| Did the textbooks or the state go too far? |
| Textbooks |
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40% |
[ 2 ] |
| State |
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40% |
[ 2 ] |
| Other |
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20% |
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| Total Votes : 5 |
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:41 am Some say health textbooks cross line |
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| Quote: |
Some say health textbooks cross line
Some board members want publishers to omit allusions to gay unions
11:59 PM CST on Thursday, November 4, 2004
By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN � Discussion about language that may refer to same-sex relationships in Texas' health textbooks brought sharp criticism from a watchdog group that frequently battles with social conservatives.
Two members of the State Board of Education on Tuesday asked textbook publishers to make last-minute changes to books for middle and high school students. The board members said language in the books illegally condones same-sex marriage.
"It's a real shame that the board is not focusing on how to get the 4 million teenagers who are going to use these books the information they need to keep themselves healthy. Instead, we see a hateful agenda sidetracking the issue," said Samantha Smoot of Texas Freedom Network.
'Not confused'
"Young people are not confused about what marriage is. If a teenager sees the word couple, they don't wonder whether it is a man and woman who are married, a couple living together or a same-sex couple."
A long list of suggested changes was presented to publishers by board member Terri Leo, R-Spring.
One of the more striking suggestions proposed that language stating that no one knows why people are straight, bisexual or gay be replaced with: "Opinions vary on why homosexuals, lesbians and bisexuals as a group are more prone to self-destructive behaviors like depression, illegal drug use and suicide."
The list was generated by an organization headed by well-known conservative textbook critics Mel and Norma Gabler of Longview.
Board member Don McLeroy, R-Bryan, joined with Ms. Leo in seeking the changes, saying publishers should take note of the fact that voters in 11 states on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved referendums banning same-sex marriages.
"You saw what citizens of this country did on Tuesday, even in a state like Oregon that is very liberal. They passed the no-marriage-of-the-same-sex issue," he said.
Mr. McLeroy said he was "stunned" by the fact that the textbooks don't use the words husband and wife, adding, "We have a responsibility to have books that encourage a young man to grow up and become a husband, and a young lady to grow up and become a wife."
Other board members said the books promote traditional families, citing pictures and various references to families.
Mary Helen Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi, cited one of the books and its picture of a traditional family on one page. "I don't see two males or two females holding hands," she said.
"We need to take a look at these books before we take a hard stand on this and go overboard," she said.
A caution about law
David Anderson, legal counsel for the Texas Education Agency, also cautioned the board about ordering changes in textbooks that have nothing to do with the state curriculum. Current law requires publishers to cover only the required curriculum, he said.
He added that publishers can be asked to voluntarily make changes. It appeared likely Thursday that at the very least, language describing a traditional marriage between a man and woman would be added to the books in question.
Mike Brawley, a representative of Holt publishers, said Holt was not ready to make wholesale changes in its books but would seriously consider the suggestions before a final state board vote on new textbooks today.
Board members delayed action until today on health books for middle school and high school students. They gave initial approval for health books to be used in elementary schools as well as books for several other subjects.
In public hearings this year, the high school health books were attacked by the Texas Freedom Network, Planned Parenthood and several education groups for not complying with curriculum standards that say students should be given sufficient information on sex and how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease.
Three of the four health textbooks up for adoption contain almost no information on condoms and other forms of contraception.
Supporters of the books said there is nothing wrong with an abstinence-only approach for high school students, noting that parents and local school officials can give out more information if they choose.
Textbook selection in Texas is closely watched by educators because the state is the second-largest purchaser of school books in the nation. Books adopted in Texas generally are marketed in dozens of other states.
E-mail [email protected]
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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110504dntexedboard.27cf.html
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:53 am |
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Seriously, why would same sex marriages even be mentioned in a health text book? They don't affect your health. Physically you remain the same, and even if you are a homosexual teenager who wants to get married, chances are your marriage will be just as psychologically unstable as the millions of other marriages.
