Having recently made a trip to Texas during which I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I’m loathe to criticize the state. But, having recently read a New York Times Magazine piece regarding the role of the Texas state board of education in injecting religion into our children’s public school textbooks, I’m filled with loathing for the process – and, to some degree, the people – in Texas that are responsible for this nationwide dominance.
It’s a long article that delves into historical details in order to tell the story completely, and it’s worth reading. However, I’ll summarize it here: Texas’ state education fund is $22 billion – one of the largest in the nation. They were also the first to develop statewide curriculum guidelines, which other states use as a model for their own. Textbook publishers tailor their content accordingly to maximize their markets. Curriculum guidelines are reviewed by the state education board – one subject per year – and the board is dominated by conservative Christians who actively and unapologetically seek to advance their religious agenda via changes to the curriculum and textbooks.
In essence, a fifteen-member board in Texas makes decisions that directly affect what the majority of public school children in the United States are taught. As Texas goes, so goes the nation.
Does that seem wrong to anyone besides me?
This is not a new issue. Last year’s curriculum review focused on science, and the New York Times published a piece in January 2009 regarding the debate:
“Many biologists and teachers said they feared that the board would force textbook publishers to include what skeptics see as weaknesses in Darwin’s theory to sow doubt about science and support the Biblical version of creation…
…Even as federal courts have banned the teaching of creationism and intelligent design in biology courses, social conservatives have gained 7 of 15 seats on the Texas board in recent years, and they enjoy the strong support of Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican.”
Those seven board members vote as a bloc and work to draw in other board members to pass curriculum changes that advance their agenda. In last year’s hearings:
“The conservative Christian bloc wanted to require science teachers to cover the “strengths and weaknesses” of the theory of evolution, language they used in the past as a tool to weaken the rationale for teaching evolution…ultimately, the seven Christian conservatives were unable to pull another vote their way on that specific point, but the finished document nonetheless allows inroads to creationism.”
Texas itself is hotly divided on the issue. From a Texas Citizens for Science report:
“Texas Citizens for Science has learned that members of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) have nominated three Intelligent Design Creationist (IDC) and anti-evolution advocates to the six-member panel of professional scientists that will review the draft Texas science standards…
…Two of the nominated individuals, Stephen Meyer and Ralph Seelke, are out-of-state IDC promoters who are co-authors of the Discovery Institute’s anti-evolution textbook Explore Evolution. This supplemental textbook promotes Intelligent Design Creationism by falsely misrepresenting the accuracy and reliability of modern evolutionary science…These two make a practice of traveling to other states to testify and agitate on behalf of the Discovery Institute’s effort to damage science education in public schools. This appalling and destructive activity should be condemned, not encouraged and facilitated as some members of the Texas SBOE are doing.”
Simply put, they’re crusaders. They support the agenda of the seven bloc members on the state board of education, and that’s exactly why they were nominated.
The science curriculum changes regarding the teaching of evolution failed to pass. But this year’s review could have far-reaching consequences if the Texas Board of Education succeeds in their mission:
“Merely weaving important religious trends and events into the narrative of American history is not what the Christian bloc on the Texas board has pushed for in revising its guidelines. Many of the points that have been incorporated into the guidelines or that have been advanced by board members and their expert advisers slant toward portraying America as having a divinely preordained mission.”
The Pilgrims were apparently the precursor to the Blues Brothers.
All hilarious mental images of bonnets paired with shades aside, ascribing such motivations to our founders could have legal implications:
“But it isn’t merely the case that their Christian orientation shapes their opinions on gay marriage, abortion and government spending. More elementally, they hold that the United States was founded by devout Christians and according to biblical precepts. This belief provides what they consider not only a theological but also, ultimately, a judicial grounding to their positions on social questions. When they proclaim that the United States is a “Christian nation,” they are not referring to the percentage of the population that ticks a certain box in a survey or census but to the country’s roots and the intent of the founders.”
In other words, separation of church and state would be null and void. Christian beliefs and ideals would be a constitutionally justifiable basis for legislation on social issues.
As much as I champion reason and science, this potential outcome frightens me far more than the possibility that I might have to accept some questioning of evolution in my kids’ biology classes. If ever our government can legislate on the basis of religious beliefs, I might as well pack up and move out. Such a revision would violate the very core of freedom in this country.
