Believe it or not, someone is taking history seriously. Well, to be honest, that may be jumping to a conclusion. But, this week the Texas State Board of Education began hearing testimony concerning a new social studies curriculum for Texas classrooms.
According to the Associated Press; "Much of the conversation ahead of the hearing has turned on how much emphasis will be given to the religious beliefs of the nation's founding fathers, with some activists lobbying to promote and highlight their Christianity." Former board Chairman, Don McLeroy, is quoted as having said: "I don't see anyone wanting to say that this is a Christian nation or anything like that. The argument is that the principles on which (the nation) has been founded are biblically based."
Mr. McLeroy makes a good point. Although I think he is wrong saying that no one wants their kids to be taught that The United States is a Christian nation; to say our founding fathers were Christian (and mean that they believed and confessed Jesus The Christ as their Lord and Savior) would not be honest to history. Also, to say that the Constitution establishes a Christian nation (and mean that the ways of Jesus are promoted as the way of the United States) would be just as dishonest to historical fact. None the less, the reality that Washington, Adams, and even Jefferson embraced the morality of the Bible, as a valuable guideline for a "moral society" cannot be denied.
It will indeed be interesting to see where the School Board lands in approving it's curriculum.
There is one more thing; The Board will also be asked to reconsider mentioning makeup entrepreneur Mary Kay Ash, of Addison, Texas, more often than Christopher Columbus. This really hits the issue of what in history is of value to the student's future. If we ask their likely employers they will probably pick Mary Kay. She provides a recent example of individual business skill worthy of praise, And She is a fellow Texan in whom they can take pride.
----A book for your consideration: So Help Me God; by Forest Church, Harcourt Books.
