Textbook Wars Continue

Perhaps you have been following the debate between conservatives and liberals on the Texas State Board of Education. We have been interested because two states, Texas and California, drive the school textbook market through volume purchases. What they want in a school book will eventually wind up in classrooms in most other states. Well this is just in from Citizenlink.com:

“Late last Friday, the Texas State Board of Education passed social studies curriculum standards that strengthen requirements on teaching the Judeo-Christian influences of the nation's Founding Fathers and calls for the U.S. government to be referred to as a "constitutional republic" rather than "democracy." The guidelines will be used to teach some 4.8 million students for the next 10 years. They also will be used by textbook publishers who often develop materials for other states based on those approved in Texas.

In one of the most significant changes, the board—by a 11-3 bipartisan vote—approved strong language regarding religious freedom, which includes language from the U.S. Constitution and correctly identifies the source, context and intent of the popular phrase "separation of church and state." Additionally, the board rejected language to change the historic periods, B.C. and A.D., to B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era).

The approval came after some had wanted to remove or diminish references in the Texas textbooks to Christmas, Independence Day and our religious heritage. A majority of the board stood firm and voted 9-5 to strike down attempts to rewrite history. Former board chairman Don McLeroy, one of the board's most outspoken conservatives, said the Texas history curriculum has been unfairly skewed to the left and he just wants to bring it back to balance.

California State Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has now introduced legislation that would ensure that none of the new Texas standards are reflected in his state's textbooks.” CitizenLink.com

As you can see, Sacramento now becomes ground zero in the school textbook wars. We believe this is an important development and we trust you will join us in prayer for California schools.