Forum Post: texass
Posted 11 years ago on June 10, 2013, 5:18 p.m. EST by bensdad
(8977)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
truly - a rank state
rank in education #31/50
Quitno Health Index rank #9/50
People below poverty level #8/50 [ 16.6% ]
Gun deaths/100,000 #26/50 [ more than double the NY per cap ita ]
HuffPost: Students in Texas' public schools are still learning that the Bible provides scientific evidence that the Earth is 6,000 years old, that astronauts have discovered "a day missing in space in elapsed time" that affirms biblical stories of the sun standing still and moving backwards, and that the United States was founded as a Christian nation based on biblical Christian principles.
As more Texas schools are teaching Bible courses, many still fail to adhere to guidelines outlined in House Bill 1287, passed in 2007 to improve the academic quality of elective Bible courses while protecting the religious freedom of students and families, according to a new report by the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund. The study covered the state's 57 districts and three charter schools offering Bible courses in the 2011-12 academic year.
Among the findings from "Reading, Writing & Religion II: Texas Public School Bible courses in 2011-2010," students are being taught:
"The Bible is the written word of God… The Bible is united in content because there is no contradictions in the writing [sic]. The reason for this is because the Bible is written under God's direction and inspiration."
"Giving God his rightful place in the national life of this country has provided a rich heritage for all its citizens."
"Christ's resurrection was an event that occurred in time and space -- that it was, in reality, historical and not mythological (cf. 2 Pet. 1:16)."
"Survival of the Jewish nations [sic] is one of the miracles of history and her greatest agony is yet to come."
"The first time the Lord gathered his people back was after the Babylonian captivity. The second time the Lord will gather his people back will be at the end of the age.
"Sad to say mainstream anti-God media do not portray these true facts [of Moses and the Red Sea crossing] in the light of faith but prefer to sceptically [sic] doubt such archaeological proofs of the veracity & historicity of the Biblical account, one of the most accurate history books in the world[.]
Students are also reportedly being taught the theology of the "end times" and that they may be living in the last days.
“We knew that this was going to be an argument,” Rob Eissler, the former chair of the state House Public Education Committee, told the Austin American-Statesman. “So the approach we took on the Public Education Committee was to make the Bible study course a real course [and] the [Texas Education Agency] would develop a curriculum for it.”
But a letter from Eissler to the TEA said the curriculum they ultimately developed was too vague and failed to include mention of specific religious texts. The broad standards were therefore weak and could not properly prepare educators for unbiased coursework, the Texas Freedom Network said.
Although some Texas districts do adhere to appropriate and merely academic study of the Bible in their courses, most still continue to ignore the law. Mark Chancey, a professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, says Texas public schools must take the study of the Bible's influence as rigidly and seriously as they do science or history.
"But the evidence shows that Texas isn't giving the study of the Bible the respect it deserves," Chancey said in a statement last week. "Academically, many of these classes lack rigor and substance, and some seem less interested in cultivating religious literacy than in promoting religious beliefs. Their approach puts their school districts in legal jeopardy and their taxpayers in financial jeopardy.
The Texas State Board of Education in 2010 also adopted a resolution that sought to limit references to Islam in Texas textbooks, claiming that the materials were "tainted" with "pro-Islamic, anti-Christian distortions.
The Texas Freedom Network's findings come as Arkansas state Rep. Denny Altes introduced a bill this month in his home state that would allow the state's public school districts to adopt a similar elective curriculum for pure academic study of the Bible. The course would "consist of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study of the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture and politics" and would "be taught in an objective and non devotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical materials or texts from other religions or cultural traditions."
Oh, West, TX. My mistake. It’s a tiny town of less than 3000 people ( had to look it up to be sure). There’s no jobs in West (even before the explosion). It’s bedroom community for Waco, TX. It’s 18 miles north of Waco, on the Interstate. The most famous thing about West is the Czech Bakery. A somewhat famous pit stop for people traveling the Interstate.
As for the Texas Board of Education. I can’t argue with you, they’re a bunch of nuts, But most of the more strange members are now gone, so things will be turning around. However, Texas is a very religious State. I doubt atheism will push out the Baptist churches anytime soon. Freedom of worship and all that you know.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/06/12/2145741/west-texas-fema/
I have also heard on the just flipped AM 1350 KABQ Albuquerque's Progressive Talk, now "Chart Topping Hits," on Randi Rhodes or Ring of Fire that Texas was going blue. But the question is, what the hell are they going to do with all those brain-damaged kids? They better be fitted with ankle bracelets so they can't leave the state!
[-] 1 points by gnomunny (4922) from St Louis, MO 2 minutes ago
A Howard fan. I must say, GF, you're full of surprises. Don't take offense, I realize my comment could be taken different ways. ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
No way to reply below.
I am actually more interested into who he was and this http://www.pulpmags.org/history_page.html
those are all gone and although people turned their noses up at the very thought.......they were popular.
Ah, a fan of the history more than the escapist fare of his stories. I used to have a couple dozen pulps as a complement to my frightfully huge comic book collection when I was young, and even then (the '70's) it was almost impossible to find pulps in good condition. Considering the poor quality, you'd damn near near climate control nowadays to keep them from deteriorating.
