Virginia Governor Orders Full Review Of Textbook Adoption Process

The Washington Post (10/27, Helderman, Sieff) reports, "Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said Tuesday that he has ordered a full review of the state's textbook adoption process in the wake of a Washington Post report that a three-teacher state panel approved a fourth-grade history book that claims thousands of African Americans fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Professional historians have disputed the claim, which the author of 'Our Virginia: Past and Present' said she found using Internet resources written largely by the Sons of Confederate Veterans." The Post notes that the "Virginia Department of Education said last week that it would begin a comprehensive review of the textbook adoption process, focusing on committees that are charged with reviewing materials that deal with 'sensitive periods in American history,' said Charles Pyle, a department spokesman."