Here I was thinking that what Texas needed was a new governor, having had to apologize for his behavior over the last few years. After reading about the new Texas GOP platform, I’m actually embarrassed that my voter ID says “Republican” on it. Gong have to get a new card I guess, because what Texas needs is a new majority party.
In the news, Texas GOP Cuts Nose Off to Spite Face, Then Stupidly Looks Up in a Rainstorm and Drowns:
Remember when Texas State Board of Education member David Bradley criticized teachers and scholars who were crafting new language arts and reading curriculum standards for Texas schools back in 2008? Having students actually think about what they were reading didn’t seem like a good idea to Bradley:
“I’m sorry. This critical thinking stuff is gobbledygook.”
Well, Bradley’s fellow Republicans appear to agree. The 2012 Texas GOP platform adopted this month in Fort Worth includes the following gem:
“Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.”
So the Texas GOP worries that teaching kids to think is a threat to parental authority. Who knew?
TFN Insider
I’d like to explain what this stand by the Texas GOP means, but I’m afraid I’d look like an amateur next to the unequaled Stephen Colbert and his The Word segment:
Apparently I’m just not narrow minded enough to fit in with the GOP anyway.
