Download This message is in regard to an amendment by Representative

This message is in regard to an amendment by Representative Branch to HB5 that calls for the creation
of a new one year course that would combine world history and world geography. I think that I speak
for the majority of world history and world geography teachers that if HB5 is going to reduce the social
studies to three courses rather than four, we would, at this point, prefer an either/or situation over a
combined world history and world geography course.
In this world of UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, I would ask that you consider some that quickly come to
mind in regard to Representative Branch’s amendment.
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DISTRICTS WILL BE BURDENED with having to create a new course. Curriculum is in place for
two different courses. The combination course would require districts to replace the curriculums
that have been developed and refined through years of hard work.
At the state level, it would be an arduous process to combine the two courses and CREATE NEW
TEKS
Based on university teacher education programs, NO ONE IS TRAINED to teach the combined
course. A world geography teacher is not necessarily trained to teach world history and vice
versa.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT EXIST and there would be little interest in developing
this for the pre-service teachers or the veteran because it is such an unorthodox approach.
Basically you are asking each course to CUT OUT 50% OF THEIR CONTENT which begs the
question of how meaningful is what remains. While the TEKS can be reduced it does not mean
the depth and breadth of world history or world geography should be minimized.
Texas would be the only state with a one-year combined world geography/world history course.
We no longer have an edge on textbooks since SB6 so the chances of having any company
DEVELOPING RESOURCE MATERIALS for such a class is highly unlikely.
I am not sure where or why the Representative recommended this solution, but since I spent thirty
years in the classroom as a world history and a world geography teacher I feel imminently qualified to
recognize this attempt to combine the two course makes as much sense as combining French with
Spanish or Algebra I with Geometry I.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Pat Hardy
District 11
Texas State Board of Education