By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-862100.mp3
Dallas, TX –
State Board of Education member Geraldine "Tincy" Miller has apologized for comments she made last week on KERA. At the time, she wanted to restore the mention of Christmas in Texas Social Studies books. Some listeners said she was disrespectful of the Hindu Holiday of Lights called Diwali, which Miller said had little substance. KERA's Bill Zeeble explains.
Miller and the 14 other state board of education members in Austin last week discussed the state's Social Studies curriculum for the next 10 years. Miller had several concerns, including the deletion of Christmas from 6th grade books. Education experts suggested including just one holiday for each of the world's top 5 faiths in a world cultures chapter. But that could mean cutting Christmas in favor of Easter, and Rosh Hashanah in favor of Yom Kippur which Miller opposed.
Geraldine Miller: Why would you take Christmas and Rosh Hashanah out of this particular one, and replace it with a Hindu festival, that's not well known at all, or with very little, if you will, substance to it?
The Hindu festival in questin is Diwali. Doctor Neeraj Sharma heard Miller on KERA.
Doctor Nareej Sharma: I think those words are offensive to the the 837 million Hindus in this world, the 1.5 mill Hindus in this country, and roughly 50-55,000 that live in north Texas. I really am troubled by the thought process of someone that feels, well "these other people who have come to this country don't really amount to much."
Sharma was especially concerned that Miller is an elected education official and thought she should be more open to other cultures. He hoped for an apology. And Miller has offered one. In a statement, she says her intent was not to undermine Diwali, but to ensure listeners, quote, that the removal of Christmas and Rosh Hashanah was an oversight on the part of the writing experts, and will be fixed.
Miller says the 6th grade curriculum needs to include a wide variety of world celebrations. The State Board of Education will vote in May on this issue and the entire Social Studies curriculum.
Complete Text of Miller's Apology: "I apologize for the way my comment about the Diwali celebration came off in my interview. I assure you my intent was not to undermine Diwali, but to ensure listeners that the removal of Christmas and Rosh Hashanah was an oversight of the part of the writing experts, and it will be fixed. I think we need to include a wide variety of world celebrations in the 6th Grade curriculum, and the State Board of Education is doing its part to make sure that happens."