Tennessee Tea Party Demands

[lakhota]

Tennessee Tea Party Demands School Curriculum Not Focus Too Much On The ‘Minority Experience’



Tennessee tea party activists presented state legislators yesterday with a list of “demands” for the 2011 legislative session, which opened earlier this week, including, “educating students [about] the truth about America.” “Neglect and outright ill will have distorted the teaching of the history and character of the United States,” according to a document the two dozen activists distributed to reporters. “We seek to compel the teaching of students in Tennessee the truth regarding the history of our nation and the nature of its government.”

What “truth” do these conservative activists demand be taught? Apparently it doesn’t involve portrayals of the “minority experience” or anything else that might taint their mythical hagiographies of the Founding Fathers. At a press conference, the activists said they want a focus on the “progress” the Founders and “the majority of citizens” made, to the exclusion of supposedly “made-up criticism” about slavery and the treatment of Native Americans:

The material calls for lawmakers to amend state laws governing school curriculums, and for textbook selection criteria to say that “No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership.”

Fayette County attorney Hal Rounds, the group’s lead spokesman during the news conference, said the group wants to address “an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another.

“The thing we need to focus on about the founders is that, given the social structure of their time, they were revolutionaries who brought liberty into a world where it hadn’t existed, to everybody — not all equally instantly — and it was their progress that we need to look at,” said Rounds

It’s unclear what these activists think is “made-up” about the very real history of slavery in America or the very real intrusion on Native American lands by early American settlers.

This effort could be dismissed as a the work of handful of obscure activists in Tennessee were it not part of a much larger conservative attempt to rewrite American history without all the unflattering bits. Like their supposed reverence for the Constitution, when conservatives speak warmly of American history, they tend to pick and choose only the parts which reflect their contemporary world-view — and they are equally eager to sanitize the parts that do not.

The Founders should indeed be praised as visionaries, but they were humans and thus fallible products of their time. Any attempt to white-out the darker parts of their history does a disservice to the “truth” these tea party activists claim to promote.

thinkprogress.org/2011/01/13/tennessee-tea-party-education/

[marjar]

Again?

[Tennesseer]

I expect the Tennessee Tea Party to dig up John Scopes and bring him to trial again-and then hang him for heresy.

[steff]

Texas has already managed to rewrite the history books. It's a sad day when religion & politicians are allowed to decide what history is acceptable & what kids should be taught.

[deziloooooo]

Just to long ..just to much of the same and no where your own thoughts Lakhota..and I am a middle to the left..ine who would be normally interested but not any more..all your doing is filling up the pages with stuff no one is bothering to read. Just see how few go to your threads ..
It reminds me of a few on the old..saw the Nic , just ignored, knew what it was...unless I was in the mood to have fun with with a zinger or two.

I don't expect this comment to have any affect but there wasn't much happening here now anyway.

[lakhota]

Just to long ..just to much of the same and no where your own thoughts Lakhota..

The article represents MY thoughts - OR I wouldn't have posted it. Would you rather I had just paraphrased the article and denied credit to the author?

Don't you think an article by a professional journalist carries more weight than my "own thoughts"?

Here's my "own thoughts": I agree with the article!

BTW, there is no article if you don't know the news facts behind it.

[deziloooooo]

"At a press conference, the activists said they want a focus on the “progress” the Founders and “the majority of citizens” made, to the exclusion of supposedly “made-up criticism” about slavery and the treatment of Native Americans:"
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Like Indian Knee never happened...that slavery was here but it really wasn't that bad for the slaves, they were taught a trade , fed, clothed...
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"“No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership"
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So if Washington, Jefferson...while thy did good things as the founding fathers, but it comes out that they also ordered families broken up as units as members of the families were sold off for what ever reasons that isn't to be mentioned.?
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"an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another."

“The thing we need to focus on about the founders is that, given the social structure of their time, they were revolutionaries who brought liberty into a world where it hadn’t existed, to everybody — not all equally instantly — and it was their progress that we need to look at,” said Rounds"---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That the founding fathers were also human with human weaknesses as all humans have, as if that takes away from who they are and what they accomplished thus being considered the founding fathers and giving them the honors due them, these people of Tennessee feel that human weaknesses take away from their accomplishments. They is coo-coo, me thinks----------------------think they want to re write history.

That is scary Lakhota...see I did read it.
Not that long.
People are objecting to you posting that here. must be because they have kin folk in tennessee.

