The 2010 Texas controversy over the social study curriculum standards does not break clearly along partisan lines, but certainly pits social conservatives with strong nationalistic and religious values against liberals and multiculturalists as well as humanists and others who believe religious teaching should not be a part of public education.
The most comprehensive resource on the Texas controversy is TEKSWatch, a public education effort hosted by the Center for History Teaching & Learning at the University of Texas at El Paso, and directed by history professor Keith A. Erekson. For an introduction to the TEKS process, see "Texas Social Studies Simplified" at this website, as well as frequent news updates and more, including a collection of humor.
The 15 members of the Texas State Board of Education are elected, partisan officials. The board presently has 10 Republican and 5 Democratic members. Seven of the Republican members identify themselves as social conservatives, and the tentative social studies standards announced in March 2010 reflect their strong beliefs concerning America’s Christian heritage, exceptionalism, the free enterprise system, and minimizing multicultural and liberal political perspectives.
As social conservatives push for the new standards, liberals oppose what they regard as a right-wing takeover of history. They are joined by others who wish to see a more inclusive curriculum that honors the history of women and minorities, and groups urging the separation of church and state.
Government
The most informative government resource on the Texas dispute is the Texas Education Agency, which maintains a website on its role, its procedures, and the ongoing review and adoption of social studies standards with updates on developments and scheduled meetings. The TEA website also contains information on the membership, duties and actions of the State Board of Education, which oversees state public education with the Commissioner of Education.
Publishers
The Association of American Publishers represents publishers throughout the U.S. and is the principal trade association of the book publishing industry. Among other things, the AAP reports on sales trends and earnings of publishers, including the publishers of textbooks (School Division). AAP also sponsors TexasCurriculum.org, a resource “to keep Texas educators, local and state school officials, parents, and of course, students informed about the current textbook adoption process in Texas.”
Academic
George Mason University’s History News Network provides historical context for current events, with a special section on the Texas curriculum controversy. See also TEKSWatch for comprehensive coverage.
Conservative
Educational Research Analysts, founded by the late Mel and Norma Gabler, reviews textbooks in Texas to contribute to the “Christian conservative intellectual renaissance” in the state. Evangelical religious organizations feature resources on various subjects including public education. They were active in the debate over Texas social studies standards. Wall Builders is "a national pro-family organization that presents America's forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage.” Its founder, David Barton, an evangelical Christian, served as an expert reviewer on the Texas social studies standards. Peter Marshall Ministries "is dedicated to helping to restore America to its Bible-based foundations through preaching, teaching, and writing on America's Christian heritage and on Christian discipleship and revival." Rev. Peter Marshall also served as an expert reviewer on the Texas social studies standards.
The Liberty Institute (formerly Texas Free Market Foundation) is as a “non-profit legal organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of traditional family values and Constitutional freedoms." The Liberty Institute provides resources for those interested in promoting bible studies. (In 2007 Texas passed a law that “requires public schools to offer instruction on the Bible's impact on history and culture.”) The Institute supports the Texas State Board of Education standards for either an elective Bible course or teaching the Bible in existing history and literature courses.
Texas Conservative Coalition, a legislative caucus, is “committed to shaping public policy by promoting: Limited Government; Individual Liberty; Free Enterprise; [and] Traditional Family Values . . . to implement a conservative vision for state government."
Family Security Matters operates “to inform all Americans, men and women, about the issues surrounding national security [and] to address their fears about safety and security on a personal, family, community, national and international level.” FSM addresses concerns about “identity politics” and coverage of national and family values in texts.
Liberal
Texas Freedom Network is a non-partisan, grassroots organization that "advances a mainstream agenda of religious freedom and individual liberties to counter the religious right," and reports on its watchdog monitoring of “far-right” activities.
People for the American Way, a national organization, was founded to promote the “American Way,” which it describes as “pluralism, individuality, freedom of thought, expression and religion, a sense of community, and tolerance and compassion for others.” The group’s website features resources to help liberals monitor right-wing efforts.
Multicultural
Two organizations that advance the interests of Hispanic Americans in Texas have source material about the historical contributions of Hispanic Americans:
Defend the Honor and the Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People works “to ensure the political, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination,” with resources on multicultural history.
Advocacy
The American Civil Liberties Union is devoted to defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and U.S. laws. It regularly files lawsuits designed to keep the government out of religion.
Other
The American Textbook Council, an independent research organization, “reviews history textbooks and other educational materials,” and provides information on textbooks and guidance for instructors. ATC director, Gilbert T. Sewall, is a critic of “unchecked” multiculturalism in history textbooks.
The National Center for History in the Schools at UCLA administers the development of National Standards for History.
Further Reading
- America Revised by Frances FitzGerald (1979)
- Twentieth-Century Textbook Wars by Gerard Giordano (2003)
- Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen (1995, 2nd ed. 2007)
- Schoolbook Nation by Joseph Moreau (2003)
- History on Trial: Culture Wars and the Teaching of the Past by Gary Nash, et al. (1997)
- The Language Police: Culture Wars in the Public Schools by Diane Ravitch (2003)
- The Disuniting of America by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1991)
- Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools by Jonathan Zimmerman (2002).
