Archive for November, 2011

Newer Entries »

Down the Memory Hole?

November 11, 2011

Nov. 14 UPDATE: Prof. Erekson’s report has been reposted on the Social Studies Collaborative website. The copyright has been changed to Prof. Erekson, dropping the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board copyright. The THECB’s logo has also been dropped from the report.

—–

Is the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board trying to “disappear” last week’s report criticizing the State Board of Education‘s politicized revision of public school history standards? The Coordinating Board sent out a press release Wednesday saying that news stories tying the report to it are “erroneous”:

“This report was not requested, reviewed or approved by the THECB or its staff. The faculty collaborative is funded by the THECB, however the agency does not have ownership for the work product derived from the collaborative. Products developed by the collaborative do not reflect opinions, analysis, or conclusions of the agency or its Board.”

The press release also repeats a disclaimer printed in the report indicating that the report’s findings and recommendations “are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, the Social Studies Faculty Collaborative or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.”

The report has been removed from the Social Studies Collaborative website, but we have uploaded the report here.

For the sake of argument, let’s say that the Coordinating Board (whose members were appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry) had nothing to do with the report that carries the Coordinating Board’s copyright, name and logo and that was issued by a body (the Social Studies Collaborative) that the Coordinating Board established to promote the Coordinating Board’s College and Career Readiness Standards. Got that?

That still leaves this question: does the Coordinating Board dispute the report’s key findings about the State Board of Education’s miserable failure to pass history curriculum standards that truly prepare Texas kids for college? We hope the Coordinating Board will take the report seriously and not just toss it down a memory hole. Of course, we have little doubt that State Board of Education members are hoping for the “memory hole” approach.

Posted in social studies, State Board of Education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | 3 Comments »

TX SBOE Chair Is Trying to Hide the Truth

November 9, 2011

The news media is picking up on the story we broke Monday about a report for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that sharply criticizes new history curriculum standards adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) last year. And as the controversy grows, SBOE Chairwoman Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands, is trying desperately to hide the truth about just how badly the state board screwed up.

In a statement to public radio station KUT in Austin and the Dallas Morning News, Cargill claims that the state board “works diligently” to develop curriculum standards that prepare Texas kids for college:

“I fully support the recently adopted social studies curriculum standards. The U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, Founding Fathers, citizenship, patriotism, and American Exceptionalism are at the core of these standards. The State Board of Education works diligently to ensure all Texas students are exposed to curriculum standards aimed at college-preparedness, and these TEKS reflect those efforts.”

Unfortunately, that’s simply not true, and at least one of Cargill’s board colleagues and ideological allies — former chairwoman Gail Lowe, R-Lampasas — has admitted as much.

(more…)

Posted in Barbara Cargill, social studies, State Board of Education | 9 Comments »

Low-lights in Social Studies

November 9, 2011

As we reported Monday, a new report prepared for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board slams the State Board of Education (SBOE) for their politicized, factually challenged re-write of social studies curriculum standards last year. The report is worth a read to see just how extensive the damage was to those standards — and to Texas students’ college readiness. But if you don’t have a time to read the whole thing, here are a few of the highlights low-lights:

(more…)

Posted in curriculum standards, social studies, State Board of Education | 12 Comments »

Colbert Takes on Texas State Rep

November 8, 2011

Here we go again. Will Texas ever go, say, an entire year without becoming fodder for the likes of Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert?

Another Texas lawmaker became the punchline last night on Colbert’s Comedy Central show. This time it was state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and his use of an ethnic slur during a committee hearing last week.
(more…)

Posted in Texas Legislature, Texas politics | 8 Comments »

Heads Up, Houston

November 7, 2011

Our friends at Thompson & Knight, LLP and the Houston Society of the Archaeological  Institute of America have asked us to extend an invitation to TFN members and supporters in the Houston area to attend an event next week:

The First Wild, Wild West:
Jamestown Archaeology and the Origins of Modern America

featuring Dr. Bill Kelso

5:30 to 6:30 pm
Tuesday, November 15

Thompson & Knight, LLP
333 Clay Street, Houston, Texas, 77002
( free parking at the Allen Center Garage)

