Success: Racist, Error-Filled Textbook Rejected

Target: Mike Morath, Texas Commissioner of Education

Goal: Applaud the Texas Board of Education for rejecting Mexican-American studies textbook that was filled with factual inaccuracies and harmful racial stereotypes.

A Mexican-American studies textbook under consideration for use in classrooms, filled with cruel and damaging racial stereotypes and historical inaccuracies, was rejected by the Texas Board of Education. It was defeated unanimously, with all members in agreement that the book had no place in the classroom. Other publishers that have produced more accurate textbooks can now submit their textbooks in the place of the rejected one for consideration.

The textbook caused much controversy when it was introduced to the Board of Education several months ago. It depicted the Mexican-Americans who helped forge the foundation of our country as lazy and poor workers. It also stated that “bloodlust” caused the Aztecs to fight wars and that Mexican laborers drank alcohol on the job. The textbook would have passed stereotypes off as facts, which would have been damaging and hurtful to the students who were reading the book, who in Texas are mostly Latino.

Parents, students, and educators, not only in Texas, but around the nation, came together in protest of the textbook. A petition on ForceChange was published, demanding that the book not be distributed to classrooms. The Texas Board of Education, which is responsible for the educational decisions that affect millions of students, listened. Sign the petition to thank the Texas Commissioner of Education and other members of the board for their willingness to stand up against racism.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Commissioner Morath,

I would like to thank you and your fellow Texas Board of Education members for unanimously rejecting the very inaccurate and racist Mexican-American studies textbook that threatened to find its place in classrooms across the state. You and your board members understood that such lies and racism have no place in an educational setting.

The textbook called Mexican-Americans lazy and included many other historical inaccuracies based on nothing but harmful and hurtful racial stereotypes. If the book would have been allowed in the hands of students, it would have passed lies off as truth and would have hurled derogatory remarks at the very students it was attempting to “teach.” Thank you for rejecting this book.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: George Hodan


One Comment

  1. Gen Lovyet Agustsson says:

    you do need to unleard racism and learn how to deal with holocaust of our ancestors.

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