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RE: [xmca] A new McCarthyism? Re: Texas history / social studies standards debacle (fwd)
Tony, can you draw out the historical analogy to McCarthyism a bit more?
My sense of that era is that McCarthy, playing on a variety of fears, was a major instigator of public support for victimization of Communists and their "sympathizers." In the current period it seems that Republicans and Religious Conservatives operating the "Right-Wing Machine" are fanning a grassroots movement, but with fingerprints hidden, with no explicit leadership from the legislature. Is it just a matter of whipping up the flames a bit higher before a new McCarthy takes the helm in the U.S., and the era very nearly repeats itself?
David
-----Original Message-----
From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of Tony Whitson
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 7:11 PM
To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
Subject: [xmca] A new McCarthyism? Re: Texas history / social studies standards debacle (fwd)
Below is a similar message that I sent to the email list of Social Studies college professors. Somebody forwaded it to the NCSS list, and it's kicked up a reaction that is putting heat on the National Council for the Social Studies to become more actively involved.
Below, the Exec Direc of NCSS explains that hey were honoring a request from the Texas Council to lay low. Texas Council members had invested a year's work on drafting revised standards, only to be villified as left-wing extremists (including publication by right-wing groups of their individual contributions to groups such as the Texas Freedom Network, which is politically like People for the American Way).
As Ellen Santora notes in her reply (immediately below), "in our organization if we are willing to step aside just because a group has awarded us the left-leaning label. This sounds like McCarthy era thinking!"
(This thread is proliferating across the Internet, so I'm not divulging anybody's private email here.)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:52:27 -0400
From: Ellen Santora <esantora@rochester.rr.com>
To: Susan Griffin <sgriffin@ncss.org>, Tony Whitson <twhitson@UDel.Edu>
Cc: trse-l@ncss.org
Subject: Re: [Trse-l] Texas history / social studies standards debacle
Susan and other members of the NCSS Board,
First, I applaud the work of NCSS on the Common Core State Standards in Social Studies.
On the other hand, I don¹t know much about the problem with the Texas standards, but I am appalled at the suggestion that TCSS and, more especially, NCSS back off. Does this mean that NCSS supports the disenfranchisement (or is it self-disenfranchisement) of a portion of the population of Texas teachers? Does it also mean that my dues support an organization (NCSS) that is willing to be silenced in an on-going discussion of standards that will affect all Texas children? Where is the American sense of civility, equality, deliberation, and, most likely, social justice in our organization if we are willing to step aside just because a group has awarded us the left-leaning label. This sounds like McCarthy era thinking!
This isn¹t in the spirit of many of our founders, nor is it in the spirit of a large portion of the NCSS membership.
I would ask that NCSS do more than stay in touch with the problem and that they consult with, advise and empower the TCSS as they insist on a ³seat at the table² of fair deliberation.
Ellen Santora, Ph.D
email: esantora@rochester.rr.com
phone: 585-787-0426
From: Susan Griffin <sgriffin@ncss.org>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:46:53 -0400
To: Tony Whitson <twhitson@udel.edu>
Cc: <trse-l@ncss.org>
Subject: Re: [Trse-l] Texas history / social studies standards debacle
For some background and context. NCSS has been in close contact with the Texas Council from the beginning of this debacle. At various times along the way, we have communicated, listened, and offered help. Sue Blanchette, NCSS vice-president is a former TCSS president and now teaches AP history in Dallas.
TCSS asked us not to become involved. NCSS and TCSS (to a lesser degree) are seen as left-leaning organizations and part of the "education establishment." NCSS, as a national organization, is particularly suspect.
NCSS continues its work at the national level with civics, economics, geography, and history organizations to move forward on Common Core State Standards in Social Studies.
Susan
On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM, Tony Whitson <twhitson@udel.edu> wrote:
> Months ago I posted alarms about proceedings of the Texas State Board
> of Education on social studies standards. One thing I questioned was
> the absence of NCSS involvement. Since then, I've learned more about
> how the Texas council had stepped forward in the year-long drafting
> process, but have since then been villified, if not demonized, over the course of these proceedings.
>
> The SBOE met again last week on this, and it's gotten even more appalling.
>
> For those who are interested, you might want to look at
>
> http://curricublog.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/wingnuts-cry-bias/
>
> This is directed more at coverage of the travesty than the travesty
> itself, but it includes links with the information about what
> transpired last week in Texas.
>
> Tony Whitson
> UD School of Education
> NEWARK DE 19716
>
> twhitson@udel.edu
> _______________________________
>
> "those who fail to reread
> are obliged to read the same story everywhere"
> -- Roland Barthes, S/Z (1970)
> _______________________________________________
> Trse-l mailing list
> Trse-l@lists.ncss.org
> http://lists.ncss.org/mailman/listinfo/trse-l
--
Susan Griffin
Executive Director
National Council for the Social Studies
8555 16th Street, Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Social Studies--Preparing Students
for College, Career, and Citizenship
www.socialstudies.org <http://www.socialstudies.org> 301-588-1800, x103
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