Textbooks and Holy Books feat. Steven Monacelli & Dr. Michael Phillips
Feb 26, 2025
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Dr. Michael Phillips, a historian focused on racism in Dallas, and Steven Moncelli, an investigative reporter on extremism, delve into how school history varies widely by state. They discuss the influence of Texas textbooks, including the downplaying of slavery and controversies surrounding educational narratives. The guests illuminate the role of evangelical figures in shaping political ideologies within education, the battle over critical race theory, and the intertwining of religion and politics in Texas schools.
The fragmented versions of U.S. history taught in schools reveal the deep ideological divides influenced by state politics, particularly in Texas and California.
The emergence of critical race theory as a controversial topic has been fueled by misinformation campaigns, leading to heightened tensions at school board meetings.
Christian nationalism's growing influence on educational content threatens the principle of church-state separation, pushing for a religious interpretation of American history in classrooms.
Deep dives
The Rise of the Critical Race Theory Panic
A significant focus of the discussion centers on the emergence of a widespread panic surrounding critical race theory (CRT) that gained momentum in 2020. Christopher Rufo, a prominent figure in this movement, campaigned to portray public schools as sites for communist indoctrination, claiming teachers were propagating CRT to brainwash students. Although CRT primarily exists in higher education and is not formally taught in K-12 classrooms, Rufo was able to leverage media outlets to ignite fear among parents, leading to emotional outbursts at school board meetings. This sparked a wave of parental rage fueled by misinformation, turning school board discussions into contentious battlegrounds over educational content.
Historical Education and White Supremacy
The podcast delves into the historical context of education in the United States, revealing that for much of its existence, public schooling has perpetuated ideologies of white supremacy and capitulated to conservative narratives. From textbooks that glorified the Confederacy to the misleading portrayal of slavery as a choice of workers, the curriculum has often been manipulated to fit a white-centric perspective. This legacy is especially poignant in Texas, where educational content influences national standards due to its substantial textbook market. The discussion highlights how these inaccuracies were propagated through school systems, shaping young minds to internalize a distorted view of American history and race relations.
The Political Battle Over Texas Education
Control over educational content has become a significant political issue, particularly in Texas, where the State Board of Education has been influenced by right-wing activists seeking to revise school curriculums. The text examines the ideological shifts that occurred after the Tea Party gained traction in the state, resulting in demands to alter history lessons that addressed racism and inequality. Textbooks were crafted to align with these new standards, often minimizing the complexities of American history and providing an incomplete narrative. The podcast mentions instances where critical historical figures and events were downplayed or omitted, reflecting a broader agenda to pivot towards a conservative educational framework.
Influence of Christian Nationalism on Education
A significant narrative developed around the role of Christian nationalism in shaping educational content, particularly following the rise of influential activists like David Barton. Barton advocated for incorporating biblical teachings into school curriculums and has been a vocal proponent in promoting a Christian-centric view of American history. This push has resulted in state measures that favor religious interpretations in educational settings, such as recognizing biblical figures as founding influences on U.S. governance. The impact is far-reaching, with Baptists and other Christian groups exerting increased pressure to instill religious values within the public education system, thus straying from the principle of church-state separation.
Resistance and the Fight for Inclusive Education
The emotional turmoil surrounding these changes has spurred resistance from parents and activists advocating for a more accurate representation of history and inclusivity in school curriculums. The podcast stresses the need for vigilance and activism among those seeking to protect the education system from ideological manipulation. By drawing parallels to the civil rights movement, it highlights historical examples of community organizing against educational inequities and misinformation. Engaging actively in school board meetings and raising awareness about the importance of truthful education is emphasized as crucial for combating the resurgence of historical amnesia and restoring a balanced curriculum.
American school children receive two distinct versions of United States history depending on what state they live in: one version of the American past aimed to meet the curricular demands of the largest market, California, and an often strikingly different version to meet the increasingly rightwing expectations of the Texas legislature. Most of the other states in the union pick between the two. This episode will examine how this situation developed, the increasing national influence of one Texas evangelical author David Barton, how Americans perceive the relationship of church and state, the continuing war on the theory of evolution, and the strange story of how efforts to post the Ten Commandments in American classrooms can be traced to Hollywood marketing of the 1950s Cecile B. D. Mille epic, The Ten Commandments.
Sources:
Dana Goldstein, “Two States. Eight Textbooks. Two American Stories,” New York Times, January 12, 2020.
Kevin M. Kruse, One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America (New York: Basic Books, 2015.)
James W. Loewen, Lies My History Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995.)
Alan Nadel, Containment Culture: American Narratives, Postmodernism, and the Atomic Age (Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1995.)
Michael Phillips, White Metropolis: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion in Dallas, 1841-2011 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2006.)
