Kathleen Vasquez, Who Cherry-Picks the History in Public School Textbooks?

A recent New York Times article put nearly identical textbooks from California and Texas side by side. It revealed some startling differences, with each state choosing to interpret certain parts of US history (slavery, the Second Amendment) pretty differently.

Seattle's Morning News had some questions about how textbooks are selected for the public schools here in Washington state. So Dave Ross sat down with Kathleen Vasquez, the Literacy and Social Studies program manager at Seattle Public Schools. 

Turns out, choosing a textbook is a pretty involved process, heavily dependent on community input. What goes into raising an all-American, patriotic young citizen? Especially when you might be tempted cherry-pick history, to make America sound 'great' again?

Broadcast legend Dave Ross, winner of multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in journalism, talks to the people and policy makers affecting your world. Now, you can listen to the full conversation - raw and uncut. Hear Dave Ross on Seattle’s Morning News weekdays at 6am on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM.