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News, analysis and opinion on reforms being offered to improve schools, whether the ideas originate in Washington, Austin or Dallas. The online discussion will take education policy debates seriously, while it connects them to students from grade school through college. We welcome and read all letters from readers. Letters are selected for publication based on their clarity and brevity. They also are chosen to represent a diverse set of views on as many issues as possible. March 2010
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After getting ripped in an unusual press release from the Texas Education Agency, Fox News acknowledged Thursday that some of its reports on the current social studies curriculum debate in Texas needed clarification. While not apologizing for the reports, Steve Doocy of Fox said that it was "trying to make it simpler" for viewers to understand the process by reporting that the State Board of Education was reviewing new textbooks. In fact, as the TEA noted in its new release, the board won't consider history and other social studies textbooks until 2011. Board members now are voting on the curriculum standards that will be reflected in those books. Doocy did not address other complaints raised by the TEA, that Fox incorrectly reported that George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Christmas, Independence Day and Veterans Day had been deleted from the U.S. history "textbooks." TEA officials pointed out that both presidents and the three holidays are in fact now required under the standards for U.S. history. They also criticized Fox for repeatedly broadcasting "highly inaccurate" information. Fox has been giving extensive coverage to the adoption of the social studies standards, with two news trucks and news crews in Austin for the State Board of Education meetings. |