{"id":21602,"date":"2023-06-08T01:05:43","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T01:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodacademic.com\/blog\/questions\/the-revisionaries-the-true-tale-on-texas-board-of-educations-textbook-showdown\/"},"modified":"2023-06-08T01:05:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T01:05:43","slug":"the-revisionaries-the-true-tale-on-texas-board-of-educations-textbook-showdown","status":"publish","type":"questions","link":"https:\/\/www.goodacademic.com\/blog\/questions\/the-revisionaries-the-true-tale-on-texas-board-of-educations-textbook-showdown\/","title":{"rendered":"The Revisionaries: The True Tale on Texas Board of Education\u2019s Textbook Showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Copy and paste this link to stream the Revisionaries entire documentary free. https:\/\/tubitv.com\/movies\/54909\/the-revisionaries (Links to an external site.)<\/span>Links to an external site.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Discussion Prompt: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflect on what you notices in the board members decision-making behavior and outcomes, at  the individual member’s level as well as of the collective action between ideological blocks of like-minded members. How did power in numbers impact political gains and loses, result in successful or failed collective actions between ideological aligned members, at the expense of individual members  representation obligations to their own independent electorate that make up the voting population, of their district? How does collective action voting impact individual members power to block or approve a proposed amendment? What ways can collective action succeed or fail in this policy making process (think in terms of blocking or passing proposed amendments that members, at the individual level, would prefer succeed or fail.<\/em><\/p>\n

Additional independent research, is encouraged, in order for students to provide a well-reasoned, critical analysis, incorporating evidence, examples and information to support their perspectives, statements and opinions. To meet my expectations that this be done in a scholarly and academic manner, focus explanations in a direct, clear and concise, manner. Statements, analysis, opinions, arguments, and evaluation should be rooted in reason and rationalization, to provide a clear opinion statement and discussion of their personal perspective and political position towards the prompt, events, issues, and questions outlined.<\/em><\/p>\n

Topic and Issue Overview: <\/span><\/strong>Texas is one of the nation’s largest textbook markets because it is one of the few where the state decides what books schools can buy rather than leaving it up to local districts. With the debate in the US about changing curricula and AP test subjects, it seems appropriate to investigate a bit further into the debate and its background. \u201cThe Revisionaries\u201d is a 2012 documentary meant to provide a look at who makes the decision that affect the American curriculum and on what grounds they are made. While the film does provide a good and interesting look at the logic \u2013 or illogic \u2013 of curriculum decisions, it also makes some interesting choices of its own, raising the age-old question of what a documentary is meant to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Revisionaries\u201d follows Don McLeroy, the former head of the Texas state Board of Education, as he head a curriculum revision first for the Texas science curriculum, and then for the Texas social studies curriculum. In the case of science, the debate focuses on evolution and how to teach evolution in schools, while the social studies curriculum debate focuses on a shift towards conservatism and the exclusion of minorities.<\/p>\n

The film offers a good look at the thought process behind some of the changes made by the Texas SBOE, and an excellent look at the politics of it. Its interviews with the Board members make it clear that each of them do feel they have Texas\u2019 best interests at heart. The interviews with lobbyists and outside parties, too, demonstrate that, for everyone involved, this is a moral fight where they are the good and righteous protagonists facing a foe that seeks nothing less than the destruction of Texas\u2019 children. Even while the film shows some of the more outlandish beliefs of its subjects \u2013 McLeroy, for instance, is a Young Earth Creationist \u2013 it still manages to humanize them and not demonize them and their desires.<\/p>\n

Teacher’s Notes  <\/em><\/strong><\/span>Use your voice. I have provided the platform and safe environment for students to  participate in personalized, value added, political experience, whereby critical examination of current political issues and topics, result in structured and scholarly academic exchange and debate between peers.  <\/em><\/p>\n

Helpful Resources and Useful Links<\/strong><\/p>\n