And so it begins.
It was only a matter of time before concerned citizens in other states began launching efforts to stop their public schools from buying textbooks written by publishers to meet the increasingly politicized curriculum standards adopted by the State Board of Education in Texas.
Jim Broadway, publisher of the State School News Service in Illinois, puts it this way:
“If Texas influences textbook publishers so profoundly, how can we prevent such reactionary teachings from polluting the classrooms of Illinois?”
Ouch.
This and other reactions to the Texas board’s demolition of proposed social studies curriculum standards last week should send a clear message to Texas lawmakers: our state is in danger of getting a reputation as an educational backwater in which ideological agendas undermine the ability of public schools to prepare our children to succeed in a 21st century world.
How long will it be before business and industry start to see Texas as a poor place to set up shop and find educated, capable employees? How long will it be before admissions boards at colleges and universities start downgrading their opinions about the academic qualifications of Texas high school graduates?
If they really care about the education of the next generation of Texas public school students, it’s time for the Legislature to act. You can join efforts to reform the State Board of Education by signing on to our new Just Educate campaign here.
