My high school textbook seems politically biased and factually incorrect.

[jillian]

Okay so I've been thinking for a while now that my AP Human Geography textbook is biased or factually incorrect, but I wanted to see if other people agreed. Let me tell you why I think so. By the way, I'm a freshman in a public high school, so if they're distributing politically biased textbooks, they are acting in an unconstitutional manner..

you are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

the text book isn't biased. you are.

and you should be sent to your room without supper.

now go study and learn something.

my son is a sophmore in a public high school and i'd whup him if he sounded as silly as you.

(although i do applaud your being political... even if you're still ignorant).

You are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

A simple Copy&Paste, and lo and behold, a poignant response.

^^^^^^^

proof of the failure that occurs when one has no education.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Politicskid, Ever see the movie "A Beautiful Mind"? Jake, thinks he's a Communist infiltrator of the Republican Party. He's convinced himself that his landlady, Madame Blitzman, a Russian emigre is his "Handler"

Oh, best of all, Jake thinks none of us have noticed his bizarre behavior.

Shhh, don't tell Jake we're on to him

Your language clearly reveals you are not an adult. And you need to explain more in fully your reasons for your opinions in you want to move beyond the second level of critical thinking.

The first paragraph, in context, began with "some". It must be interpreted that way. Talk to your English teacher.

The second paragraph is correct in describing extremists as those who are opposing globalization. They are. You can add to the conversation that you think the extremists religion should be mentioned.

Finally, that you are upset with the word the use of "hostility", which does describe accurately the nativism of many Americans who oppose immigrants, indicates you may be influenced by nativism.

First, you are not a 14 year old, or you are one who had significant help from an adult.

Second, "Some of today's immigrants . . . [most of whom] are young, well educated people . . ." accurately and factually describe many African, Asian, and South American immigrants into western industrialized nations. You need to read that sentence in context.

Third, "A much more extreme to globalization. . ." is rooted in the local and cultural beliefs of Afghanistan and Pakistan and various parts of the Middle East. "globalization" is a term for "western secularization" resisted in the Muslim Middle and Far East.

Fourth, "hostile" is a nicer term yet less accurate than "nativism", the one usually used. Does the book accurately tie the connection to the native-born American n hostility to both legal and illegal immigration in the 1850s in northern sea ports and cities?

I congratulate you on look for the contradictions, the second step of critical thinking.

Don't stop there.

Okay, as flattered as I am that you think I seem older, I am only fourteen. I'm a freshman. I take the time to use proper grammar because I doubt anybody half intelligent would respond if I didn't.

The first sentence is in context, it was the beginning of a paragraph, and it outright said it as if it was fact that the majority of all immigrants from everywhere are well educated, which is not at all true.

Regarding the second point, like I said the book seems to deliberately avoid stating the religion of the terrorists, which is a very important fact. They were not "opposing globalization"; they were opposing America's moral values due to their radical Muslim beliefs.

And yes, the book does briefly cover slavery; but that has nothing to do with today's immigration. The book heavily implies that it's bad to not want to give illegals public services, which is taking a political position, is it not?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

My kids came back from college (NYU and Maryland) convinced that FDR was "Great" and I felt that I failed as a parent

 

[JakeStarkey]

Frank, you failed in American history and government not as a parent.

You can't even define communism and apply it to your arguments about America.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Frank, you failed in American history and government not as a parent.

You can't even define communism and apply it to your arguments about America.

Jake, explain to me how FDR's average 20% unemployment from his inauguration in 1933 until Hitler conquered France in 1940 was a "Success"

 

[Dr Grump]

Okay so I've been thinking for a while now that my AP Human Geography textbook is biased or factually incorrect, but I wanted to see if other people agreed. Let me tell you why I think so. By the way, I'm a freshman in a public high school, so if they're distributing politically biased textbooks, they are acting in an unconstitutional manner..

you are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

the text book isn't biased. you are.

and you should be sent to your room without supper.

now go study and learn something.

my son is a sophmore in a public high school and i'd whup him if he sounded as silly as you.

(although i do applaud your being political... even if you're still ignorant).

And I side with the kid. In stead of marginalizing him, implying he is ignorant, perhaps you could explain where he is wrong. (and learn to spell sophomore)

Only if you learn how to spell instead...

 

[jillian]

Okay so I've been thinking for a while now that my AP Human Geography textbook is biased or factually incorrect, but I wanted to see if other people agreed. Let me tell you why I think so. By the way, I'm a freshman in a public high school, so if they're distributing politically biased textbooks, they are acting in an unconstitutional manner..

you are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

the text book isn't biased. you are.

and you should be sent to your room without supper.

now go study and learn something.

my son is a sophmore in a public high school and i'd whup him if he sounded as silly as you.

(although i do applaud your being political... even if you're still ignorant).

And I side with the kid. In stead of marginalizing him, implying he is ignorant, perhaps you could explain where he is wrong. (and learn to spell sophomore)

the kid is a child who needs encouragement from people who actually believe in education... not from people (not you, but like some others) who think an education is a liberal plot.

i never could spell that word for some reason...