Yep, pretty much. I don't read a lot of fiction anymore.
You owned them? I can't recall ever seeing a pulp. Ever.
I had a few but never got around to reading them. Back then, they'd pop up at comic conventions mostly, but also in bookstores on rare occasions.
I can also relate to your love of history. And to no longer reading fiction. If I'm going to take the valuable time to read, I need to actually learn something.
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No taxes are better than low taxes.
and Natalie Maines came from Texas!
And still people and companies and people are moving to Texas in record numbers. Lower taxes, affordable homes, low crime, quality of life, etc ...
Austin, TX has been on the "top ten best places to live" for at least ten years, probably closer to fifteen years. We don't have stop and frisk. we can buy any size soft drink we want, we can buy as many guns as we can afford and don't to ask the State about it.
Without a doubt Texas isn't perfect. Urban Dallas and Houston probably has as much crime as New York. Texas is a major drug route from Mexico to other States. Barely a week goes by when there's a story about the cops busting someone with tons of drugs. Not to mention Texas is just too damn hot during the summer.
Still, with all its problems, you can still find a good job, afford a decent home and enjoy outdoor lifestyle almost year round and feel safe almost anywhere.
But! Having said all that, Please don't come to Texas. We are overwhelmed with fleeing Californians and folks from the northern States trying to escape the recession. We are turning into California; and I don't eat sushi.
How many "new" texass jobs are in ex-union factories at a 30% pay cut.
How many jobs are newly available in West, Texas ? A very safe place to live
Not only can you buy as many guns as you want, you can send them to Chicago and make a fortune
Gov. Rick Perry told a child questioner in New Hampshire that Texas public schools teach creationism alongside evolution.
Perry even lied about a key element in his own state's constitution - He said when Texas entered the union in 1845 it was with the understanding it could pull out. However, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Texas negotiated the power to divide into four additional states at some point if it wanted to but not the right to secede.
Lets face it, rick has a lot of work to do if he wants to measure down to his predesessor - shrub
You are correct. A lot of people are under the misconception Texas can secede from the union. It’s an old fable, but not true. But it is true that then Gov. Sam Houston did not want to secede from the Union during the northern war of aggression, so he was removed from office. But it’s nice to see you know a little Texas history.
I don’t know where all the new jobs come from, just too many to keep track of. I also don’t know if the jobs pay less or not; and neither do you. Although I think the bulk of jobs come from California where taxes eat all the profits. I can say from personal experience a person can maintain a higher living standard in Texas on half the pay of California.
As for west Texas, Quite safe place to live. Hell, not enough people there to have many problems. Rattlesnakes. Scorpions and feral hogs are the biggest danger in west Texas. Just don’t cross the border. But if you want to live an isolated life this is the place.
As for Rick Perry. I don’t like him. Never have. Way to arrogant. Seems to thinks he’s royalty (like Cuomo). I’ve never voted for Perry. Still, I give credit where credit is due. Without his somewhat ruthless management of the budget, Texas would be in as bad of shape as some of the other States.
By the way, the news tonight said Perry is going to California and Illinois next week to see if he can convince some companies to move to Texas. Damit, I wish people would stop moving here.
not west Texas
WEST Texas
Austin doesn't count. Trying to compare the rest of the state to Austin is an apple and orange comparison. San Antonio is also rather cool. Sushi has been available in Dallas for almost 30 years.
Texas is not some archaic backwards state.......yet. Although, the push to turn it into one is unbelievable. Right now, Texas is leading in minimum wage jobs. My brother graduated this last year and, I have to be honest, I would never move to Texas with my child due to the changes in the curriculum. I sure as hell wouldn't buy any property there. The fact that they have executed an innocent man does not help their case. I still have family and friends in Texas.
Saying Austin is different from. Say Houston or Dallas, just isn’t true. In reality Austin is as much a Texas city as any other city. It’s kind of an inside joke among Texans to rib Austin as not part of Texas. But it’s a joke. I will concede that Austin has become democratic over the past few years, Austin like becoming a mini-California, but so are the suburbs of Houston and Dallas. I sincerely believe Texas will be a blue State soon.
Just like everywhere else, it’s the city folks against the rural folks. A distinct difference of values. Colorado comes to mind, passing tougher gun legislation. The rural citizens are up in arms (so to speak), and a couple of counties want to break away from Colorado. Same applies to Texas, Amarillo is a different world from Dallas.
All I can say it it’s a free country, you can live wherever you want. To each his own. I live in Texas more because this is where my family lives. Can’t leave the granddaughters you know. I used to say I’d move to Colorado, but can’t do it now with the restrictive gum laws, So, if for some reason I ever do move it’s probably be Utah.
Sure it is. Houston pisses me off simply because of the humidity. Austin has a different kind of attitude. I have never seen a state celebrate and produce such flat out stupidity in a period of about 10 years. Twenty years if we take into account the zero tolerance policies of schools.
Different set of values? Nah, just drive across the county line to a wet county. You know that's true. It's more a facade than anything else.
