SBOE should either overhaul social studies standards or postpone vote
The Austin American-Statesman reported this week that the State Board of Education has received something like 20,000 comments on its proposed revisions to the state's social studies standards. Even though the Statesman reports that about 8,000 comments have originated from an American Civil Liberties Union campaign, the volume is nonetheless amazing. The earlier science curriculum debate received a paltry 3,000 comments.
This is not the only indication that the public is upset about the revised standards. They played into the GOP races that challengers Thomas Ratliff and Marsha Farney won this spring.
Ratliff unseated Don McLeroy, the conservative thinker who has pushed some of the new social studies standards that go too far in promoting a far-right agenda. (One indication: the standards would prohibit students from learning about the separation of church and state.) Ratliff's victory was no small feat and he won in part by promising to listen more to local educators when crafting standards for students. He also talked about not getting so caught up with ideological disputes.
Similarly, Farney won her primary race to succeed Cynthia Dunbar, who was part of the McLeroy faction driving the social studies rewrite. Farney promised a more "common sense" approach to the job. That was her way of
This is not the only indication that the public is upset about the revised standards. They played into the GOP races that challengers Thomas Ratliff and Marsha Farney won this spring.
Ratliff unseated Don McLeroy, the conservative thinker who has pushed some of the new social studies standards that go too far in promoting a far-right agenda. (One indication: the standards would prohibit students from learning about the separation of church and state.) Ratliff's victory was no small feat and he won in part by promising to listen more to local educators when crafting standards for students. He also talked about not getting so caught up with ideological disputes.
Similarly, Farney won her primary race to succeed Cynthia Dunbar, who was part of the McLeroy faction driving the social studies rewrite. Farney promised a more "common sense" approach to the job. That was her way of