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sl8

(16,245 posts)
Sun Nov 19, 2023, 08:21 AM Nov 2023

Texas pushes some textbook publishers to remove material on fossil fuels

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/18/1213999288/texas-textbook-publishers-fossil-fuels

Texas pushes some textbook publishers to remove material on fossil fuels

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 2:09 PM ET
By The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas' education board approved new science textbooks Friday but called on some publishers to remove material that some Republicans criticized as incorrect or negative portrayals of fossil fuels in the U.S.'s biggest oil and gas state.

The vote laid bare divisions on the Texas State Board of Education over how students learn about climate change. In recent years, the panel has faced other heated curriculum battles surrounding how evolution and U.S. history are taught to more than 5 million students.

"The publishers won't water it down too much because the publishers do want to have scientifically accurate textbooks but they also want to sell them in Texas," said Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center on Science Education.

[...]

In a letter Thursday, the National Science Teaching Association, which is made up of 35,000 science educators across the U.S., urged the board not to "allow misguided objections to evolution and climate change impede the adoption of science textbooks in Texas."

[...]

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Lonestarblue

(11,814 posts)
2. Well, that's Texas for you. Teach the Bible because kids don't need to know anything else!
Sun Nov 19, 2023, 08:32 AM
Nov 2023

These content manipulations have been going on for decades. Inwish we coukd get rid of religion in government once and for all.

paleotn

(19,178 posts)
3. A pity we can't just have fake textbooks for Jebusland and actual textbooks for the rest of the country.
Sun Nov 19, 2023, 08:38 AM
Nov 2023

If they want to teach their children bullshit, then fuck 'em. Whatever. I'm tired of their shit. Go off and be Honduras for all I care.

paleotn

(19,178 posts)
6. Due to their size, big states often have undue influence on the content of textbooks used throughout the country.
Sun Nov 19, 2023, 08:51 AM
Nov 2023

It's not economical in many cases for publishers to have multiple versions, so the land of sanity gets stuck with watered down and / or outright bullshit. That's no way to properly educate kids.

consider_this

(2,826 posts)
4. oh, makes so much sense...
Sun Nov 19, 2023, 08:44 AM
Nov 2023

cuz these 'board members' and industry representatives know so much more about science than the PhD scientists and other academics that textbook publishers work with tirelessly to develop theircontent.

Freethinker65

(11,134 posts)
10. Publishers should provide supplemental material to non-regressive State public schools.
Sun Nov 19, 2023, 10:17 AM
Nov 2023

Also, I want all those board members and TX legislators that approve of limiting scientific and historical knowledge to public school students to be exposed if they send their kids to elite private schools that teach the subject matter they are banning from public education textbooks. Most are just fine with their own kids receiving knowledge which better prepares them for their future in which they will be competing for opportunities with those whose educations were not curtailed.

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