There seems to be this drive to harken back to the nonexistent good old days of uber religious zealotry which acts as a cover for abusing the people via deregulation that takes out people's living quarters. (David Barton? REALLY?)
You see some of the problems in Mississippi and you shake your head and say, "It's Mississippi." We kind of expect it. And there are pockets of idiots in Texas or anywhere else.
I have no idea why you guys let these clowns into power. No idea. The greatest thing about Texas is that, by and large, most people don't care. I think that may be the downfall here. I have no idea where the celebration for stupidity came from. I have never found that to be true in say Amarillo or Dallas or Mesquite or San Antonio or Austin. There is art, literature, food, history and nature-if they don't destroy it.
You’re right about one thing, Houston is humid; actually all of the Texas coast is humid. Too humid fir me. Even Austin has some humidity. It’s less than 200 miles from Houston. That’s just the way it is. You can’t change it. Personally I couldn’t live anywhere along the gulf coast. To humid, all the way from Florida to Texas. But it gets less humid the further inland you get.
Yes, Texas is no different from anywhere else. City folks and rural folks have distinctly different values and attitudes. I’ve been to most States in my life, including Manhattan on a regular basis (job related) and New England in the fall. Manhattan was nice; and New England was stunningly beautiful. And I lived in San Francisco for several years. I feel qualified to say city and rural people view the world differently. Whether that’s good or bad probably depends on the person.
I’m not sure what you mean a “celebration of stupidity. So, I’ll just say again, you can dislike any place you want to. But Texas has one on the strongest economies in the nation, there are good paying jobs and the overall quality of life is good. Most places would love to be as well off as Texas.
Art and literature? Apparently you’ve never been to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco. ;)
As for people not giving a shit. That’s universal. Unless something directly affects a person they’re not interested. I’m not saying that’s good. I’m saying that’s just the way it is.
Lowest voter turn out. Texas. Does not give a fuck indicates that there is a hell of a lot more acceptance of people and things than is perceived.
That's a cop out. Voter turnout is dismal almost everywhere. Not unique to Texas.
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2013/06/10/texas-voter-turnout-lowest-in-nation
I didn’t know what the voter turnout was in Texas. So I did a quick search. I picked the first site at the top of the page and it said Texas had the fourth highest in the US.
http://www.businessinsider.com/states-voter-turnout-2012-9#4-texas-7
Now I don’t know if this is true or not. But I doubt we’re last. But I say again, voter turnout probably doesn’t reach much over 50% anywhere. Generally high voter turnout is caused by very hot button issues, such as guns or abortion. Otherwise people really don’t care.
The article that you have chosen showed that Texas is the fourth highest of the ten lowest. It's from 2012. :/
By golly you're right. My bad. Still, Texas is a popular place to live for millions of people. Sorry some folks don't like our politics, But you can count on one thing. Texas demographics are probably changing faster than any other state. It will be a blue state soon.
It's Ok. As an aside, I bet you've never been to the Katherine Porter house or at the very least the Barbarian Festival http://www.barbarianfestival.net/ Robert E. Howard was great.
I don’t think I’ve ever been to Cross Plains, TX. Although I have a sister who lives in Brownwood, TX (near Cross Plains). For the life of me I can’t figure out why anyone would live in Brownwood, TX. I’m not redneck enough to like Brownwood. I’m from Waco, which is more like the old south area than the west. Never been to a tractor pull in my life. But I am attending the Republic of Texas Biker Rally this weekend.
As a teen I was a member of the FFA and did a little calf roping, and rode a bull once (and only once). But I’m a city boy these days; not to be confused with an urban boy. Hell, I don’t like BBQ anymore.
As a side note, I think I read one of your posts once where you said you were sight impaired. My father was blind; and I worked for the Texas School for the Blind many years ago. It’s a great school.
Robert E. Howard has a fan base. Pulp fiction writer. Famous for Conan the Barbarian. Renewed interest after The Whole Wide World came out. The Robert E. Howard days are when many people who have met online travel down.
I don't think I could live in a town that small. Calf roping? I'll just look away now. Well, if Texas BBQ is it, I am not real fond of it. I am rather picky about my 'cue. Biker rally's are cool. I used to do those. Not into all that so much anymore. I am big on road trips off the beaten track.
I am legally blind. I have been since I was 10. I was warned that I would probably lose my eyesight completely later on. I say....bah! I work, drive and everything else now. The only major change that I see in the next few years is not being able to drive at night. So far, so good. Was your father always blind?
My father lost one eye in WWII. A blood vessel burst in the other eye it caused him to totally loose his sight over about five years. I remember when he could still see well enough to drive, but had bad eyesight. He used to take me with him when he drove so I could tell him when the light changed. It was terrifying and funny at the same time. With today’s technology they probably could have fixed his blindness., but we’re talking over 50 years ago. Sigh, the things you miss, I can still hear him tapping his cane as he walked.
A Howard fan. I must say, GF, you're full of surprises. Don't take offense, I realize my comment could be taken different ways.
AND, the Texas legislature meets for about 140 days , every other year.
Another reason to quarantine the state.
A reason to admire Texas. They citizen politicians,not career politicians.