Rewriting history, Texas style

The fight over school curriculum in Texas, recently focused on biology, has entered a new arena, with a brewing debate over how much faith belongs in American history classrooms. The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state's social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.

Extending their reach, creationism creeps into history.

Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.

Liberal icons? They happen to be accomplished Americans, and also Americans of color. Coincidence the creationists want to "de-emphasize"?

"We're in an all-out moral and spiritual civil war for the soul of America, and the record of American history is right at the heart of it," said Rev. Peter Marshall, a Christian minister and one of the reviewers appointed by the conservative camp.

Well, the Rev is right, but for the wrong reasons. The record of American history includes the accomplishments of Cesar Chávez and Justice Marshall.

The three reviewers appointed by the moderate and liberal board members are all professors of history or education at Texas universities, including Mr. de la Teja, a former state historian. The reviewers appointed by conservatives include two who run conservative Christian organizations: David Barton, founder of WallBuilders, a group that promotes America's Christian heritage; and Rev. Marshall, who preaches that Watergate, the Vietnam War and Hurricane Katrina were God's judgments on the nation's sexual immorality. The third is Daniel Dreisbach, a professor of public affairs at American University.

Elmer Gantry, er, the Revattributes Watergate to sexual immorality? Was Nixon sexually immoral? Or simply immoral?

Hmm, let's see: a former state historian, chairman of the history department at Texas State University, versus a reverend who attributes a neocolonial war to sexual immorality; whom to side with? Who might be more knowledgable? Tough call.

The conservative reviewers say they believe that children must learn that America's founding principles are biblical. For instance, they say the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution stems from a scriptural understanding of man's fall and inherent sinfulness, or "radical depravity," which means he can be governed only by an intricate system of checks and balances.

Through his wickedness, man invented a constitutional system of government; interesting theory. Perhaps instead of Justice Scalia's 'originalist' theory, wherein he tries to deduce what the Revolutionary Generation of Jefferson and Washington and Madison meant, or would have meant, were they to evaluate modern questions and contemporary problems, we should have a fire-and-brimstone Supreme Court where the wicked are exhorted to repent.

Some outside observers argue that curriculum analysts should be trained academics. "It's important to have trained historians establishing the framework," said David Vigilante, associate director of the National Center for History in the Schools at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Good point, but he's from California. Suspected pointy-headed academic liberal.

The conservative Christian reviewers, in turn, are skeptical of the professional historians' emphasis on multiculturalism, views stated most forcefully by Mr. de la Teja but echoed by Ms. Hodges. Reaching for examples of achievement by different racial and ethnic groups is divisive, Mr. Barton said, and distorts history.

Divisive? Right. So their suggestion is to study the white Christian version of history, and unite everyone behind it. Brilliant.