But to conservative Christians, separation of church and state is not only null and void, it never was:
“The concept, they say, is a modern secular fiction. There is no legal justification, therefore, for disallowing crucifixes in government buildings or school prayer…the founders were all Christians who conceived of a nation of Christians, and the purpose of the First Amendment was merely to ensure that no single Christian denomination be elevated to the role of state church.”
But even among those who ostensibly support the separation of church and state, many are in at least partial agreement with the tenets of conservative Christianity as it regards our country:
“…65 percent of respondents to a 2007 survey by the First Amendment Center agreed with the statement that “the nation’s founders intended the United States to be a Christian nation,” and 55 percent said they believed the Constitution actually established the country as a Christian nation.”
Apart from the religiosity they wish to inject into the public school curriculum and textbooks, it’s distressing to note the lack of subject matter expertise and flat-out bias among board members and those they appoint to consult on the revisions. Former board chair Don McLeroy is a dentist by profession and “a young-earth creationist who believes that the earth was created in six days, as the book of Genesis has it, less than 10,000 years ago.” Ken Mercer is a businessman and “is on record as claiming that evolution is falsified by the absence of any transitional forms between cats and dogs.” Cynthia Dunbar teaches high school anatomy and physiology and has written of “the inappropriateness of a state-created, taxpayer-supported school system and likens sending children to public school to throwing them into the enemy’s flames, even as the children of Israel threw their children to Moloch.”
A dentist who’s one step removed from believing the world is flat, a businessman who probably buys Kirk Cameron’s “crocoduck” argument, and a teacher/lawyer who vilifies public schools. Really, Texas?
Those are just three examples of the idiocy present on the Texas State Board of Education. Teach Them Science, a site sponsored by the Center for Inquiry and The Clergy Letter Project, gives a complete rundown of the board members’ positions on such matters. I highly encourage all Texas residents (including military members living outside the state) to check it out.
And whether you live in Texas or not, let this be a reminder that as much emphasis as we place on national politics, the reality is that local and state-level politics can play just as significant a role in how our lives are shaped.
The line that freaked me out most from the article was the idea that they’d rather have a majority of fundamentalists on the board of ed, than a single one in the Presidency. Holy shit. I’m so glad you covered this – although I don’t know how you did it without using expletives. You’re a better woman than I.
Your final assertion is right, we need to remain involved from the bottom up. Community activists, anyone?
This is frightening. How on earth did these people get to such positions of power? It’s a travesty for anyone who chooses to live an open-minded life. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
You go girl.
That’s barely the half of it, Julie. I’ve been writing about this for a little over a year. I am in a group with educational lobbyists who are actual EDUCATORS and who have tried to stop this. You should see how it has permeated all areas. it’s not just science. They’ve Anglo-sanitized social studies, too. And it doesn’t end there. If you ever want to talk to someone in the field, let me know, I ‘ll set it up. We’re so eager for this word to spread. And anyone who wants to help our Texas grassroots effort to stop this nonsense, let me know.
What scares me is that, while we are outraged, moderate Christians won’t be bothered by it, and this will proceed quietly forward.
Yes — like Liz noted, the fact that there is a specific plan to take over school boards frightens me. Among the many things that frighten me about this whole situation.
This is terrifying. And ignorant. There is SCIENTIFIC PROOF that evolution happened but where are the hard facts that there is a God? You teach FACTS until proven otherwise. Prove to me that there is a God and then it can be included in textbooks. Children should not receive mixed messages about religion in school.
This may be one of the scariest blog posts I’ve read…ever.
I voted. Against McElroy. But Ratliff is just frightening too.
http://unworthybum.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/allen-vaughtthomas-ratliffburka-blog/
My children are in public school in Texas. During each celebration (from Indian to Chinese to Christian to ….), the students are taught what the celebration means. It is not fair to condem a state, and it’s educational policies when you do not live here. You have no idea how schools in the state run their classes. Anglo-sanitized? Ha. The majority of the people in my area are of Hispanic origin. They would laugh in your face at that reference.
I certainly can condemn your state for electing thoroughly unqualified and agenda-driven BOE members who pursue curriculum changes that ultimately affect my state too.
Paying dues to individual celebrations is nothing compared to questioning the validity of evolution and asserting that the Pilgrims were on a divine mission from God – presented as fact in textbooks.
Have you read the NYT article? Have you read the links? Do you not see the potential far-reaching effects of these board members actions?
Or perhaps you’re one who agrees with the views of McLeroy, Mercer, Dunbar, and their ilk.