The topic should be of interest to TFN Insider devotees:

“The lecture will explore the earliest successful English settlement in North America and remember those days before the Founding Fathers crafted the First Amendment and separated church from state. In this Thanksgiving season, we’re going all the way back to Jamestown, where the first representative government in English-speaking North America, the Virginia General Assembly, met inside the Anglican Church just outside the fortress walls where Pocahontas married John Rolfe in 1614.  There is no better way to see how much progress has been made during these last 400 years in America than to look with clear eyes and the best scientific tools available at the early colonial foundations of our modern world.”

The event is free and open to the public, but they do ask that you register to reserve your seat beforehand (which you can do by clicking here).

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

New Report Slams TX School History Standards

November 7, 2011

Yet another report confirms just how badly the Texas State Board of Education botched the revision of social studies curriculum standards last year. Short version: the new standards will fail to prepare students for college-level work. It should be obvious even to impartial observers that the heavily politicized state board is wrecking public education in Texas.

We just sent out the following press release:

A new report for the board that manages higher education in Texas confirms that the State Board of Education (SBOE) recklessly put politics ahead of getting students ready for college when adopting new social studies curriculum standards for public schools last year, the president of the Texas Freedom Network said today. This new report follows a scathing review earlier this year in which the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute called the standards a “politicized distortion” of American history filled with “misrepresentations at every turn.”

“Our state’s elected leaders, from Gov. Perry on down, would have to be deaf not to hear the clanging alarm bells,” TFN President Kathy Miller said. “It should be impossible to deny now that members of the State Board of Education are sacrificing the education of Texas kids on the altar of their own personal and political beliefs. Yet for three years in a row Gov. Perry has appointed rigid political ideologues to chair the state board, and legislators have refused to pass any bills reforming the curriculum revision process.

(more…)

Posted in social studies, State Board of Education | 2 Comments »

SBOE Candidate: Ken Mercer

November 7, 2011

Because of redistricting, all 15 seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be up for grabs in the November 2012 elections. The results of those elections will determine whether the religious right’s corrosive influence over public education will weaken or grow as the board considers what the next generation of public school students in Texas will learn about sex education, social studies, science and other subjects. We plan to publish on TFN Insider candidate announcements for a seat on the SBOE. We will publish announcements in no particular order, and their publication does not constitute any sort of endorsement by TFN. We will redact requests for contributions or mentions of fundraising events from the announcements, but we will provide links to the candidates’ websites (if available).

Ken Mercer, District 5, R-San Antonio
(Incumbent)

Current Dist. 5 State Board of Education member Ken Mercer indicated this summer on his website — votekenmercer.com — that he intended to run for re-election in 2012. Mercer, a senior software engineer, is a former state representative who was first elected to the board of education in 2006.

Ken Mercer Asks for Your Help

In 2012 because of redistricting, all seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be on the ballot. Even though many of us just ran in 2010, we will be required to run again in 2012 if we intend to retain our seats.

As you know, because of my conservative leadership, I am again a target of the far left. I need your support to defend my seat.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you on the Texas State Board of Education. As always, please remember our 12- year theme of “Family, Faith and Freedom.” We want to strengthen the family, respect our faith, and defend our freedom!

Ken

Note: Mercer’s announcement was heavily redacted for the reasons outlined above. His full announcement can be found on his website.

Posted in 2012 Texas SBOE elections, Ken Mercer | 7 Comments »

The Week in Quotes (Oct. 30 – Nov. 5)

November 6, 2011

Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.

(more…)

Posted in The Week in Quotes | 4 Comments »

Perry Backer Pro-Family or Pro-Deadbeat Dad?

November 4, 2011

The far-right Family Research Council, which helped organize Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s “The Response” prayer event in Houston last August, appears to have no sense of irony (or shame). FRC has named U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., a “True Blue” member of Congress because of his “unwavering support of the family.” We suspect Walsh’s ex-wife might see things differently. She says Rep. Walsh owes her more than $100,000 in back child support for their three kids. Walsh contends he and his ex-wife had made a verbal agreement that he didn’t have to pay the money.

