Comments on: An Open Source Center Look at Iranian Schoolbooks http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/05/an_open_source.html Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Camelia http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/05/an_open_source.html/comment-page-1#comment-1484 Camelia Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:28:11 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=1779#comment-1484 Having lived in Iran, I can tell you that everyone knows school books are biased and looks at the whole education system as an apparatus of the regime. No is neither surprise nor up in arms about it because they know that school is not the place for the development of personal beliefs. Most development of personal thought, whether religious or not, is cultivated in the home, among family and friends. This type of analysis is sorely inaccurate in term of representing the complete education of an Iranian student. Now day most household have access the internet, satellite TV, and bootleg books and movies. I think this type of study underestimates the student's ability to discern propaganda when they hear it. Having lived in Iran, I can tell you that everyone knows school books are biased and looks at the whole education system as an apparatus of the regime. No is neither surprise nor up in arms about it because they know that school is not the place for the development of personal beliefs. Most development of personal thought, whether religious or not, is cultivated in the home, among family and friends. This type of analysis is sorely inaccurate in term of representing the complete education of an Iranian student. Now day most household have access the internet, satellite TV, and bootleg books and movies. I think this type of study underestimates the student’s ability to discern propaganda when they hear it.

]]> By: Mike http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/05/an_open_source.html/comment-page-1#comment-1457 Mike Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:00:06 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=1779#comment-1457 @Chris - Sure there's bias in textbooks here, but there's also heated debate over the matter. Unlike in Iran, it would be pretty difficult to slip the following into a fifth grade textbook and get away with it: "There must be consultation in affairs. However, this is not always true. If there is a command of God in the Quran, or something is mentioned through the prophet or imams or the leader of the Islamic society, all of the people must obey without questioning." Read through the study. No matter how simplistic it is, there are still some interesting bits of information in it. @Chris – Sure there’s bias in textbooks here, but there’s also heated debate over the matter. Unlike in Iran, it would be pretty difficult to slip the following into a fifth grade textbook and get away with it:

“There must be consultation in affairs. However,
this is not always true. If there is a command of God in the Quran, or something is
mentioned through the prophet or imams or the leader of the Islamic society, all
of the people must obey without questioning.”

Read through the study. No matter how simplistic it is, there are still some interesting bits of information in it.

]]> By: Chris http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/05/an_open_source.html/comment-page-1#comment-1447 Chris Thu, 29 May 2008 21:36:59 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=1779#comment-1447 Amazing. As if there is no bias in the textbooks here, which don't allow for discussion around the theory of evolution vs intelligent design. Amazing. As if there is no bias in the textbooks here, which don’t allow for discussion around the theory of evolution vs intelligent design.

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