Advocates today denounced inflammatory attacks on teachers and called on the State Board of Education to ensure new curriculum standards allow public schools to teach the truth […]
Education
With a public school enrollment of more than 5 million, Texas has an increasingly diverse public education system. Unfortunately, that public education system is also the target of politicians seeking to privatize our neighborhood public schools and push a culture-war agenda in the classroom.
To that end, the Texas Freedom Network – while continuing to fight private school voucher legislation at the Capitol – has conducted groundbreaking research into what is being taught in classrooms on subjects like sex education and religion.
Resources
Broken Promises: Charter Schools in Texas (2000 report)
Broken Promises II (2001 report)
The State Board of Education: Dragging Texas Schools into the Culture Wars (2008 report)
Just Say Don’t Know: Sex Education in Texas Public Schools (2009 report)
Sex Education in Public Schools: Progress in the Lone Star State (2011 report)
Reading Writing & Religion: Teaching the Bible in Texas Public Schools (2006 report)
Reading, Writing & Religion II (2013 report)
Can This Class Be Saved? The ‘Hobby Lobby’ Public School Bible Curriculum (2014 report)
Books ‘R’ Us: Readers on the Impact of Books in Their Lives
Books are magic. They teach, inspire, comfort, guide, and entertain us. They can challenge our worldview, transport and connect us to realities that aren’t always our own. They build us up, and sometimes, they can reveal our truest selves without judgment. They’re reliable, safe spaces, and great listeners. They help us place ourselves in the big, unknowable world. […]
SCOTUS Decision in Kennedy v Bremerton Pokes Another Hole in the Curtain Between Church and State. Texans Should be Wary.
In siding with former high school football coach Joe Kennedy, who repeatedly led his players in prayers immediately after games, the court is inviting public school teachers to impose their religious beliefs on students. This decision further erodes church-state separation, the cornerstone of religious freedom and a core tenet of our democracy, which ensures we are all treated equally no matter our religion or belief. […]
It’s Time to Have “the Talk” this Sex Ed for All Month
Fellow Texans, it’s time for “the talk.” May is Sex Ed For All Month, and TFN is not new to giving Texans the lowdown on sex ed in our public schools. For years, we’ve used our #TeachTheTruth: Accurate Sex Ed campaign to advocate for comprehensive sexual health education that’s medically accurate, free of shame and judgment, and addresses the needs of all young people, regardless of their race, gender identity, or the zip code they live in. […]
The Book Banners Are Coming for Optimus Prime
Now, the book banners are coming for Optimus Prime. There are many reasons why the recent surge of books banned from school libraries should concern all of us. A major one is this censorship movement’s predictable descent into something that will likely leave you scratching your head, wondering just why they banned that one. It highlights how this movement isn’t concerned with quality education, and it’s really all about control and playing politics with our neighborhood schools. […]