 

[jillian]

you are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

the text book isn't biased. you are.

and you should be sent to your room without supper.

now go study and learn something.

my son is a sophmore in a public high school and i'd whup him if he sounded as silly as you.

(although i do applaud your being political... even if you're still ignorant).

And I side with the kid. In stead of marginalizing him, implying he is ignorant, perhaps you could explain where he is wrong. (and learn to spell sophomore)

Only if you learn how to spell instead...

oops...

 

[Sunni Man]

Jillian is a typical limousine liberal who drives by the poor homeless people in her new Lexus with doors locked and windows rolled up to avoid their stench.

And thinks voting Democrat is the ultimate answer to their plight.

 

[del]

obvious troll is obvious

*only 14 and defending the pursuit of happiness*

 

[TakeAStepBack]

Certainly takes one to know one, del.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Explain communism and how it applies to America.

This is what I mean: you twist evidence to your pre-determined conclusion.

Frank, you failed in American history and government not as a parent.

You can't even define communism and apply it to your arguments about America.

Jake, explain to me how FDR's average 20% unemployment from his inauguration in 1933 until Hitler conquered France in 1940 was a "Success"

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Explain communism and how it applies to America.

This is what I mean: you twist evidence to your pre-determined conclusion.

Frank, you failed in American history and government not as a parent.

You can't even define communism and apply it to your arguments about America.

Jake, explain to me how FDR's average 20% unemployment from his inauguration in 1933 until Hitler conquered France in 1940 was a "Success"

Of course you can't explain FDR so you deflect.

It's Neo-Marxism in the USA today. It's Marxism, redistribution packaged as Democrat "Compassion" and "rights"

 

[TakeAStepBack]

The least they could do is buy some private sector wrapping paper. It would make 50% of Americans look less foolish...

 

[Meathead]

you are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

the text book isn't biased. you are.

and you should be sent to your room without supper.

now go study and learn something.

my son is a sophmore in a public high school and i'd whup him if he sounded as silly as you.

(although i do applaud your being political... even if you're still ignorant).

You are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

A simple Copy&Paste, and lo and behold, a poignant response.

^^^^^^^

proof of the failure that occurs when one has no education.

Madam, I have zits on my ass there a more learned than you.

 

[editec]

Perhaps the reason that FDR is often touted as a great President has to do not with what he did but what he likely prevented.


I believe that FDR saved this nation from going down the extreme political avenues like that Russia went down(Marxist communism) and Germany went, down (modern Fascist socialism).

How did he do that?

By giving the American people HOPE that capitalism could be saved with some minor modifications (banking and stock market laws, mostly) and that once saved, the workers would once again be (small) benefactors of it.


FRD was considered a GREAT president by the people who lived THOUGH the depression and who saw how his "Aphabet Soup" of relief organizations and new policies gave them and their families help to survive until better times.



Had FDR not done many of policies that so many here complain about as creeping socialist, I suspect that this nation might actually have gone much further down the road of authentic socialism (be it the Marxist variety socialism or the FASCIST variety socialism) than it did.

 

[jillian]

You are neither smart enough nor knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on what is 'biased'.

A simple Copy&Paste, and lo and behold, a poignant response.

^^^^^^^

proof of the failure that occurs when one has no education.

Madam, I have zits on my ass there a more learned than you.

in your rightwingnut fantasies.

 

[Paulie]

Okay so I've been thinking for a while now that my AP Human Geography textbook is biased or factually incorrect, but I wanted to see if other people agreed. Let me tell you why I think so. By the way, I'm a freshman in a public high school, so if they're distributing politically biased textbooks, they are acting in an unconstitutional manner.

Here's one quote from it:

"Some of today's immigrants to the United States and Canada are poor people pushed from their homes by economic desperation, but most are young, well educated people lured to economically growing countries." A problem. Is the claim that young, well-educated seeking economically growing countries cannot be poor? Seems we have many that fit that description right here.

I don't think this is true. With the millions and millions of uneducated people a year we're receiving from Latin America, I don't see how it can be.

Also, here's a paragraph that attempts to briefly describe the motives of the 9/11 terrorists, linking it to opposition of globalization:

"A much more extreme opposition to globalization led to the attack by al-Qaeda terrorists against the United States on September 11, 2001, with support of the Taliban then in control of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda selected targets- the World Trade Center and the Pentagon-they considered especially visible symbols of US domination of globalization trends in culture, politics, and economy. Afghanistan's Taliban leaders justified such actions as banning television and restricting women's activities as consistent with local traditions, and such punishments as public floggings and severing of limbs as a necessary counterbalance to strong forces of globalization."

Okay, there's nothing factually wrong here, I just think it left out a very important detail. It didn't mention the Taliban's and al-Qaedas religious beliefs, which are a very important detail to include because they pretty much control they're behavior. They don't restrict women's activities to stay consistent with "local traditions", as my textbook claims, they do it because of they're radical beliefs! (Well there's lots wrong here. Women in general, Muslim or not, had nothing to do with 9/11. The reason perchance that Islam wasn't mentioned where you thought it should be, was because it was obvious. All of the conspirators were Muslims, never a question on that.

