For example, there is a long list of complaints about textbooks used in Santa Rosa, CA. from the same organization. Here's one examination of the accuracy of their materials, and here's more:

. . . the TCI material turns Middle East history on its head. It does not present the history of Arab terrorism against Israel much less outline its extent over the last 55 years. The theme is constantly implied, stated and reiterated that Israel is a foreign entity that stole the Palestinians' "country." There is no mention that more than half of Israel�s population is indigenous to the area or victims of Arab pogroms. In fact, any Arab violence discussed at all is couched as being done in self-defense against Jewish persecution or "terrorism" against Arabs in the region. The same distortions are taught in Saudi and Palestinian schools where they help raise the next generation of Islamic terrorists and suicide bombers or their sympathizers. This is the same type of educational system in the Arab world that roils and intensifies the Middle East conflict. It works over there, so why not here?

. . . In 1993, Palestinian propaganda ministries tried to portray Palestinians as descendents of the Philistines, a Minoan culture, in order to suggest they predated Jewish presence in Israel. In the Arab world, Ph.D.'s even claim that Israel had no Jewish population before the modern Zionist movement began in the late 19th century. They simply ignore a Jewish presence of 3,200 years and considerable available archaeological evidence from the Biblical period, as well as the Bible itself. This tale has since been abandoned for the new lie that the Palestinians are the Canaanites. Nevertheless, TCI materials still allude to the canard of Palestinians being the ancient Philistines. As this article went to press, although TCI had earlier insisted its material was academically sound for 9th to 12th graders, the textbook publisher announced plans to revise its course material to include documentation provided by local Jewish organizations and scholars. TCI estimated it will take two years to implement. But what those revisions will actually look like remains to be seen. TCI has also chosen not to eliminate some of the scholars responsible for the current material. Meanwhile, some California school districts like Santa Rosa are still using the materials at the individual teacher's discretion, despite news reports that falsely claim the contrary.

In a telephone interview, TCI President and CEO Bert Bower was asked which consulting professor inserted the tale of Palestinians being the ancient Philistines and what the other "scholars" had to say about this. Despite numerous calls giving him the chance to reply, he still has not answered. . . . An overview of the list of professors used by TCI to put together its texts and interactive materials tells us probably why Mr.Bower has not replied. The list is headed by Joel Beinin of Stanford . . . a former head of MESA, the trade group for Middle East studies professors, [who] also helped choose all the other panelists for TCI�s books and materials.

Ah, our old friend MESA. Having consolidated its power in the university, it now attempts to infiltrate the next level down, funded by Saudi Arabia. Yes, some of these curriculum initiatives for children and teens are also funded by the Saudis.

RELATED: Speaking of MESA: more on the controversy about Middle East studies at Columbia University here, and follow the links back to previous posts.