Two big problems got the most attention at last week’s State Board of Education discussion of proposed revisions to social studies curriculum standards for Texas public schools: the whitewashing of slavery’s role in causing the Civil War and exaggerations of the influence of religion on the American founding. Unfortunately, we saw warning signs that some state board members still aren’t ready to #TeachTheTruth. […]
Education
Texas has an increasingly diverse public education system with a public school enrollment of more than 5 million. Unfortunately, that public education system is also the target of right-wing extremists seeking to privatize our neighborhood public schools and push a culture-war agenda in the classroom.
To that end, Texas Freedom Network tirelessly fights for Texas public school students at the Capitol — opposing private school voucher legislation, sticking up for students’ freedoms, advocating for truthful, censorship-free lessons and textbooks, and more. We’ve also conducted groundbreaking research into what is taught in classrooms on subjects like sex education and religion.
Resources
- Teach the Truth: Texans United Against Censorship in Education
- Can This Class Be Saved? The ‘Hobby Lobby’ Public School Bible Curriculum (2014 report)
- Reading, Writing & Religion II (2013 report)
- Sex Education in Public Schools: Progress in the Lone Star State (2011 report)
- Just Say Don’t Know: Sex Education in Texas Public Schools (2009 report)
- The State Board of Education: Dragging Texas Schools into the Culture Wars (2008 report)
- Reading Writing & Religion: Teaching the Bible in Texas Public Schools (2006 report)
- Broken Promises II (2001 report)
- Broken Promises: Charter Schools in Texas (2000 report)
Public Hearing: Tell the Texas SBOE to #TeachTheTruth
The State Board of Education’s revision of its politically biased curriculum standards for social studies classes in Texas public schools is moving into a new and important phase. On Tuesday (June 12) the board will hold a public hearing on proposed revisions drafted over the past several months by teams of scholars and educators. Now the focus […]
The Ugly-American State Board of Education Member from Texas
On Wednesday the State Board of Education took the historic step of voting to create an elective course in Mexican American studies for Texas public schools. One board member’s divisive stunt leading up to the vote served as yet another reminder why that action was a good thing. […]
TFN President: SBOE Vote to Create State Elective Course in Mexican American Studies an Important Step Forward for Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2018 AUSTIN – The State Board of Education’s preliminary vote today to move forward on approving curriculum standards for a state elective course in Mexican American studies is an important step forward for Texas public school students, Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said. […]
Elections 2018: Here’s What Happened in the SBOE Primaries
Tuesday’s Texas primary elections featured seven State Board of Education races and, in short, there were no surprises. All of the incumbents moved on to the general election in November, most of them winning easily. Even the most compelling race, the Republican primary in District 11, ended with the incumbent easily defeating two far-right candidates. […]
