In your history class, you might wonder whether the textbook you’re reading for that class is actually giving you factual and accurate information or if it’s blatantly spreading lies.
Do these textbooks perpetuate ignorance to the reader? In some cases, it does to an extent. In truth, textbooks are just perpetuating ignorance than knowledge. Moreover, they are inherently racist.
In Texas, there has been a case of a Mexican American studies textbook to use for Hispanic Heritage Month in schools. However it has been reported that the Texas’ elected education board is deciding whether schools should use a Mexican American studies textbook, a book supposedly filled with underlying racism. The state committee states that the textbook to has many mistakes.
A similar situation regarding a misleading textbook has happened before but on the topic of the civil war. But was taken out after the Board of Education decided to take it out from its schools.
The Board of Education scheduled a hearing for the textbook like any other textbook. The hearing took place on Tuesday and the board took public comment into account. In fact, the Texas review board on textbooks are citizens, they are in charge with making decisions or proposals on what is allowed to be taught in schools. Many who are opposed to the textbook signed up to speak at the hearing.
The board saw the problematic book, Mexican American Heritage, published by Momentum Instruction, with 68 factual errors and 73 errors by a committee of scholars.
In addition, The book perpetuates the stereotype of Mexicans of being lazy, they drink on the job, and Chicanos were against Western civilization and want to eradicate its society. However, the state’s review on the book only found one mistake, that it proclaims English as the official, national language. When in reality, the U.S. does not have official language since many languages are spoken.
The Texas Board of Education’s final decision on inlcuding the Mexican American Heritage book to its schools until November 18.
