New Social Studies Curriculum Debated

Santa may be saved, but the man who landed on the moon, may be history.

Members of the state school board on Thursday started reviewing standards for new textbooks. The latest draft eliminates the mention of Christmas and the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The two are replaced with a Buddhist and Hindu celebration call Diwali.

Gail Lowe, Chairperson of the state school board, says a rewrite is likely.

"I would expect that we will go back to the first way that was presented and probably include several of the traditional Judeo-Christian holidays thats the heritage of our country predominantly to I think sentiment will be strong to continue what we've done for the last 10 years, with those holidays," said Lowe.

There was also concern that the names of Civil Rights icon Cesar Chavez and thurgood Marshall would be eliminated. But in the latest draft both remain. However, other big names in history have been cut.

They include;
Revolutionary war hero Nathan Hale, Generals George Patton and John Pershing, Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, and Carl Sagan.