I don't think that it should be mentioned beyond a scant reference--society might as well reduce all minorities to an asterisk*
| Quote: | | Mr. McLeroy said he was "stunned" by the fact that the textbooks don't use the words husband and wife, adding, "We have a responsibility to have books that encourage a young man to grow up and become a husband, and a young lady to grow up and become a wife." |
But I support the philosophy that we shouldn't teach our kids what to think, and what not to think. Perhaps we could actually let them form their own opinions and teach them to be more free-thinking rather than learning a doctrine prescribed by the State.
Decades ago, schools taught that women should be educated enough so they could marry and then become housewives. Yet today we don't do that. Education is not about learning facts, it is about developing and forming your own opinions.
*Sometimes more than one asterisk may be required.
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TrekkieMage
Office Junkie
Joined: 17 Oct 2004
Posts: 5335
Location: Hiding
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 5:01 pm |
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| Hitchhiker wrote: | Seriously, why would same sex marriages even be mentioned in a health text book? They don't affect your health. Physically you remain the same, and even if you are a homosexual teenager who wants to get married, chances are your marriage will be just as psychologically unstable as the millions of other marriages.
I don't think that it should be mentioned beyond a scant reference--society might as well reduce all minorities to an asterisk*
| Quote: | | Mr. McLeroy said he was "stunned" by the fact that the textbooks don't use the words husband and wife, adding, "We have a responsibility to have books that encourage a young man to grow up and become a husband, and a young lady to grow up and become a wife." |
But I support the philosophy that we shouldn't teach our kids what to think, and what not to think. Perhaps we could actually let them form their own opinions and teach them to be more free-thinking rather than learning a doctrine prescribed by the State.
Decades ago, schools taught that women should be educated enough so they could marry and then become housewives. Yet today we don't do that. Education is not about learning facts, it is about developing and forming your own opinions.
*Sometimes more than one asterisk may be required. |
I agree. It's one thing to debate same-sex relations in a class discussion, but it's another thing entirely to re-write a textbook that simply suggests a same-sex relation...
I seriously think that they're over reacting.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:23 pm |
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Textbooks. But then again, the schools too.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:34 pm |
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They are overreacting if im reading that right. What? We can't even talk about gays now?
Health wise, It may refer to the AIDs. But I could be wrong....
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Jeff Miller
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:54 pm |
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Its just another form of racisim IMO
-------signature-------
| ~Tony Montana wrote: | | You know what you need people like me people for you to snub your nose at and point at saying there is a bad man. Well guess what This bad man is leaving. Say goodnight to the BAD MAN! |
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:03 pm |
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It's not racism. Sorry, but you need a new word. Gays are not a race. *heh-heh*
As for the textbooks...most textbooks are biased in one fashion or another. Again with the health books, my old health textbook read "Having a gun in the house, no matter where it is, is not safe." THAT is a blatent lie, and Leftist slander. Personally, I think that sex ed in health should be treated somehow...differently. I wouldn't be able to say how, but the entire thing is sort of...off...to me. I'm not sure how they should treat the concept of homosexuality, simply because of my opinion. Whatever you do, though, inspiring any degree of hate or fear on the subject would be the wrong choice.
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Jeff Miller
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:05 pm |
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it is racisim because if you block a certin group of people from doing something than its racisim. anything else doesn't matter.
-------signature-------
| ~Tony Montana wrote: | | You know what you need people like me people for you to snub your nose at and point at saying there is a bad man. Well guess what This bad man is leaving. Say goodnight to the BAD MAN! |
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:17 pm |
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Racism implies race. According to gays, they are no different from anyone else, they simply have a different sexual preference. Hatred towards them would be discrimination, but I don't see 'racism' as being the word. I'm not sure what word would be useful, but by defnition, it wouldn't be that one, as far as I know.
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:36 pm |
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Yeah, the term racism is applied far too broadly these days. The term would be "discrimination."
I don't think this is a case of discrimination, I just don't think it's a very fair thing to do . . . it's fine to mention homosexuality in a health textbook, but you shouldn't bring up the subject of the permissibility of same sex marriage.