Just had a thought..these Tennessians really love their Womans Basketball , Pat Summitt and all and I wonder if any of them have looked over and see who composes the majority, hell almost all , of the team..race wise. Who ole Pat recruits...bet Auriema of Connecticut would love to know about this as he and his people go out and recruit aginst Pats people, seem they go after all the same people...nice little ammunition, these Tennesians have given him..
sure there is a Tea party in Ct but slavery there very little interest, even back in the day.
Neat got to send that off to Geno..{I am a alumnus I yam, i Yam. thank you very much}

[billisonboard]

...these Tennessians really love their Womans Basketball , Pat Summitt and all and I wonder if any of them have looked over and see who composes the majority, hell almost all...

Think about it dez, isn't that just people doing what they are meant to be doing? At least in some people's eyes I mean.

[Value Buy]

Jan 13, 2011 20:29:07 GMT -5 @deal said:

Just to long ..just to much of the same and no where your own thoughts Lakhota..and I am a middle to the left..ine who would be normally interested but not any more..all your doing is filling up the pages with stuff no one is bothering to read. Just see how few go to your threads ..
It reminds me of a few on the old..saw the Nic , just ignored, knew what it was...unless I was in the mood to have fun with with a zinger or two.

I don't expect this comment to have any affect but there wasn't much happening here now anyway.

Dezilooooo, if you do not drink all the kool-aid, the haziness in the brain does not kick in for the full effect, therefore you must read every.................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
last syllable.......................zzzzzzzzzzz

[deziloooooo]

Actually after reading the article, I had to get in the mood...it was something to read.

I understand it's a small group in one State and is not indicative of all members of the tea Party..in fact as I told some one privately, I believe firmly , that there are plenty of good folks out there in the hinterlands , who are not true supporters of the tea Party , who would go along with the revisionist thinking of this group.

However to go after the author of the thread, Lakhota, for his posting of the thread, Why?

Because it comes from the Huff..?

It's a article of a happening, only comment on it is at the end..the quotes and reasoning of the demands by the Tea Party leaders to the legislature of Tennessee are there in their own words.
What is unclear, will have to reread it, did the Tennessee legislature cave into those demands and make it the law of the State.
If they did..for shame on them..but if rejected, hopefully, then just another suggested piece of legislation not accepted by the majority, to be thrown on the trash heap of nonsensical uttering . There are plenty of those in all the states of our great country..in Washington DC to in the federal system too.

It does give you a hint however as to what the thinking is on topics of many members of that movement, the Tea Party.
To me, something to run away from as fast as my legs could take me, however, I am afraid as I run away, there will be so many seeing it and thinking, "Oh yeah..lets rewrite history..that will solve the problem" and be running toward those folks who believe this is the way to go.{sigh}

[dmsm]

It seems that even reading articles they disagree with is a problem and we should of course hide our heads in the sand. Why in the world do we not want to teach our children the truth? Cleaning up and rewriting history means we have not learned a damn thing. Texas also wants to redo huistory to suit them. Why in the world would anyone wnat this and why are those here that attack a person that brought a subject to the board? Is this one of those boards where if one does not believe or like a subject it is off limits? Why do so many react like this?

[rockon]

When I read the post it is somewhat hard to ascertain exactly what they are asking for or if there is a legitimate complaint with the current curriculum. For anyone here to make the assumptions posted here would only show how gullible people can be especially when it's based on an article from a THINKPROGRESS link. Remember to consider the source and then do a little research before forming an opinion about matters like this. It just might surprise you what the actual truth is. People assume anything with a link is true while exactly the opposite is often the case. Better to see who posted the link and then check with the opposing view or in this case the accused to see what their side of the story is first.

[Tennesseer]

When I read the post it is somewhat hard to ascertain exactly what they are asking for or if there is a legitimate complaint with the current curriculum. For anyone here to make the assumptions posted here would only show how gullible people can be especially when it's based on an article from a THINKPROGRESS link.

It was in my local paper here in Memphis and reported locally. All the information is correct in the THINKPROGRESS link.

Hal Rounds is a well known local resident.

[deziloooooo]

Was it considered by the Tenessee legislature yet, if so, has it been voted on or is it something that is or is not getting support. Also curiouse if the pressure of the power if any of the Tea Party making many legislatures run for cover so as to not attrack attention to them selves from these people?
{I know lots of questions here, sorry }

[Tennesseer]

The group has only spoken to some of the legislatures-those which may be sympathetic to their 'cause'.

[Value Buy]

Jan 14, 2011 14:18:31 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

The group has only spoken to some of the legislatures-those which may be sympathetic to their 'cause'.

If it gets thru, will you move to a more progressive area, such as Paris France? ;D




Just kidding. I know you would stay and fight the good fight.

[Deleted]

Don't you think an article by a professional journalist carries more weight than my "own thoughts"?

Lakhota, you asked so I'll answer.

