Texas Board of Education delays vote on social-studies standards

Texas Board of Education delays vote on social-studies standards


05:23 PM CST on Friday, January 15, 2010

By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News

tstutz@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN -- The Texas Board of Education has postponed until March adoption of new social studies standards for the state's public schools.

The board had planned to vote on the standards today. But after two days of debate, tmembers found themselves unable to work through a long list of amendments sponsored primarily by the panel's most conservative members.

One would require students to study the history of conservative groups from the 1980s and 1990s -- with no similar requirement for liberal groups. Pushed by board member Don McLeroy, R-College Station, the provision says students should learn about "key organizations and individuals of the conservative resurgence," including Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly.

That provision was approved on a 7-6 vote, with the board's conservative bloc providing all but one of the affirmative voters.

However, on other close votes this week, the conservative bloc came up short.

They consistently sought to have schools give more emphasis to the role of religion in American history and to the importance of Christian celebrations, including Christmas.

Among the proposals shot down Thursday was a requirement that textbooks include "religious revivals" among the major events leading up to the American Revolution.

Only members of the well-defined conservative bloc – all Republicans – supported the idea, while other Republicans and Democrats opted to stay with the recommendation of Texas teachers and academics on the topic.

The board considered scores of amendments to proposed curriculum standards for social studies, spelling out what students should be taught in history, government, geography and other classes from elementary through high school.

Much of the discussion involved which historical figures should be covered in history classes and textbooks.

Among those dropped from the elementary curriculum were former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros; Delores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez; and Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, the first female governor of Texas.

The board added Raul Gonzalez, the first Hispanic elected to the Texas Supreme Court; former U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez; and Lorenzo de Zavala, a vice president of the Republic of Texas.

Hispanic leaders had noted earlier that only 16 of 162 historical figures listed in the proposed curriculum standards were Hispanic.

Board member Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands, offered an amendment to require that fifth-graders learn the capitals of all 50 states.

Geraldine Miller, R-Dallas, endorsed the idea, saying, "This is something that all students should know." A majority voted to add the requirement.

The social studies standards will remain in place for a decade, dictating what is taught in government, history and other social studies classes in the state's public elementary and secondary schools.

The rules are also used to develop statewide tests.

And, because Texas schools account for so many textbook purchases, the Texas standards could influence what books publishers make available in other states.