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voy416
Captain
Joined: 28 Oct 2001
Posts: 631
Location: Rock Bottom
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| Sat Nov 06, 2004 10:21 am |
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I think they want to force the issue make kids see that
for the world to like you, you must be what the world tells u too be
society is like that and will forever be like that
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To Be Are Not To Be......Is That Really The
Question
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Five - seveN
Rear Admiral
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 3567
Location: Shadow Moon
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| Sat Nov 06, 2004 11:29 am |
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*coughismelllhypocracycough*
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Birdy
Socialist
Joined: 20 Sep 2004
Posts: 13502
Location: Here.
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| Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:43 am |
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^ lol!! Indeed.. My god. I can't imagine that this would happen here. The whole country would be upside down.
It IS racisme. You judge/eliminate someone based on his sexual preference.
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:46 am |
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Race is, by definition; "A group of people with like ancestory." NOT racism. It IS bad, it IS discriminatory, it is NOT racism. The word itself does not fit. I'm sorry. It bothers me.  It's like it, but the use of the word is incorrect.
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Five - seveN
Rear Admiral
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 3567
Location: Shadow Moon
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| Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:51 am |
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You're actually right about that, it's not racism but discrimination. Not like it's going to turn the world upside down, but...
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Sun Nov 07, 2004 11:32 am |
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They are overreacting. But
| Quote: | | "We have a responsibility to have books that encourage a young man to grow up and become a husband, and a young lady to grow up and become a wife." |
That is preposterous. Schools shouldn't encourage anything except work and learning. That they see it as their responsibility to encourage people to get married is wrong. If they want to get married, that is their choice, and should be entirely. School should not meddle in that.
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Birdy
Socialist
Joined: 20 Sep 2004
Posts: 13502
Location: Here.
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| Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:26 am |
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Allright, allright, discrimination it is.. 
But what I find the most upsetting about this story is that the following:
| Quote: | In public hearings this year, the high school health books were attacked by the Texas Freedom Network, Planned Parenthood and several education groups for not complying with curriculum standards that say students should be given sufficient information on sex and how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease.
Three of the four health textbooks up for adoption contain almost no information on condoms and other forms of contraception.
Supporters of the books said there is nothing wrong with an abstinence-only approach for high school students, noting that parents and local school officials can give out more information if they choose. |
Oh.. My... God! I know America thinks that the best form of contraception is continence, but it still shocks me. I think that continence doesn't work, teenagers are curious, and if they wanna do it, they'll do it. I don't think this is the right approach. Really weird that there's a book who sais continence is the best form of contraception. If that would be published in Holland.. Well.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:00 am |
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Em, so why did there use to be such a low teenage pregnancy rate 50 years ago or so, when they didn't have sex education? I know it was a different time, and things were different, but they did have a lower teen pregnancy.
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:25 pm |
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Because times change. You can't expect everything to be the same as it was 50 years ago.
Additionally, there are more dangers now. It's only 15-20 years ago AIDS was discovered to be a real threat.
Diseases weren't that common 50 years ago.
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superwoman
Vice Admiral
Joined: 25 May 2004
Posts: 5742
Location: Sweden
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| Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:35 pm Re: Some say health textbooks cross line |
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| Hitchhiker wrote: | Seriously, why would same sex marriages even be mentioned in a health text book? They don't affect your health. Physically you remain the same, and even if you are a homosexual teenager who wants to get married, chances are your marriage will be just as psychologically unstable as the millions of other marriages.
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Didn't you read this...
| Quote: | | lesbians and bisexuals as a group are more prone to self-destructive behaviors like depression, illegal drug use and suicide. |
....stupid book... 
| Exalya wrote: | | It's not racism. Sorry, but you need a new word. Gays are not a race. *heh-heh* |
You're right... but then again white people and black people and asien people are a diffrent race either... Racism is such a stupid word... and it's a racist word too! 
Oh and btw. I think it was the schools fault. 
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We will never run out of oil, because no one will afford to use the last litre.
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