by Peter Stern

Created on: March 18, 2010   Last Updated: March 20, 2010

The 'De-evolution' of Public Education

In response

The Texas Textbook Massacre: an oligarchy of historical manipulation

Texas is in the national news again.  Unfortunately, it is not on 'America's Dumbest' television program.  I mean no blatant disrespect to anyone in particular, but I am going to be brutally honest in my comments.

There is a strong movement in Texas and throughout the nation by individuals and groups who seem to be committed to push through religious and/or ultra conservative thinking into our public education process.  It is occurring with a focus on curriculum, teaching views and textbooks modification and procurement.

There is an additional determination to promote Republican ideology, ideas and direction in the classrooms and textbooks.  We are being told that Republicanism was more prevalent throughout American history and textbooks should pursue that direction.

Literally, the founding fathers were NOT yet Republicans, as this party was created long after the writing and signing of Declaration of Independence.  The Republican Party initialized long after the American Revolution.  The same is true of the Democrats.

In fact, according to Wikipedia:

"The Republican Party was first organized in 1854, growing out of a coalition of anti-slavery Whigs and Free Soil Democrats who mobilized in opposition to Stephen Douglas's January 1854 introduction of the Kansas-Nebraska Act into Congress, a bill which repealed the 1820 Missouri Compromise prohibition on slavery north of latitude 36° 30' in the old Louisiana purchase territories, and so was viewed as an aggressive expansionist pro-slavery maneuver by many. Besides opposition to slavery, the new party put forward a radical vision of modernizing the United States—emphasizing higher education, banking, railroads, industry and cities, while promising free homesteads to farmers. They vigorously argued that free-market labor was superior to slavery and the very foundation of civic virtue and true American values—this is the "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men" ideology explored by historian Eric Foner.[1]  The Republicans absorbed the previous traditions of its members, most of whom had been Whigs, such as Alvan E. Bovay and Horace Greeley; others had been Democrats or members of third parties (especially the Free Soil Party and the American Party or Know Nothings). Many Democrats who joined up were rewarded with governorships: (Nathaniel P.

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