Abbott joins debate over use of 'heroic' in schools to describe Alamo defenders

PHOTOS: Little-known Texas history

Gov. Greg Abbott says defenders of the Alamo were "heroic," and that it shouldn't be removed from state school history curriculum.

>>>Here are Texas history facts they don't teach in school... less Gov. Greg Abbott says defenders of the Alamo were "heroic," and that it shouldn't be removed from state school history curriculum. PHOTOS: Little-known Texas history

Gov. Greg Abbott says defenders of the Alamo were "heroic," and that it shouldn't be removed from state school history curriculum.

>>>Here are Texas history facts ... more Gov. Greg Abbott says defenders of the Alamo were "heroic," and that it shouldn't be removed from state school history curriculum. Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Photographer / Houston Chronicle Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Photographer / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Abbott joins debate over use of 'heroic' in schools to describe Alamo defenders 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing back against a suggestion to remove from Texas school books the word "heroic" to describe defenders of the Alamo.

In August, a Texas Education Agency advisory group released recommendations for the state's social studies curriculum, which includes Texas history.

One of the suggestions was the removal of the phrase "all the heroic defenders who gave their lives" in the battle at the Alamo.

"Stop political correctness in our schools," Abbott tweeted. "Of course Texas schoolchildren should be taught that Alamo defenders were 'Heroic'!"

"I fully expect the State Board of Education to agree," he wrote. "Contact your SBOE [State Board of Education] Member to complain." ⁦

Stop political correctness in our schools. Of course Texas schoolchildren should be taught that Alamo defenders were ‘Heroic’! I fully expect the State Board of Education to agree. Contact your SBOE Member to complain. ⁦@TXSBOE⁩ #txlege #tcot https://t.co/Ph9oBoBzKF — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 6, 2018

According to Texas Monthly, authors of the suggested changes said "heroic" is a "value-charged word." The advisory group behind the suggestions comprises educators and historians.

Photo: TEA TEA

Land Commissioner George P. Bush followed suit and called the recommendations "politically correct nonsense."

The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet next week at a public hearing to discuss the proposed changes. Education officials will not vote on the recommendations until November.

You can read other recommendations to the Texas social studies curriculum here.

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93



