Civics textbook loaded with disinformation

[Echo In Light]

Civics textbook loaded with disinformation

Center for Inquiry Raises Concerns over Civics Textbook

(Amherst, New York) --The Center for Inquiry (CFI), an international think tank promoting science and secularism, released a 25-page report today detailing what it calls "egregious errors" sufficient enough to warrant "immediate correction," in a widely used civics textbook found in many secondary schools around the country, including advanced placement courses. CFI believes that the textbook American Government: Institutions and Policies, 10th edition, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006) contains inaccurate and misleading statements, in particular in its analysis of global warming and certain constitutional law issues. In response, CFI's legal experts have analyzed the textbook and prepared a critique that sets forth recommended changes.

Derek Araujo, a lawyer and executive director for CFI's New York office, spearheaded the textbook review project. Araujo stated that he was "surprised and dismayed that a textbook used in advanced placement courses would contain clearly erroneous statements about significant issues, such as global warming and school prayer." Araujo recruited leading scientists, including Stuart D. Jordan from NASA, to provide their assessment of the book's treatment of global warming.

CFI's critique focuses on six areas: the science of global warming; the legality of school prayer; the significance of the Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas; the alleged influence of the religious concept of "original sin" on the structure of the Constitution; the meaning of the Establishment Clause; and the significance of the Supreme Court's decision not to hear a case (what lawyers refer to as the denial of a writ of certiorari).

Ronald A. Lindsay, CFI's general counsel, characterized the errors as "significant and inexcusable. For a civics textbook to state-as this book does-that the Supreme Court will not allow students to pray in schools betrays either a serious misunderstanding of the law or a willingness to have the textbook serve as a propaganda vehicle for the Religious Right."

CFI maintains that it is very important for civics students to obtain accurate information about our Constitution, our legal system and public policy issues, and that instructional material should be objective and free of ideological bias.

http://markcrispinmiller.blogspot.com/2008/04/civics-textbook-loaded-with.html

[Bandit]

1. It wouldn't surprise me if our text books weren't filled with propaganda but

Who are these people and what exactly does the text book say about Global Warming and about prayer in school. It is a fact there can be no "organized" prayer in school but as long as there are tests there will be prayer in school. I suspect these are right wingers trying to discredit legitimate issues..

[stevedeshazer]

2. This should help:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24018762

[YankeyMCC]

3. Direct link to report

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/uploads/attachments/CFI_Textbook_Critique.pdf

[msongs]

4. the first US president was Jesus, a secret that liberal textbooks do not want you to know nt

[Elspeth]

5. LOL!

Keeping American ignorant means they won't go after their rights.

[Echo In Light]

6. You got it. Just turn em into consumer zombies

[NNN0LHI]

7. Won't be long and the kiddies will be taught Moses used to drive a dinosaur to church

[Echo In Light]

8. They'll tie it into marketing a Flinstones sequel, replete w/fast food cups n toys n gizmos

[Winterblues]

9. These books should be pulled and those authors not allowed to

promote their literature in Public Schools..Truth is essential in our Education system and there is no place for Propaganda.

[Echo In Light]

10. ...propaganda within indoctrinational systems = Double Plus Un-good