New Alerts: Click here

ACTION ALERT - Texas State Board of Education

Earlier this year, we watched the State Board of Education (SBOE) attempt to insert intelligent design into Texas public school science curriculum and textbooks. The Board has now begun its revision to the social studies curriculum standards for grades K – 12. As you have probably seen in recent news reports, attempts are being made to change history to reflect a more conservative point of view.

Far-right members of the SBOE and the so-called “experts” they appointed have expressed their intention to distort American history, teaching students that the Founders intended our government to be based on a conservative, fundamentalist interpretation of the Christian Bible. The latest draft standards also include a mandate for students to study conservative activists and groups like Newt Gingrich and the Moral Majority.

Public comments on the preliminary draft of the social studies curriculum are being accepted until Friday, October 9. If you want Texas students to have a social studies curriculum based on mainstream teachings rather than political or religious ideology, it’s vital that the SBOE hears from you. Curriculum standards will be in place for a decade.

We encourage you to review the current drafts of the social studies standards. They may be found at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=3643

The Center for History Teaching & Learning, University of Texas at El Paso has an excellent website that highlights many areas of concern in the standards and explains the process the SBOE uses to adopt new standards. This is at: http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=61097

Action Needed

Submit feedback to the State Board of Education by October 9, 2009

• Via email to TEKS@tea.state.tx.us
• Fax to (512) 463-8057
• Mail to Curriculum Division, Attention: Social Studies Staff, 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701

Talking Points

• The draft high school American history standards require students to “identify significant conservative advocacy organizations and individuals, such as Newt Gingrich, Phyllis Schlafly, and the Moral Majority.” But people should be included in the standards because of their historical contributions, not because of their political beliefs. And our students’ education shouldn’t be based on a political “quota system” for conservatives and liberals. (US History class)
  
  
• The curriculum writing teams also rightly resisted efforts to portray the Founders as creating a government based on a conservative interpretation of the Christian Bible. The writing teams should continue to resist political pressure to do so, and the standards should make clear that the Founders wanted a nation in which government neither favored nor restricted any particular religious beliefs. The Constitution protects the right of all Americans to practice the faith of their choice, or none at all, without government support or interference. (Social Studies grades 5-8)
  
  
• The curriculum writing teams should continue to oppose efforts to politicize the education of Texas schoolchildren. That means any revisions of their drafts should be based on the recommendations of real experts in social studies, not political activists who have few or no credentials in the social sciences.
  
  
• The curriculum writing teams should be praised for standing up to political pressure and keeping important labor and civil rights leaders like Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall in the standards. They also did a good job of opposing efforts by pressure groups and some State Board of Education members to downplay the significant contributions of minorities in American history and society.
  

Remember, comments are due by Friday, October 9.

Thank you for taking action on this important issue!

A DREAM for America: Back-to-School DREAM Act Day
Wednesday, September 23

NCJW supports comprehensive, humane immigration reform, reform that restores the rule of law, encourages a path to citizenship for more people, unites families, and guarantees the fair treatment of workers.

The DREAM Act would require that certain undocumented students earn their merits and obtain a higher education or join the U.S. Armed Forces if they wish to earn a path to legalization. It provides workable solutions that uphold American values and benefit the nation.

On Wednesday, September 23, NCJW Texas SPA is encouraging you to contact your legislators in Washington and ask them to support the DREAM ACT. See Background Information and Action Requested below.

You can also join the Texas DREAM Act Coalition at the Dallas City Hall for a press conference. It will be held in the 6th Floor Flag Room at noon. Greater Dallas Section President Cheryl Pollman is one of the featured speakers. Afterwards, DREAM Act supporter will go on congressional district visits. For those joining the congressional visits, please let the ULI know via email at ourdream2005@gmail.com to make sure you received all information for visits.