Which History to Teach in Texas?

Last year, a board of eight historians and one “conservative gadfly,” according to the Texas Tribune, gathered to decide which version of American history to teach the state’s 5 million high schoolers over the next decade. The odd man out was Bill Ames, who challenged his peers about their “leftish condemnation” of Joseph McCarthy. One state ed official said of Ames, “He complained a lot there were ‘too many educators.’ But it was a curriculum committee, so that seemed natural.” The clash over McCarthy was just one of many that continues over what Texas textbooks should teach. The battle picks up steam again this week as the State Board of Education begins to hear public comments.