An Interview with Karl Priest: Textbook Tea Party

The 1974 Textbook Tea Party

3.19.10 - Michael F. Shaughnessy - The book is a first-time, as far as I know, protester account of an event that occurred that has been referred to (even by critics) as having launched the movement that brought conservatives into political power in the 1980’s.

An Interview with Karl Priest: Textbook Tea Party

Michael F. Shaughnessy

Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, New Mexico

Karl Priest has just written a book of great interest which should be released in early April.   The book’s webpage  is http://insectman.us/testimony/protester-voices.htm  .

In this interview, Karl responds to questions about this pending book.

1) Karl, you have a book that is about to be released. What is the book all about?

The book is a first-time, as far as I know, protester account of an event that occurred that has been referred to (even by critics) as having launched the movement that brought conservatives into political power in the 1980’s.

For thirty-five years there have been many articles, books, research papers, and both audio and video documentaries about the Kanawha County (WV) Textbook War. Those reports have been overwhelmingly negative toward the protesters.

In this book, from my perspective as a teacher protester and from the perspectives of several others who were protesters—the “rest of the story” will now be available.  Anyone who is interested in studying this historical event, with an objective mind, will have evidence that differs from what is widely available.  It only takes one statement of truth to rebut dozens of falsehoods.

2) Why the title? What does your book have to do with the Boston Tea Party?

The 1773 colonists were upset over unfair taxes and the British Parliament which did not represent the people.  They tossed some tea off of some ships.  The 1974 protesters were upset over unfit books and the Kanawha County Board of Education which did not represent them.  They tried to take some books out of some schools.

3) Now what exactly happened in 1974 (I was still in grad school at the time)?

In the spring of 1974 five teachers made the final decision for the selection of English-Language Arts textbooks for West Virginia’s largest county school system of about 45,000 students.  In past years the board of education always rubber-stamped the teacher recommendation.  Board members never read the books.  This time, the only female member on the board (Alice Moore) objected to something one of the teachers said about “non-standard” English.  Mrs. Moore decided to look at the books carefully.  She found more than just a grammar issue.  There was some seriously objectionable, even obscene, material in the books.  Within a few weeks thousands of parents were petitioning the board to not use the textbooks.

At a summer meeting, the board unanimously deleted eight of the worse books, but remained adamant (4-1) that the other books would stay.  Parents naively believed that the board worked for them (the parents) and took the board to task by organizing a boycott when school began in the fall.  The majority of the board continued to thumb their noses at the huge majority of citizens and things quickly escalated into a wildcat coal miner strike in support of the protesters.

There was violence (some committed by both sides) as tempers flared over the protest which lasted for the entire school year.

4) What is good and bad about textbook adoption decisions?

The good is that the adoption process is now done much more publicly with a lot of in-put and open debate.  The bad is that there is so much money involved and so many groups wanting to pursue a particular agenda, that the process can be corrupted.

5) There are some theorists who violently oppose textbooks and some that realistically indicate that some teachers can't teach without one. Where do you stand?

As a former math teacher, I always felt that textbooks had little value.  With modern technology, textbooks may soon become a thing of the past.  However, as recently prominently displayed in Texas, agendas of the left and right will always ignite strong emotions about the content of textbooks.  Even if textbooks become available only in electronic format, the content will always be debated.

6) Karl, let's be blunt. I think you and I have both seen textbooks that have been, let's say slanted, perhaps biased, perhaps leaning one way or the next. What can the typical parent do, what can the typical teacher do?

I am an advocate of educational freedom.  Parents do not let the state plan the menus for their children’s meals, and parents should not follow the state’s menu for what their children should learn.   Teachers, unless they are in positions of power (usually due to liberal controlled teacher unions), do not have significant input on textbook content.  With educational freedom, a teacher could work for a school that met the teacher’s preference for things that are of value to that teacher.

7) Now, let me be blunt....I have not written any high school text books, but I have penned a few that college or grad students could use. What should I be saying in the forward to be HONEST??

What subject matter do you write?  Really, a foreword to a textbook is not likely to be of much use to anyone unless you are brutally honest and disclose your prejudices up front.

8) Authors surely have a vested interest in their texts, but they should not be slanting any history one way or the other. How big a problem do you see in this realm?

The history of America can be presented truthfully (warts and all) without subtly (or blatantly) undermining the sense of pride and patriotism that are crucial to our country’s survival as a” shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere."  (Ronald Reagan)

9) The current tea parties and the Ray Stevens song "We the People" seem to be indicating a good deal of distrust in Washington. I personally have some distrust of certain textbooks, and even the titles and slants.  But there does not seem to be much I can do, other than be “educationally incorrect ". Or are there alternatives?

If you have children, you should remove them from public school.  Homeschooling is ideal.  A good private school is the second best option.  Christian parents are biblically mandated to give their children a Christian education.  A Christian education encompasses all academic areas—not just a Bible lesson a couple of times a week.

10) What have I neglected to ask?

What application does the 1974 Textbook War have for today? 

Currently, there is a rumbling across America about liberal dogmas being forced upon citizens by a government that is unresponsive to the pulse of people.  This talk is being clearly heard in Tea Party gatherings across the land.  The 1773 patriot colonists, the 1974 protesting citizens, and the 2010 Tea Party conservatives all have a common bond.  That bond is to maintain traditional values and make the government work for (not against) the majority of Americans.

Like the protest of 1974, the recent and upcoming protests are being perpetuated by hard working, honest, God fearing, loyal men and women.  The 2010 Tea Partiers can learn from and be inspired by the 1974 Tea Party.  In 1974, it was about a county.  Now it is about our country.  Both groups stand upon the foundation laid in 1773.