Among the reasons for the FRC award is Walsh’s support for de-funding Planned Parenthood. You just can’t make this stuff up.

Posted in Family Research Council | 1 Comment »

SBOE Candidate: Linda Ellis

November 4, 2011

Because of redistricting, all 15 seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be up for grabs in the November 2012 elections. The results of those elections will determine whether the religious right’s corrosive influence over public education will weaken or grow as the board considers what the next generation of public school students in Texas will learn about sex education, social studies, science and other subjects. We plan to publish on TFN Insider candidate announcements for a seat on the SBOE. We will publish announcements in no particular order, and their publication does not constitute any sort of endorsement by TFN. We will redact requests for contributions or mentions of fundraising events from the announcements, but we will provide links to the candidates’ websites (if available).

Linda Ellis, District 8, R-The Woodlands
(Current District 8 Board Member: Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands)

Educational consultant and retired educator Linda Ellis on Oct. 28 announced on her Facebook page her intention to seek the Republican nomination for the Texas State Board of Education out of District 8, a seat held by current SBOE chair Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands, who will seek re-election next year. According to YourHoustonNews.com, Ellis ran for the same seat in 2008 as a write-in candidate, receiving roughly 3,697 votes. Her campaign website will be at votelindaellis.com.

I am Dr. Linda Ellis and I am announcing my candidacy for the State Board of Education, District 8.

I’ve spent the last 28 years teaching and supporting teachers. During that time I’ve become increasingly concerned about decisions made by the State Board of Education — decisions made without the input of Texas educators.

Many of those SBOE decisions are based solely on divisive politics and are harming Texas schoolchildren. It is clearly time to put education back into the hands of those closest to the children — local school boards, parents, teachers, and community members.

This is why I am running for the State Board of Education in District 8.

When elected, I pledge to listen to you, represent you, support you, and serve you! Honoring your voices, I promise every decision I make while serving on the SBOE will be based on what is best for Texas public school students.

It is time to make your voices heard! Please join me in this critical battle to take back education! Let me be your voice in Austin.

Sincerely,
Linda Ellis

Posted in 2012 Texas SBOE elections, Linda Ellis | 1 Comment »

Schlafly Slaps Perry, Redefines ‘Middle Class’

November 2, 2011

It’s fascinating to watch religious-righters fight among themselves over which Republican candidate is extreme enough to support for president in next year’s elections. Today we saw one religious-right leader, Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum, even redefine “middle class” in her attack on Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s proposed flat-ish tax.

Schlafly — who says nice things about Herman Cain and Rick Santorum in the race for the GOP presidential nomination — argues in a column today that Gov. Perry “want(s) to undermine marriage.” She’s angry that his tax plan, which she says has an “anti-family bias,” isn’t hard enough on unmarried parents. And in rejecting the claim by a Perry spokesman that the plan “protects the middle class,” Schlafly even redefines what “middle class” means:

“No; giving that size deduction to unmarried parents, defined as ‘individuals and their dependents,’ means rewarding bad behavior and is, by definition, outside the middle class. Regardless of income, you can’t be middle class without respecting middle-class values, the most important of which is marriage.”

(more…)

Posted in Phyllis Schlafly | 9 Comments »

‘Drug-Based Sex Education’ Redux

November 2, 2011

In our latest episode of “Liberty Institute Says the Darndest Things,” we look at the Focus on the Family Texas affiliate’s use of a fear-mongering term we’ve covered before, but this time we have audio of it.

We’re talking about “drug-based sex education,” an absurd construction used (maybe even coined) by LI’s Austin-based lawyer/lobbyist any time he argues against comprehensive sex education and for the failed abstinence-only programs that dominate sex education classes in Texas schools.
(more…)

Posted in Liberty Institute, sex education | 3 Comments »

Newer Entries »