Holy Wow!!!

[citizen blues]

Commentary: Texas GOP wages war on thinking

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/07/22/156979/commentary-texas-gop-wages-war.html#storylink=cpy
[link:Commentary: Texas GOP wages war on thinking Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/07/22/156979/commentary-texas-gop-wages-war.html#storylink=cpy|

-snip-

Meaning a plank from the 2012 platform of the Republican Party of Texas which, astonishingly enough, reads as follows: "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."

Holy wow. That is, without a doubt, the most frightening sentence this side of a Stephen King novel.

-snip-

For what it's worth, the Texas GOP says that language was not supposed to be in the platform. Spokesman Chris Elam says its inclusion "was an oversight on the subcommittee's part."

If that explanation leaves you cold, join the club. That such an asinine position was even under consideration is hardly comforting. And the fact that something so neon stupid escaped notice of both the subcommittee and the full platform committee suggests the Texas GOP could use a little critical thinking instruction itself.

[seabeyond]

1. seeing how my kids have gone thru the texas education program in a very red environment, i will say,

i am THRILLED with the hands down, majority of teachers that dont bring their beliefs into the classroom and expect, demand, open thought and discussion in these classes.

i have yet to address one teacher in trying to brainwash my boys into their beliefs. they are different thinkers than the strong majority in this area, and their diverse thought has always been embraced and respected in all their classes. teachers have even let me know, regularly, how they appreciate my children speaking up. a few teachers have even discussed parenting with me, because they have little ones and they want their kids to be as opinion and into critical thinking.

so, though i continue to hear these stories come out of the texas board of education, where it matters, with our children, i am not seeing anything implemented.

[tanyev]

2. We don't need none of that fancy larnin' stuff here, nossir.

You just do what the preacherman tells you, and everything will be alright.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. "have the purpose of challenging the student's fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority"...

what they really mean by that is god's authority. When people are taught to think properly, they sometimes ask questions. If there is one thing religion cannot stomach it is questions.

[freshwest]

3. I left Texas briefly just before Bush was elected. Then returned to find madness. Then left for good

The GOP was small enough to drown in a bathtub when I was growing up there. They are a plague on this country.

[byeya]

4. Running from a potential "informed citizenery" is the hallmark of the RepubliKKKans.

They are indeed the Know Nothing Party awakened from its slumber with all the attendant bigotry and small mindedness and violence that accompanied the first "Great Awakening".

[Turbineguy]

6. Brainwashing

They used to call it that back in the bad old days of communist infiltration.

[brewens]

7. Translation-"We're sorry we got caught." They hadn't considered they were making the case

for people on the left that claim the GOP want people kept stupid. You may not be able to fix stupid, but you can create it.

[truedelphi]

8. + 1 n/t