Texas Curriculum Controversy
- Follow official actions on the Texas curriculum adoption process and read the final draft of the proposed standards with the Texas Education Agency.
- Find background information on members of the partisan Texas State Board of Education.
- Find informed discussion on the Texas social studies standards process with updates and extensive resources, even including humor at TEKSWatch.
- Find resources on separation of church and state and a critique of the religious right’s attempt to bring religion into the public schools.
- Find resources and background on the work of the Gablers and ongoing effort to bring about a “Christian Conservative Intellectual Renaissance.”
- Read a recent article on a letter from 1200 history professors who have asked the Texas school board to delay its process and adopt a more transparent, fair and inclusive curriculum.
- Read a Wall Street Journal article by a Texas history professor who found most of the proposed standards accurate and reasonable.
- See a critique of the Texas curriculum adoption process by conservative historian Diane Ravitch.
- Read longtime conservative Phyllis Schlafly on how the new Texas standards correct liberal bias.
- Read Ron Briley’s argument that the state board should invite the input of history teachers.
- Read a profile of vocal social conservative state school board member Don McLeroy in the Washington Monthly.
- See why Hispanic lawmakers blasted the proposed standards for minimizing contributions of minorities.
Historical Context
- Find a designated web space for extensive discussion of news developments in the context of the history of the issues of the Texas curriculum, textbooks and history standards at the History News Network.
- For an engaging discussion of the Texas issues and the Christianity of the Founders, read Russell Shorto’s essay in the New York Times Magazine.
- Find numerous articles on bias in the writing and teaching of history on the History News Network.
- Read about the “American Textbooks Wars” by historian Joseph Moreau.
- For a libertarian view of the historical context of the Texas textbook dispute, see the article by Jeff Riggenbach.
Textbook Publishing
- Find information on the publishing industry with sales figures for books including textbooks.
- Read articles on schoolbook publishing trends in Texas, including consideration of digital instructional materials and influence of Texas on textbook publishing.
- Read a Texas legislative proposal for adoption of open-source textbooks.
- Read the results of a 2009 poll showing that 73% of Texans favor a requirement that the legislature guarantee funding for textbooks and instructional materials in the education budget.
- Read the results of a 2010 poll showing majority belief that history textbooks place political correctness over accuracy.
- Read about a possible shift in the clout of Texas in the textbook market.
