State Board of Education Continues to Stir Controversy

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/DN-edboard_18tex.ART.State.Edition1.4bcc6be.html

An interesting read from the Dallas Morning News exemplifies the continuous politicization of curriculum standards for Texas students. After past embarrassments during the deliberations of Science and Health curriculum standards including evolution and sex education, the State Board of Education (SBOE) continues to draw criticism. The 15 member board, which is overwhelmingly comprised of Republican social conservatives, is revising the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum standards to be incorporated in new Social Studies Textbooks. Many agree that some of the committee “experts” appointed to make recommendations to the full board for passage are unqualified. Some of the more controversial members of the advisory committee include: David Barton, former vice chair of the Texas Republican Party and head of the Christian-right organization WallBuilders and Peter Marshall, a far-right evangelical minister from Massachusetts. These members are thought to be pushing their political agenda against the teaching of multiculturalism by advocating the removal of civil rights leader Cesar Chavez and Brown vs. Board of Education Attorney and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall from current Social Studies Curriculum. Both members of the committee are also known opponents of the separation of church and state, believing that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation and on biblical principles. Peter Marshall has stated “Chavez is hardly the kind of role model that ought to be held up to our children as someone worthy of emulation.” The decisions made by the SBOE have significant impact not only for Texas students, but also the students of several other states which purchase these textbooks. Publishers often use Texas standards in writing textbooks because of Texas’ mass market. I strongly encourage any parents of Texas students to become more actively involved by offering public testimony at these SBOE meetings to bring more balance to deliberations and to reduce the influence of political agenda toward our childrens' education.