Support A National Social Studies Curriculum

In the video above is Sean Faircloth from the Secular Coalition for America. He is asking people to write their representatives in order to support H.R. 1593, which supports academically-based national social studies curriculum. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), is primarily in response to the Texas Board of Education's decision to dumb down the social studies curriculum in order tailor to their Christian worldview. This includes excluding Thomas Jefferson from history textbooks. As infuriating as this is, it is natural to think that it only affects students in Texas. The reality of it is that it will have an effect on students all over the country because of the way Texas works with national textbook makers. Mr. Faircloth goes into further detail in the video, but needless to say, this is an important issue.

I know what it is like to live in a state that is perceived as backwards because of the actions of religious extremists in charge of education and curriculum policy. Although I was not living in Kansas during the time that they banned evolution in the classrooms, I still see the effect that decision had on education officials in the state. To this day, and for years to come, Kansas will be viewed as the state that banned evolution (even though that is no longer the case today). I feel bad for the state of Texas, but not nearly as bad as I do for the rest of the country if we actually do start seeing history textbooks without Thomas Jefferson or references to the Enlightenment. This is not only an important issue for teaching U.S. History, but for education in general. You do not have to be an atheist or anti-religion to care about this issue. Contact your representatives today!