Schools

Capo School Board to Consider Controversial History Book

CUSD's textbook review panel was split over the book, which was chided for inaccuracies and a liberal slant.

A history textbook that has come under fire for alleged liberal bias is up for review Wednesday by the Capistrano Unified school board.

World Civilizations: The Global Experience is one of six textbooks under the microscope this week, but none of the others drew such heated reaction from CUSD's textbook review committee.

According to a school district report, the Instructional Materials Review Committee voted 7-6 to send the book on to the Board of Trustees.

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One committee member, Bill Evers – a former assistant secretary of education under President George W. Bush and Trustee Anna Bryson’s husband – led the charge against the book.

Evers could not be reached for comment. But his notes on the book, which were distributed to the committee, complained that several historical figures – such as John Stuart Mill, Khayr al-Din al-Tunisi and Friedrich August Hayek – were omitted and no conservatives included.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He also cited various inaccuracies, such as a passage claiming South Korea is under military rule, and a description of Russia's invasion of Poland he deemed “too favorable” to Stalin.

Dr. Stan Wasbin, a physician who attracted a lot of attention when he spoke out against the teaching of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender content in January, is now on the textbook committee. Although the history textbook vote was by secret ballot, Wasbin said he was one of six “nos.”

He said Evers greatly influenced his vote.

“Of all the U.S. presidents mentioned in the text, only one, Reagan, had an adjective preceding his name,” Wasbin told Patch. The adjective was “conservative.”

“No politically descriptive adjective precedes the mention of other U.S presidents covered in the text,” Wasbin said.

Another criticism of the book involved cost. 

The sixth edition would replace the fifth edition, which is already in use in CUSD’s AP World History classes at Dana Hills High and Capistrano Valley High School. Replacing the older version would cost $50,000, according to a staff report.

School board Trustee Jim Reardon, who also sits on the textbook review committee and opposed the book, said he wasn't sure the expense was necessary.

“If our inventory of the fifth edition is zero, then I guess I'll vote with the committee to adopt,” he told Patch. “But if we have enough fifth edition [books] to move forward, I'd go the other way.” Either way, however, he is not a fan of the book in any edition.

Reviews on Amazon.com also seem polarized: Eleven people gave it four or five stars while nine gave it one or two. 

One self-described student reviewer endorsed the author’s political slant, but still didn’t like the book.

“While I am generally a politically correct lefty-Looneytoon myself, this book is over the top in its political statements, and when studying for the AP test, one needs less opinion, and more fact,” the reviewer said.

Committee member Wasbin said it’s probably impossible for any history text to be free from bias.

"My feeling is that since we live in the great and good USA, our textbooks ought to contain a pro-American bias,” he said.

The Capo Board of Trustees meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at district headquarters, 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.


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