Education officials say the materials were designed to be age appropriate but critics argue they repeatedly omit key context and oversimplify history.

Since it was proposed by the Texas Education Agency earlier this year, the elementary school reading and language arts curriculum has faced strong opposition from parents, advocates and faith leaders for its heavy use of biblical teachings, which critics say could lead to the bullying and isolation of non-Christian students, undermine church-state separation and grant the state far-reaching control over how children learn about religion.

A second grade lesson called “Fighting for a Cause” notes that “slavery was wrong, but it was practiced in most nations throughout history.” It does not detail the race-based nature of slavery in America that made it distinct from other parts of the world.

Another second grade lesson covering the U.S. Civil War focuses heavily on Robert E. Lee’s “excellent abilities” as general of the Confederate Army, which fought to maintain slavery, and his desire to find “a peaceful way to end the disagreement” with the North. It does not teach that Lee enslaved people or highlight his racist views that Black people were neither intelligent nor qualified to hold political power.

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    29·
    3 days ago

    So you don’t object to the curriculum stating that he was an effective military leader, which is what I was quoting and responding to?

    • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOPM
      81·
      3 days ago

      No one is claiming that’s the problem. You were taking the quote out of context. The context is the entire point:

      [A] lesson covering the U.S. Civil War focuses heavily on Robert E. Lee’s “excellent abilities” as general of the Confederate Army… [However,] does not teach that Lee enslaved people or highlight his racist views that Black people were neither intelligent nor qualified to hold political power.