I would much rather hear the board members views on articles rather than read copies of the articles. I'm one that believes that most professional writers have an agenda that they are trying to push forward & that agenda is almost always different than what I feel about the subject.
I really miss the old days when news was news & it wasn't slanted the way that the new caster, station, or writer of the article wanted to slant it. Until we get back to a time where news isn't trying to slant our views (through manipulation) I won't be watching any news programs.

[rockon]

The article says they think it "focuses too much on the minority experience" but no real explanation on if the original has been completely replaced by this content or if this is a direct quote from a filing or a person with a name. The tea Party contends in this article that neglect and ill will has distorted the truth. I haven't done the research to know if that is true or not. Has anyone done that before reaching a conclusion? and if so why?

[Tennesseer]

Jan 14, 2011 14:21:36 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Jan 14, 2011 14:18:31 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

The group has only spoken to some of the legislatures-those which may be sympathetic to their 'cause'.

If it gets thru, will you move to a more progressive area, such as Paris France? ;D




Just kidding. I know you would stay and fight the good fight.

Maybe I can become your new next door neighbor. I will have lots of liberal party fund raisers. Can we park in your driveway?

[Tennesseer]

Jan 14, 2011 14:26:02 GMT -5 rockon said:

The article says they think it "focuses too much on the minority experience" but no real explanation on if the original has been completely replaced by this content or if this is a direct quote from a filing or a person with a name. The tea Party contends in this article that neglect and ill will has distorted the truth. I haven't done the research to know if that is true or not. Has anyone done that before reaching a conclusion? and if so why?

Seeing the Tea Party's contention is only about 48 hours old, I doubt anyone (including these Tea Partiers) have had the time to read through all the U.S. history books every printed.

The revisionists on the Texas Board of Education seem to be doing a good job of maiming U.S. History. The Texas group reminds me of the brouhaha that took place when Japan started rewriting their history books about their involvement in WWII.

[rockon]

Exactly my point. Everyone gets their shorts in a knot and takes sides (generally based on party affiliation) before they even have a chance to hear out the debate and look at the facts. There may be some locals who have more first hand information but the typical poster from a different area making an accusation probably doesn't really know any of the facts and this is yet another example of baseless heated rhetoric that stirs up emotions unnecessarily.

[deziloooooo]

Jan 14, 2011 14:26:02 GMT -5 rockon said:

The article says they think it "focuses too much on the minority experience" but no real explanation on if the original has been completely replaced by this content or if this is a direct quote from a filing or a person with a name. The tea Party contends in this article that neglect and ill will has distorted the truth. I haven't done the research to know if that is true or not. Has anyone done that before reaching a conclusion? and if so why?

I really don't have a problem with articles put up, however, while I think I am intelligent [Ok, ok..the comments can at least be held off till I finish here, wow such a clamor{sheesh}] the first time I read something posted , as I did the article above, I sometimes don't get the whole gist of it , and in this case, in rereading, my first impression was wrong.

It was just a suggestion of , not yet a bill, a want list of a particular group and I was initially all over the legislatures of Tennessee , and I was wrong.

Now possible the originator of the post, in this case, Lakhota, wanted it that way to push his own agenda, get a rise out of folks, side with his feelings, which I feel is disingenuous of him, and which is the reason some find fault with his posts.

He may continue that way but in my opinion, to give more credence to a post of a article a personal comment with suggestion of what it means in the broader context would be the way to go for intelligent conversation.

Naturally as I write this see the words , intelligent conversation here on these boards, I have to pick myself off the floor and clean my computer as I was drinking some coffee when I exploaded in laughter and you know what happens, drinking coffee, laughter, through the nose , all over the monitor.

Well I can wish for intelligent conversation anyway, can't I? ;D

[Tennesseer]

Jan 14, 2011 14:41:11 GMT -5 rockon said:

Exactly my point. Everyone gets their shorts in a knot and takes sides (generally based on party affiliation) before they even have a chance to hear out the debate and look at the facts. There may be some locals who have more first hand information but the typical poster from a different area making an accusation probably doesn't really know any of the facts and this is yet another example of baseless heated rhetoric that stirs up emotions unnecessarily.

We know what the Texas Board of Education has already done and ordered for their new history and science books. The have cleansed some of our history because the conservative majority on the Board didn't care for certain things being pointed out.

What the Tennessee Tea Party is requesting will be the same.

[rockon]

Fair enough it sounds like you have some bases for forming your opinion. Sorry if I made it sound like no one had enough information. I don't even know exactly what was removed from the books in Texas, the content of what was in the books in Texas or the history of how it changed over the years so I will refrain from posting an opinion on that subject unless I were to research it more in depth.

