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Ron Haskell
Meredith Lee
English 200
11August2011
Texas Board of Education: Cracking the Foundation of America: An
Annotated Bibliography
My research began with a working definition of what a “Founding Father” actually is. Through
my research I have found that most scholars consider a core group of 5 men they consider as the
main architects of our nation. (Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Adams and Franklin.)
After identifying the five founders I should stick with it was time to uncover evidence as to what
their beliefs actually were. I found almost unanimously that the founding fathers believed in a
higher being but none related with Christianity’s ideas of the holy trinity. In-fact most refused to
be classified and if they were they related to deism. Up to this point my only source discussing
the Texas School Boards motives and actions is the piece by Starnes. Her article does not go into
enough depth on the subject so I need to find some more analysis on the subject.
Allen, Brooke. “Our Godless Constitution.” Nation 280, no. 7 (2007).
This article from a journal breaks down our founding father beliefs and even brings up
any mentions, or lack, about God in our founding documents. Allen notes that many of the
insignia on or money and other national passages was added 70-150 years after declaring our
independence. The article also references treaties that our government signed
with Islamic countries stating that our country was not a Christian one. Allen points out that
Thomas Jefferson was adamantly for a strict separation between church and state. Many quotes
taken directly from the founding father writings are quoted in the text as well as other
enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire
This article supports my research and will be a great tool for pulling quotes from the key
players of our revolution. The idea that our founding fathers are more enlightenment thinkers
rather than Christians is something that is worth exploring more in-depth. The article goes
especially deep into Thomas Jefferson who is the target of many conservatives for removal from
textbooks.
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Bernstein,R.B.. Founding Father Reconsidered. Oxford University Press, 2009
The author, R.B. Bernstein, begins by defining what exactly constitutes a founding father.
He notes that the founding fathers themselves have been deified by many people. He lists some
people who qualify as founding fathers. These people include George Washington, Ben Franklin,
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. Bernstein
explains how the founding fathers ascended to a place where they could be considered for the
positions they eventually filled. Bernstein gives examples of what these core seven founding
fathers actually accomplished and what that meant towards America’s independence. Bernstein
also discusses how we remember the founding fathers and how their legacies affect us today.
This source will be good for background information, but lacks direct facts to add to my
argument. The book contains great background on the founders and how they came to be
prominent individuals during the revolution, but lacks useable information on their religious
beliefs.
Holmes,David L. Faiths of the Founding Fathers. Cary N.C.: Oxford University Press, 2006.
He breaks down what religion actually meant in the late 18th century especially our
founding fathers propensity to look towards deism. Holmes breaks down six of the main
founding fathers individually and discusses their views and actions separately. Holmes asserts
the founding fathers were very cryptic in letting others know what they believed and many of
their public stances were contradictory with their private practices. Holmes proves his unbiased
view by discussing the orthodox Christian practices of the founding fathers wives and notes a
few founding fathers that were more Christian than others.
Holmes book will be the cornerstone of my paper. This book contains great facts about
the religious culture of America before and during the revolution which sheds light on how the
founder’s religious beliefs which I can use to show why the founders believed what they
believed. The quotes and letter between the founders will be useful as citations in my paper.
Meachem,Jon. American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a
Nation. Westminster : Random House, 2006.
The book begins by recalling much of Jefferson’s beliefs on religion. Meachem notes that
Jefferson, like most other founding fathers, was most likely a deist rather than orthodox
Christian. The book then moves into some very interesting material about how the initial
settlements in America were anything but tolerant to other religions. After discussing the
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initial settlements, Meachem looks in-depth into Jefferson and the other founding fathers beliefs
during the revolution including many accounts from inside the room where congress debated the
actual wording for our Declaration of Independence. From part 3 on the book discusses the views
of other leaders of America from the Civil War all the way to present day.
This source will work towards my research because of the detail it goes in to. Meachem
cites many conversations between the founding fathers during the revolution. There are even
discussions recorded from inside the room where some of the most important documents were
drafted. This source will also be useful as a reference towards religion in America during the 100
years prior to the revolution.
Shorto, Russell. "How Christian Were the Founders?." February 11th,
2010.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/magazine/14texbooks-t.html?pagewanted=9
(accessed August 1st, 2011).
Shorto covers the issue with the Texas Board of Education in depth. He has interviewed
two members of the school board and has done background research on a few others. Shorto lists
the many of the issues that the Board has attacked and gives their reasoning. The piece also
interviews one of the “experts” hired and subsequently ignored by the Board as part of the
process to decide the content of textbooks.
This source will be a great piece for my paper as it has plenty of facts about the Board of
Education and their backgrounds. Bringing to light their backgrounds will help me undermine
the credibility of their argument while advancing my own.
Starnes, Bobby A.. “AND THE BEAT GOES ON” Phi Delta Kappan. 92. 3 (2010), 74-75,
http://www.kappanmagazine.org/content/92/3/74.short. (accessed July 29, 2011).
This short article argues that textbooks and what goes into them are being used by
politicians as a way to gain political support. The author tells a story about an experience she had
with a school in Ohio and how politicizing the education process affected that school district.
The article is wrapped up with a quick discussion on the issue with the Texas state school board
and their attempt to highlight only the history their political party wishes to highlight.
This article, although brief should help me with my paper. It brings to light the process of
what goes into our textbooks and how that process is highly politicized. The source lacks good
data and does not go in-depth on the topic. Starnes idea’s about politicizing the education process
is worth researching.
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Stutz, Terrence. "Texas State Board of Education approves new
curriculum standards." Dallas Morning Star, sec. Education, May 22,
2010. http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20100521 Texas-State-Board-of-Education-approves-9206.ece (accessed August 06,
2011).
This article is a report about the decision by the Texas Board of
Education to change th e content in textbooks. The article shows great
turmoil between political lines and offers up quotes from both sides of the
argument. The article lists specifically what the Board of Education is
changing and suggests the issue is a political, rather than religious issue.
The article in The Dallas Morning News will be another good source
for pulling quotations from board members. I believe an article from a
newspaper geographically located right in the middle of the debate in
Texas will add credibility to m y argument. This article is strictly useable
for citing information about the school board and has little information on
the founders.