Watch The Revisionaries

The Revisionaries is a 2012 documentary film that explores the controversial subject of public school textbook revisions. The film follows the efforts of right-wing conservatives in Texas to revise the state's educational curriculum to reflect their religious and political beliefs. At the center of the film is Don McLeroy, a former chairman of the Texas State Board of Education, who is fiercely committed to the belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. McLeroy sees the public school system as a battleground for the culture wars and pushes for revisions to textbooks that promote conservative values, such as the idea that the world was created in six days and that the Founding Fathers were devout Christians.

Meanwhile, Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, an advocacy group that opposes the textbook revisions, fights to maintain the integrity of the curriculum and ensure that students receive an accurate and comprehensive education. Miller sees the revisions as an attempt to indoctrinate students with far-right ideology and to erase important historical facts.

The film also introduces us to Jonathan Saenz, a lawyer and lobbyist for the conservative group Texas Values, who supports McLeroy's efforts to revise the curriculum. Saenz argues that the revisions reflect the values of the majority of Texans and that the curriculum should reflect those values.

Throughout the film, we see the intense debates that take place during board meetings as members grapple with issues such as teaching evolution, slavery, and the Holocaust. The film also includes interviews with experts in education, history, and religion, who weigh in on the implications of the textbook revisions.

One of the most striking moments in the film comes when a new member of the board, Thomas Ratliff, challenges McLeroy's views and calls for a more balanced approach to textbook revisions. Ratliff represents a growing movement of Texans who believe that the curriculum should reflect diverse perspectives and that religious beliefs should not be forced upon students.

The Revisionaries is a thought-provoking and sometimes unsettling film that raises important questions about the role of public schools in shaping the worldview of students. It highlights the deep divide that exists in American society over issues of religion, politics, and education, and suggests that these debates will continue for years to come.

The Revisionaries is a 2012 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 70.