Governor Greg Abbott wants Texas history taught based on truth and fact, which he believes will inculcate pride and patriotism.
Does he want the “Waco Horror” taught? What happened are true facts but even people who grew up in Waco weren’t taught about the barbaric lynching of 17-year-old Jesse Washington in 1916 for murdering a white woman. A jury of 12 white men found him guilty.
“The mob of white citizens wrapped a chain around Washington’s neck and dragged him to city hall grounds, brutally stabbing and beating him as they went along. A separate mob prepared a pile of dry-good boxes, which they ignited after they poured coal oil over Washington’s body. A crowd estimated to be between 15,000 to 20,000 people watched as the belligerents hung Washington from a tree and slowly lowered him up and down overt the burning boxes.”
That’s a true story. It’s not part of the 1619 Project or critical race theory. It is part of the history of Texas. Will it be taught?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Of course not. Because all of the objections to so-called CRT are about obliterating obviously awful past stuff from memory because questioning whether we’ve been taught the truth about the past or whether there was injustice sets the stage for critical thinking in the present. It’s the same reason social movements in the past are deemphasized or ignored. The empowered don’t want change. They want injustice to be normalized and immutable.
There is a movie called the “Shooter”. The story line really isn’t important for this discussion. But, in the movie is a US Senator who makes a statement that “The truth is what I say it is.” That is exactly the approach many people in power take, including Abbott. The truth is what they say it is regardless of what the truth really is based on facts. Currently, this is the approach Trump and tthe Republican Party is taking when it comes to the last election.
the same for those who have the biggest hand in making school text books: truth is what we include
“Growing up is a trap,” snapped Dr. Robbins. “When they tell you to shut up, they mean stop talking. When they tell you to grow up, they mean stop growing. Reach a nice level plateau and settle there, predictable and unchanging, no longer a threat.”
― Tom Robbins, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Teachers have the DUTY to subvert. Root sense: below the green stuff, turning over the soil and planting seeds
sub: below, vert: green
Exactly right, Bob, education is inherently subversive b/c it is not propaganda, not an official standardized curriculum designed by cronies and agents of the dominant class to protect the wealth and power of those already in power, but rather a fearless critical encounter with eyes wide open and ears aimed at the troubled unequal reality around us and the origins of that world we are in.
beautifully, beautifully said, Ira!!!
“Texas as Christian Americanist test case…” (4-2-2020, Religion Dispatches.org)
“Playing the long game, church-state separation and (real) religious freedom may be death of a thousand cuts….Those who want to preserve civil liberties and pluralistic democracy would do well to keep a close eye on the politics of the lone star state”.
The game plan is similar that of the right wing for public education and for unions.
Texas’ right wing money from Dan and Farris Wilks funded, “Pastors and Pews, a nationwide effort encouraging pastors to preach about politics and connecting them with right wing and Christian nationalists.”
Ted Cruz is close to Texan David Barton (Wikipedia provides a Barton bio.)
But among the strongest defenders of public education in Texas is Pastors for Texas Children. They have fought vouchers three legislative sessions in a row and won. They believe that the best protection for religious liberty is separation from the state. They also fight for increased funding for the public schools.
The commendable successes of the religious left in separating church and state and in opposing authoritarianism should be cheered. Small contributors like me rightfully send them donations. Given the wealthy’s funding of the right wing religious, the left’s accomplishments are particularly notable.
Some number of the left wing religious may not be threatened by books like the Power Worshippers. They may even have judged them to be an aid in accomplishing their goals.
Lots of wacko stuff has happened in Waco over the centuries.
Waco was also the site of a siege, assault and fire at the Branch Dividian compound that resulted in the death of 76 people in 1993.
The photos are shocking. “Depravity” is the exact word that fits.
In 1934 a crowd assembled to lynch EL Harris, a black youth accused of rape of a white girl at Falls Creek School. Wise to public feelings, Harris had been secretly taken to Nashville the enraged crowd burned the courthouse.
Harris was convicted and executed. Upon his internment, people dig him up to ascertain that it was really him. Happened in my county. 1934.
In 1972, an enterprising young history teacher did a great oral history of the affair.
Oh no! Critical Race Theory ate the bananas I was saving for making banana pudding!!! –Bob Shepherd
As a meme I just saw had it “I can’t believe we are arguing over whether the truth should be taught in History class”