I get that you are in AP classes, but my 7th graders on 9/11 in real time, recognized both bin Laden and the Taliban, before the second plane hit the WTC tower.

Here's what I thought was a big signal of bias. It's relating to illegal immigration:

"Hostile citizens in California and other states have voted to deny undocumented immigrants access to most public services, such as schools, day-care centers, and health clinics. The laws have been difficult to enforce and of dubious constitutionality, but their enactment reflects on the unwillingness of many Americans to help out needy immigrants."

I think the bias here is pretty obvious. It calls the citizens who vote not to allow illegals the right to use public services "hostile", for one. It also puts a very negative light on people with those views by essentially calling them unwilling to help out all immigrants, not just illegal ones.

So, after reading through these, do you agree with me that my textbook is biased? These are just some of the examples of bias, by the way, and there are many others. I'm going to look for the textbook for more as I know they're in there and I might post again on this same subject.

On this you are correct. The bias is obvious and kudos to you for recognizing.

They probably recognized Bin Laden because his name and face had been getting mentioned and shown all over the news frequently leading up to 9/11.

 

[Paulie]

Perhaps the reason that FDR is often touted as a great President has to do not with what he did but what he likely prevented.


I believe that FDR saved this nation from going down the extreme political avenues like that Russia went down(Marxist communism) and Germany went, down (modern Fascist socialism).

How did he do that?

By giving the American people HOPE that capitalism could be saved with some minor modifications (banking and stock market laws, mostly) and that once saved, the workers would once again be (small) benefactors of it.


FRD was considered a GREAT president by the people who lived THOUGH the depression and who saw how his "Aphabet Soup" of relief organizations and new policies gave them and their families help to survive until better times.



Had FDR not done many of policies that so many here complain about as creeping socialist, I suspect that this nation might actually have gone much further down the road of authentic socialism (be it the Marxist variety socialism or the FASCIST variety socialism) than it did.

Really...

I suppose Hoover was just misunderstood then huh?

 

[Cecilie1200]

Okay so I've been thinking for a while now that my AP Human Geography textbook is biased or factually incorrect, but I wanted to see if other people agreed. Let me tell you why I think so. By the way, I'm a freshman in a public high school, so if they're distributing politically biased textbooks, they are acting in an unconstitutional manner.

Here's one quote from it:

"Some of today's immigrants to the United States and Canada are poor people pushed from their homes by economic desperation, but most are young, well educated people lured to economically growing countries."

I don't think this is true. With the millions and millions of uneducated people a year we're receiving from Latin America, I don't see how it can be.

Also, here's a paragraph that attempts to briefly describe the motives of the 9/11 terrorists, linking it to opposition of globalization:

"A much more extreme opposition to globalization led to the attack by al-Qaeda terrorists against the United States on September 11, 2001, with support of the Taliban then in control of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda selected targets- the World Trade Center and the Pentagon-they considered especially visible symbols of US domination of globalization trends in culture, politics, and economy. Afghanistan's Taliban leaders justified such actions as banning television and restricting women's activities as consistent with local traditions, and such punishments as public floggings and severing of limbs as a necessary counterbalance to strong forces of globalization."

Okay, there's nothing factually wrong here, I just think it left out a very important detail. It didn't mention the Taliban's and al-Qaedas religious beliefs, which are a very important detail to include because they pretty much control they're behavior. They don't restrict women's activities to stay consistent with "local traditions", as my textbook claims, they do it because of they're radical beliefs!

Here's what I thought was a big signal of bias. It's relating to illegal immigration:

"Hostile citizens in California and other states have voted to deny undocumented immigrants access to most public services, such as schools, day-care centers, and health clinics. The laws have been difficult to enforce and of dubious constitutionality, but their enactment reflects on the unwillingness of many Americans to help out needy immigrants."

I think the bias here is pretty obvious. It calls the citizens who vote not to allow illegals the right to use public services "hostile", for one. It also puts a very negative light on people with those views by essentially calling them unwilling to help out all immigrants, not just illegal ones.

So, after reading through these, do you agree with me that my textbook is biased? These are just some of the examples of bias, by the way, and there are many others. I'm going to look for the textbook for more as I know they're in there and I might post again on this same subject.

You're correct. Your textbooks are biased. This isn't news, unfortunately. My textbooks were biased back in the 80s; my daughter's textbooks were biased when she went to high school. Look at it as motivation to get out, research, and learn far beyond what's contained in one lousy textbook. Not only will you be better informed about the world around you - and better informed than 99% of the people around you - but it will be good training for later in life, when the disinformation is even more blatant.

I'm a little curious as to why you think this is Unconstitutional. Unethical, I grant you. Counter-productive to the long-term interests of the nation, sure. Unconstitutional? I'd like to hear your thought process on that.