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The choosy people

From changes to sixth- and seventh-grade social-science textbooks used in California, proposed by religious organizations and scholars. Last fall the California Curriculum Commission reviewed a total of 684 suggested changes and tentatively approved 499.

“Why do you think some cultures that have people with different religious beliefs are able to survive peacefully, whereas others experience violence?” Poor question choice. Delete question.

It is unacceptable that the photo shows the Western Wall at a time when only two Jews are at prayer, rather than when crowds of Jews are at prayer.

The introductory photograph shows men in underwear and women bathing on the bank of the Gonga River. A photograph showing Hindus gathered in a beautiful temple would have been a more appropriate selection.

Delete picture of Aladdin on magic carpet.

“Men had many more rights than women.” Replace with, “Men had different duties from as well as more rights than women.”

Omit the sentence: “If you had earned bad karma, you might come back as a chicken, a fish, or a pig.”

Delete: “An indulgence was a pardon for sin.” Insert: “An indulgence is the relaxation of earthly penalty for sin. However, sometimes indulgences were sold as if they were a pardon for sin.”

“Jewish leaders treated early Christians cruelly.” Revise sentence to read, “According to the Christian tradition,” etc.

“The Hurva Arch stands at the site of a synagogue that was destroyed in 1948.” Add “by Arab armies.”

“Jesus Christ, Jewish prophet thought to be the Messiah . . . ” Delete “Christ,” replace “prophet” with “teacher.”

Delete: “He set them free after the tenth plague. In this plague, God had killed all Egyptian firstborn sons.” Change to: “Moses led the people from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.”

Delete: “Unfortunately, Egyptian records from the time don’t mention the Exodus of the Israelite slaves. And archaeology hasn’t uncovered any evidence of their years in Egypt, nor of their dramatic departure.”

Delete writing exercise asking students to compare and contrast Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

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SEE ALSO: Editing; Social sciences; Textbooks

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