I do not consider the NYT an expert on Texas schools. In my experience, I have not experienced ANYONE saying that Darwin’s Theory of evolution should not be taught in Texas schools. I went to the University of Texas and think that science should be taught. Religion is a part of history – and there are SO MANY religions to teach. It is a valuable part of learning as well.
And the reference to Anglo-sanitization comes from another Julie, who resides in Houston. You ought to direct your criticism to her (and pay closer attention to which commenter is which).
Also, I should put “you” in quotes. It is directed towards anyone who thinks that Texas is totally focused on “Anglo-sanitization”.
She doesn’t even understand the reference to something being “Anglo-sanitized.” I know this. I live in this ass-backwards state too.
K, just because you live in a minority-majority community in Texas doesn’t mean the Texas textbook industry – one that affects the curricula of nearly every other state in the nation – doesn’t serve up racist, inaccurate versions of history to our children.
I have been following this for a long time, wondering when it would catch fire in America’s national media. Glad you are bringing it to the fore front Julie.
But as a Canadian, I have to giggle at the idea of the future of your country being held hostage in the hands of a bunch of bible banging, conservative science haters.
Oh wait. That’s just like where it is where I live.
It’s a sad day when education becomes less about learning and more about religious indoctrination. And for the record, I’m a Christian and I think Jesus is hanging his head in shame.
I am a Texan, and I absolutely agree with what you’ve written. We need more activism on the city and state level to make sure that people are aware of what they are voting for when they vote people into office. All too frequently, I hear people voting strictly based on party without researching what that particular candidate endorses. We pulled our kids out of the public school system last year — for many reasons, not just this one — but I still am out there working on behalf of the schools in my neighborhood. This is too important a topic, and you’ve done an excellent job of illustrating the far-reaching implications of what people tend to think of as “state’s rights.”
Good points re party-line voting and states’ rights. Even if a bloc doesn’t actually strong-arm voters, such a united front is intimidating. I’ve seen it personally in our own county’s BOE elections (and even in our condo board elections back east).
My next step is to research the process in other states and learn more about their state BOEs.
Add to this the battle going on within the Texas school board over the social studies curriculum. On one side you have the religious contingent mentioned above trying to interject more conservative religious figures into the books (case in point: a section dedicated to the importance of Phyllis Schlafly contributions to the country), while on the other side activists are trying to add minority figures with little or no impact on the history of the nation.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m 100% behind fair and equal representation in the textbooks, but let’s make sure what’s included is of historical significance. What this particular argument has boiled down to is both parties wanting representatives of their positions added to the curriculum purely for the sake of promoting their own views. And who looses? The students who are now caught in the middle of ideological power struggle.
Good debate.
Agree – the first section of the NYT piece includes a mishmash of so-called historical figures proposed for inclusion in the curriculum. Telling on both sides.
Just went we thought our country wasn’t religiously dominated. Oh wait, we always knew it was, right?
Welcome to the South. Let’s hope this BS doesn’t spread North.
“Does that seem wrong to anyone besides me?” YES, YES, and YES again. Thank you for this. I’d read the Times magazine piece, but I’m happy to see others, in other parts of the country, as incensed as I am.
I live in Austin (Texas’ bastion of progress) and grew up in Dallas (one of many of Texas’ oases for religious fundamentalist nutties). I have four children, two in elementary school (at a fabulous charter school) and two not yet in school. Everything you mention has been a concern here for a long time. (The same thing is true of California, actually, in its impact on curricula nationally, but California’s Board of Ed doesn’t seem to be quite as off the deep end as Texas’.)
I work in math and science teacher preparation, and I can tell you that, at the local, grassroots level, there are many, many people who are as appalled and scared as you, both about what’s going into (and being left out of) the curriculum and about Texas’ ability to influence the industry nationally and, by extension, dictate what students in the U.S. are learning across subject areas, grade levels, and states. Every time there’s a Board meeting, I promise you that there are people there to voice these concerns. That said, it is practically impossible to go up against the socio-political fundamentalist juggernaut that is the state BoE. It is a huge fight that only BEGINS with evolution, and is seemingly neverending. Any attention on what’s going on here (and affecting the entire country!) is a good thing. Thanks for this post.
The NYT article mentioned that CA is the largest textbook market but their curriculum guidelines are so specific that other states don’t follow them.
Thank you for weighing in with your personal experience!
As Kristen says, welcome to the South!
Having taught at the university level in the South for years, I can tell you that Texas may be the most high profile of the block, but it’s happening in every state down here.
