Category Archives for Thomas Jefferson

Debunking Another David Barton Lie

Have you heard about David Barton’s suggestion that Thomas Jefferson was an evangelical Christian?

Also posted in David Barton | 3 Comments

Cynthia Dunbar and the Laws of Nature

Former Texas State Board of Education member Cynthia Dunbar is still proud of the way she helped vandalize the new social studies curriculum standards for the state’s public schools last year. She’s especially happy that new standards for high school government classes require that students learn about “the laws of nature and nature’s God” in […]

Also posted in Cynthia Dunbar, social studies | 21 Comments

Not Encouraging

We were worried that Carlos “Charlie” Garza, who defeated Democratic incumbent Rene Nuñez, would align with the Texas State Board of Education‘s far-right faction. A newspaper interview with the El Paso Republican isn’t encouraging. According to the El Paso Times interview, which was published November 7, Garza thinks public schools should teach “multiple views” about […]

Also posted in Charlie Garza, evolution, Rick Perry, sex education, State Board of Education | 13 Comments

Independence Day and Religious Freedom

We hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Independence Day and recalling the freedoms on which our nation was founded and is still governed. So please take a few minutes to read the words that heralded the birth of our nation. We also thought it would be appropriate to note the words of two of our […]

Also posted in Cynthia Dunbar, David Barton, James Madison, religious freedom | 22 Comments

Pointing Fingers and Shading the Truth

Texas State Board of Education members are pointing fingers at everyone but themselves for the debacle over revising social studies curriculum standards. In new interviews with the Southern Baptist TEXAN, board Chair Gail Lowe, R-Lampasas, and fellow member Don McLeroy, R-College Station, are complaining that reporting about the board’s actions have been inaccurate. And they point […]

Also posted in church and state, Don McLeroy, Gail Lowe, Texas Freedom Network | Leave a comment

Another Stunning McLeroy Interview

Check out this fascinating Q-and-A with Texas State Board of Education member Don McLeroy, R-College Station, from The Globe and Mail newspaper in Toronto. Money quote: “Look, down here there are these groups from the far left. Whatever we do, they want to make it look like we are dumb morons. They’re very effective, dadgummit. Jefferson’s […]

Also posted in Don McLeroy, religious right | 24 Comments

A Real Historian Responds

Why do members of the Texas State Board of Education insist on rejecting guidance from real experts? Case in point: far-right board members continue to argue that they were justified in removing Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence, from a key curriculum standard for high school world history courses. Those board members […]

Also posted in Gail Lowe, social studies | 29 Comments

McLeroy Has Trouble Explaining

Still not sure where the Texas State Board of Education is going with the social studies curriculum standards? Then listening to a radio discussion with board member Don McLeroy from last week might help. McLeroy, R-College Station, spoke on Southern California public radio station KPCC last Monday about the social studies debate in Texas. (Click […]

Also posted in Don McLeroy, evolution, Founding Fathers | 10 Comments

What Does Dunbar Really Want to Teach?

Texas State Board of Education member Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond, has been defending her action removing Thomas Jefferson from world history curriculum standards by disingenuously claiming his inclusion simply wasn’t “germane.” And during this month’s state board meeting, she complained that critics were wrong in charging that she and other far-right board members were trying to force […]

Also posted in church and state, Cynthia Dunbar, religious right | 25 Comments

Lowe’s Bogus Explanation on Jefferson Deletion

The Texas Freedom Network sent out the following press release today: SBOE Chair Lowe’s Explanation for Dropping Jefferson from Standard Doesn’t Hold Water TFN President Kathy Miller Points Out the Distorted History Promoted by Board Extremists FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2010 Texas State Board of Education chairwoman Gail Lowe’s explanation for the board’s deletion […]

Also posted in church and state, Gail Lowe, social studies, Texas Freedom Network | 28 Comments