[deziloooooo]

I did a quick google, found this link:
newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2010/07/22/media-touted-claims-texas-conservatives-removed-slavery-school-curr-0
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"

But CNN’s T.J. Holmes deserves credit because he actually took the time to inform viewers of the wording in question, first as he, on the May 22 CNN Saturday Morning, hosted a debate between NAACP President Benjamin Jealous and Jonathan Saenz of the Liberty Institute, with the CNN anchor revealing that the new wording still used the word "slavery" as he posed a question to the NAACP president. Holmes: "I want to make sure, because I read this thing as well and I did see 'Atlantic triangular trade' in there, but then in the next, almost couple of words I saw the word 'slavery' ... Now, what is the issue with that that you call it a 'triangular trade' and then you're still talking about slavery and you used the word ' slavery'? What's the issue?"

The next day, on CNN Sunday Morning, Holmes read out the text more directly: "One of them that got a lot of talk was, quote, 'explain reasons for the development of the plantation system, the Atlantic triangular trade, and the spread of slavery.' That, of course, got a lot of attention because they changed the name from the slave trades to the Atlantic triangular trade. Another one says – this is from the high school curriculum – says, 'explain the impact of the Atlantic slave trade on West Africa and the Americas.'"

The original text had read: "explain reasons for the development of the plantation system, the growth of the slave trade, and the spread of slavery," which was changed to: "explain reasons for the development of the plantation system, the Atlantic triangular trade, and the spread of slavery."

Therefore, the original text had contained two direct references to slavery right next to each other, while the revised version added the term "Atlantic triangular trade" by removing one of the redundant references to slavery. Thus, the term "Atlantic triangular trade" was not meant to be a synonym for the "slave trade," but rather a distinct term that was being added"
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Personally after reading the whole article , and also realizing there has to be more changes to the text book then just the 'slavery./plantation ' issue. but on this one issue, I see nothing wrong with the changes , and remember I am from the 'middle to the left " side of things.

It seems they are explaining the plantation issue, which is why slavery was so important, labor intensive, heat , Caucasian unable to work with out being affected, rice, cotton crops...need lots of workers..slavery is mentioned..the three pronged economic issues..this was brought out when I was in school way back in the day.
The triangle, slaves to the West Indies /South..cotton from the South and rum to the North and back again , or something like there, think molasses were in there some where too.

Seems some are getting their undies in a uproar because the word Slavery isn't used 1000 times...

Seems they are going into the issue in more detail then when i was in school, bringing in the economics of the time ..naturally it is up to the teachers to bring out what slavery really meant to individuals, both how it affected the slaves as well as the whites in how they viewed each other and set the tone as to the relations between the races.

Some teachers might do a good job on that..others a piss poor job...as in all things educational.

Poor, fair, passable,good, excellent...isn't that the thing with everything?

[steff]

Texas history books have actually lessened/removed the accomplishments of the Father of Texas, Stephen F Austin.... how insane is that? They also removed Thomas Jefferson from the books....

www.aolnews.com/2010/03/12/texas-removes-thomas-jefferson-from-teaching-standard/

[marjar]

Years ago, the VA state board of ed was writing new standards of learning. The board, at that time, had several members who were to the far right and the religious right. The standards are mandated teaching. If it is in the standards, it has to be taught. They wanted to incorporate the Bible as part of elementary school reading. Teaching about free blacks, living in the state, pre Civil War -which was not a problem. That slavery was not included was considered a problem. In other words, a curriculum did not have to include teaching about slavery. Public hearings on the standards became very heated. In the end, none of the more extreme ideas were approved, but there was a great deal of time and money spent on writing, rewriting, hearings, etc.

[deziloooooo]

I know after a war, if there is a victor , they are the ones who re write the history..but in this climate, with the Internet and all of the openness to information, real facts of, not just blogs and sites with a agenda, why bother?

The rewriting...If anything..if a teacher is forced to teach a fact that isn't exactly so..a student investigates and comes back to the teacher with a different out look as to what is taught be them, teachers, it is embarrassing, it puts the teacher in a bad place, it puts question marks in the students mind about the reliability and truthfulness of what is being taught.

Legitimately questions the teacher, the school, school board, if explained why has to be taught a certain way, principal...the whole enchilada...seems no thought is given to that by those who are promoting such changes....

There is so much EASY information out there to get ..in the past one would have to go to advanced schooling to learn so much and be exposed to that.

Today a grade schooler, depending on their interest , could write thesis that would have been accepted back in the say from my University , if done correctly, foot notes , content, grammar, construction of...

[marjar]

That requires initiative. Something many of today's students lack.

[lakhota]

I consider it unconscionable and un-American when states try to "whitewash" their history. This is a major insult to blacks and Native Americans - and their ancestors. What good is history if it isn't "true" history? Just imagine trying to invest in the stock markets without "true" history.