The Dallas Morning News is running an op-ed from Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller about last week’s debacle at the State Board of Education and why Texas must change the way it decides what our children learn in their public schools. Money quote:
Throughout the state board’s needlessly drawn-out and divisive debates over standards for language arts, science and now social studies, parents have grown tired of seeing their children’s education turned into a political battleground. Texans don’t want decisions about what their children learn based on the political biases of anyone, liberals or conservatives. They just want their children to get an education based on facts and sound scholarship – an education that prepares them to succeed in college and a 21st-century economy.
But that’s not what’s happening in Texas.
As a former teacher of history in public schools (and grandfather of a student in a Texas public school) I am appalled by the wildly reckless and inappropriate conduct of the SBOE and thankful for the efforts of the Texas Freedom Network. The SBOE is seriously damaged the education of Texas youth (and, inadvertently or otherwise, students in other states whose schools might use social studies textbooks influenced by the Texas SBOE) and making Texas the butt of joles. Hopefully, textbook publishers will ignore the antics of the SBOE or the courts might step in to halt the SBOE’s brazen effort to brainwash a whole generation of kids. — Edd Doerr, President, Americans for Religious Liberty
Although I teach college biology in Louisiana (OK, I know what your thinking!) I value greatly the Texas education I received growing up there in the 50’s and 60’s. It has pained me so see what has happen in the State of my youth. Kudos to the TFN and continue to fight the good fight. Us relocated Texans support your efforts.