Christian Nationalism and Public Education: The Cost of Disinformation

Send us Fan MailThe episode begins with a role play of a teacher presenting a history lesson right out of the Christian nationalist playbook. Mrs. Johnson's students try to help her with questions but she doesn't take the help. Her disinformation campaign continues until slavery comes up and then the lesson abruptly ends. Could this happen? A better question is, what do we do now that it is happening in some schools around the nation?If you have read the book The Christian Past That Wasn't or been following along with the podcast this season, you should be able to recognize the historical errors in Mrs. Johnson's presentation to her class. In this segment, I present another excerpt from the Texas State Board of Education which illustrates how Christian nationalist disinformation permeates opposition to public education. In this scenario a parent brings in David Barton's discredited book, The Jefferson Lies, as an authority and refuses to address a challenge to it. The parent appears not to know the book was pulled from publication due to historical errors. There is a long history of conflict in public schools over religious differences. However, if religion is kept out of public education, this conflict could be avoided. A robust doctrine of separation of church and state is beneficial for public schools and should be enforced. Written, produced, and hosted by Warren ThrockmortonClassroom simulation acted out by Debbie Throckmorton and the grandchildrenMusic by Jonathan Swaim, Jonas Fair, and Dustin BlatnikFor more information about Getting Jefferson Right go to https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Jefferson-Right-Fact-Checking-Claims/dp/B0DT9H7MTCFor more information about The Christian Past That Wasn't go to www.christianpast.com