I had a student one year from California. About half-way through the term, he came into my office, closed the door, and asked if he could be blunt, I said sure. He asked, “How the Hell do you do this day after day?” Half of one semester in and he was worn out; it took five years before I had a near breakdown and had to quit.
Toward the end of that time, I taught The Laramie Project at every opportunity I could (along with Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael). I had threatening phone calls and people following me to the point that I would not go out at night anymore. Thank God for my extremely aggressive (slightly unbalanced) black lab. She scared the crap out of most of these good ole boys. I made sure to walk her around campus several times each term so they’d all get a good look at her and realize that she was both protective and dangerous
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Threaten their viewpoint at your own peril. If you haven’t read Ishmael, you should. It rocked more than one student’s world
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I have not read Ishmael, but I will add it to my wish list.
Horrifying that people who hold up their religion as a standard of behavior would threaten you physically. Thanks for having the courage to teach in such an environment.
I’m a native Texan, teacher, and school administrator, who started my career in Texas though I live outside the state now. These battles, especially the one regarding the teaching of evolution have gone on for years in Texas, and you are absolutely correct in publicizing that what happens there affects the rest of the country because of the way Texas influences textbook publishers.
This is just one of the many side effects of Texans being willing to elect officials with a fundamentalist Christian agenda. While it may seem like a local issue, it’s not. Hopefully, people will see what is happening and defeat Governor Perry in November (or perhaps even in the primary).
Thank you! Love to hear from people like you who’ve seen firsthand what’s happening.
These are also the people who try to convince everyone that Supreme Court justices don’t make law and that they should be bound by whatever Congress says, regardless of its Constitutionality.
I knew about the whole Texas influence on textbooks, but it gets scarier by the minute. Part of the problem is that there are so many people willing to accept what these people say at face value and not question it.
One last question — the people who claim the United States was meant to be a Christian nation? How do they explain the part about our forefathers leaving England because of religious persecution and they wanted religious freedom?
I hope this post is picked up and read WIDELY. It’s a story that needs to be heard. I haven’t been following it at all but I will now. Whether you have kids in public schools or not, what is taught in them is so, so important to the future of our country.
I used to work in educational publishing and have been aware of “adoption states” for almost two decades. CA & TX are the biggest, but there are other states that make decisions about approving textbooks at the state level. Here is the list.
The technology exists now to keep state specific info OUT of regular textbooks and print separate editions less expensively than formerly possible. Publishers may have to invest in the technology to do so and getting publishers to do it depends on the demands made by the other states. That in turn depends on vigilant parents. For the upwards of $75 per book that a state or district spends, they should not be getting Texas’ trash if they don’t want it.
Unfortunately, there are many other states that DO want it. I’m sure you’ve heard of the ongoing battles in Kansas over teaching/questioning evolution. At one point they settled on slapping every biology book with a sticker, the gist of which was “Don’t believe everything you read in this book.” Anti-intelectualism scares me, and our country is thick with it. Right-wing Christians used to get on to state and country school boards by hiding their agenda. Now, I’d be surprised if they still have to.
Sorry to hijack your comments, the upshot of this is – know what’s in your kids books. If you don’t like it, make some noise. Contact your state or local BOE and keep at it.
Ha! That would have been so much more solid if not for the typo in “anti-intellectualism.” Also it’s supposed to be “state and local school boards.”
You know what’s interesting (and what maybe Texas should think about)? I know in my entire private, Catholic school education, creationism was never taught as science. My 5yo daughter, who attends a Catholic pre-K, made dinosaur hats this past week. There is NO confusion on this issue in our minds. Yeah, we believe God created the world; and we learn about the science of evolution. These things are not mutally exclusive.
Unless your mind is closed tighter than a chastity belt, I guess.
Posts like your are important to educate more people about the issue. Thanks.
Science has a PR problem. Those who feel threatened by science have more success attacking it through state and local politics. Bigtime kudos for capturing this issue so well…
And you wonder why after teaching in Texas public schools for two years, I had no desire to go back.
Well-put darling. We should all be afraid of Texas.
As an Austin resident with two boys in (an exemplary) elementary school, I’m obviously very concerned about this. Unfortunately, the option of private schools in our area isn’t valid because they’re all religious-based and at least $8K a year, and I’m so down with the homeschooling. But if horrifies me.
Well said. I’ve taught in California, Michigan, and most recently Texas. The national government needs to put a stop to this–it’s not right that one state dictates a national curriculum.