fixing all of these inaccuracies should not be a partisan issue. Good, honest, and accurate education is beneficial for everyone.
The truth is that even academics would not be capable of sufficiently analyzing the material under the constraints of the SBOE plan. Also, while a Ph.D. is a credential of experience and expertise, it does not indicate objectivity. As curricular material continues to be politicized – as seen in the article – objectivity and faithfulness to the truth are paramount in analyzing it.
Ellen R. Wald,
Executive Director, Verity Educate
Executive Director, Verity Educate