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California Textbook Controversy

Final Edits Underway in Contested Textbooks

March 24, 2006

Source: The Argus

http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_3634817

On March 24, 2006 The Argus reported, "Members of the California Board of Education began meetings with publishers Thursday for final editing sessions of sixth-grade history textbooks. The Sacramento meeting comes despite lawsuits filed against the state by two Hindu groups, who challenge the way Hinduism is presented in the books and who say they take issue with the way the state went about...

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After Letter, Prof Gets Hate E-mail

March 14, 2006

Author: LULU ZHOU

Source: The Harvard Crimson

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512081

Harvard’s only tenured Sanskrit professor, Michael E. J. Witzel, received e-mails labelling him a “bastard” and calling for his death after he entered a debate over the portrayal of Hinduism in California textbooks earlier this year.

In November, Witzel, the Wales professor of Sanskrit, was notified about edits submitted by the...

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California Parents’ Organization Files Lawsuit in Textbook Controversy Case

March 14, 2006

Source: CAPEEM Press Release

http://www.capeem.org/capeem1_files/page0003.htm

On March 14, 2006 a California Parents for the Equalization of Educational Materials Press Release reported, "[CAPEEM] has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of California against the California State Board of Education and the California Department of Education. The complaint is about Hindus and children's civil rights, derogatory portrayal of Hinduism...

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Final Decisions on California Textbooks Included Additional Changes

March 9, 2006

Source: Hinduism Today

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2006/3/9.shtml#2

On March 9, 2006 Hinduism Today reported, "The California State Board of Education approved a few additional changes to the proposed textbooks for social studies at the conclusion of its meeting today. They took public testimony on a proposed slate of change, or 'edits,' which was the result of a committee meeting of February 27... An excellent presentation by Janeshwari Devi of the Vedic Foundation...

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Hindu American Foundation Plans to File Suit Against California Board of Education Over Textbook Process

March 9, 2006

Source: Hindu American Foundation

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/media_press_release_california_litigation.htm

On March 9, 2006 a Hindu American Foundation Press Release reported, "The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), through its law firm, has been in continual correspondence with the California State Board of Education (SBE) and California Department of Education (CDE) for the past several months demanding a fair and open...

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A Compromise in the California Textbook Controversy

March 3, 2006

Source: Pacific News/India-West

http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=6d7fd82d03a4981040f985cc4f279604

On March 3, 2006 India-West reported, "Following an impassioned, emotionally charged meeting here Feb. 27 at the California Department of Education, where hundreds of Indian Americans presented their views in front of a Board of Education subcommittee, the five-member panel unanimously voted to...

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Textbook Edits Go to State Board, Some Hindus Displeased

March 1, 2006

Source: Inside Bay Area

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_3557722?source=rss

On March 1, 2006 Inside Bay Area reported, "A special committee Monday unanimously recommended the approval of a slew of proposed edits and corrections for sixth-grade history and social science textbooks, paving the way for a final battle over the interpretation of the ancient history of India at a State Board of Education meeting March 8. More than 160 people, mostly Indo-Americans from all over...

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Friends of South Asia View Textbook Edits Accepted as "Victory"

February 28, 2006

Source: FOSA Press Release

http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/FOSACACPressRelease_022806.html

On February 28, 2006 a Friends of South Asia Press Release reported, "The intense struggle over the content of Indian history in California textbooks ended yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m. with the special committee of the California State Board of Education [SBE] voting unanimously to overturn a majority of contentious changes proposed by Hindu...

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California Textbook Debate Seen As First Major Test of Hindu Political Clout in the US

February 27, 2006

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hindu27feb27,0,5072695.story?coll=la-story-footer

On February 27, 2006 the Los Angeles Times reported, "When Abhijit Kurup began learning about Hinduism at his Claremont middle school, he could barely recognize his own religion. Textbooks portrayed the 6,000-year-old tradition as a religion of monkey and elephant gods, rigid caste discrimination and oppression of...

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Hindu American Foundation Demands Fairness and Transparency in California Textbook Adoption Process

February 14, 2006

Source: Hindu American Foundation

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/media_press_release_california_fairness.htm

On February 14, 2006 a Hindu American Foundation Press Release reported, "The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), through its law firm, issued a letter to the California State Board of Education (SBE) last Thursday, February 9, 2006, demanding a fair and open process in the ongoing textbook adoption process. HAF became involved...

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