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Public is right about error-filled textbook

THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Alonzo Mendez, right, and Montserrat Garibay, second from right, participate in a rally in support of Mexican-Americans outside the board of education building Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, in Austin, Texas. Mexican-American advocates and activists gathered for a rally outside the William B. Travis state office building Tuesday morning September 13, 2016 to express their displeasure with the State Board of Education's controversial proposed textbook "Mexican American Heritage", which lists several inaccuracies and false information about Texas' rich cultural heritage. After the rally the board held a public hearing on the topic and others at their regularly scheduled meeting.
Alonzo Mendez, right, and Montserrat Garibay, second from right, participate in a rally in support of Mexican-Americans outside the board of education building Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, in Austin, Texas. Mexican-American advocates and activists gathered for a rally outside the William B. Travis state office building Tuesday morning September 13, 2016 to express their displeasure with the State Board of Education's controversial proposed textbook "Mexican American Heritage", which lists several inaccuracies and false information about Texas' rich cultural heritage. After the rally the board held a public hearing on the topic and others at their regularly scheduled meeting. Ralph Barrera AP

Only one textbook was submitted for a proposed ethnic studies course in Texas high schools, and it doesn’t pass muster as being fair, accurate and not racist.

The State Board of Education heard public testimony on the controversial Mexican American Heritage textbook this week.

More than 100 people spoke. None supported the text.

Even some board members showed disapproval.

One report, commissioned by State Board member Ruben Cortez Jr., D-Brownsville, counted more than 140 instances of some type of error in the textbook.

The book, published by Momentum Instruction, generalized ethnic groups, used outdated data and incorrectly described historical events like the Emancipation Proclamation.

Former State Board of Education member Cynthia Dunbar, now the publisher’s CEO, told the Texas Tribune in an email that the “allegations of racism and ill intent are so patently false that they are, quite frankly, legally defamatory.”

Dunbar said some of the errors have been fixed or clarified, and the board can make the publisher correct any errors before an approval vote in November.

The board should listen to the public testimony and shelve this unsuitable textbook.

This story was originally published September 14, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Public is right about error-filled textbook."

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