White calls for removing politics from classroom
Governor candidate says he would pick new chairman for education board
By GARY SCHARRER
AUSTIN — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White said Saturday that if elected in November, he would pick a new chairman for the State Board of Education to “undo some of the damage” from controversial social studies curriculum standards adopted Friday. Critics contend they shortchange minorities and push a rosy view of history.
The 15-member board will have at least two new members in January, when their terms expire.
Some Texans have called for a limited review to address some of the more controversial standards that will influence new history, government, geography and economics textbooks for 4.8 million public school children. Only the board chairman sets the agenda, and the governor chooses that leader — currently Gail Lowe, R-Lampasas.
The board appointed academic experts, historians and teachers to recommend new social studies textbooks but then did a massive rewriting by considering some 400 amendments.
“Obviously, I would pick a chair who would try to undo some of the damage that is being done as quickly as we can,” White said. “We should have standards which reflect the views of professional educators and historians and respect the integrity of that process rather than injecting political ideology in the classroom — regardless where that ideology came in the political spectrum.”
Standards for a decade
Gov. Rick Perry has not commented on the new curriculum standards, and his office said he does not plan to consult with Lowe.
“The State Board of Education members are independently elected officials, and the governor has no intention of getting involved in the process,” Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said.
The new curriculum standards and the textbooks they inspire will last at least 10 years after reaching classrooms as early as the fall of 2013.
The new standards promote traditional history, original documents, patriotism and free enterprise and largely reflect approval of the board's seven social conservative members.
Resources
SAMPLE OF STANDARDS
The new social studies curriculum includes thousands of standards. A sampling:
• • Discuss the solvency of “long-term entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare.”
• • Examine “how economic freedom improved the human condition compared to communist command communities.