K-12 Education Challenge

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday January 05, 2009 · 8:02 AM PST

2009/01/05 · 08:02

Here is a K-12 Education Challenge for moderates and liberals. Right now the jingoistic social studies, anti-science religionists, dominate the elected State Board of Education here in Texas.

Poll

5 votes Show Results

What will you do to help?

5 votes Vote Now!

What will you do to help?

I live in/near Austin, and will phone or email, to come to a discussion. I want to run.

0 votes

I live in/near Austin, and will come to a discussion only. I'll phone or email.

0 votes

I live in/near Austin, and will email and forward info. to others whom I know.

0 votes

I live in Texas, and will email to learn about SBOE districts, and perhaps start activity elsewhere in the state.

0 votes

I don't live in Texas, but will email to learn more, and will forward to folks I know in Texas.

0 votes

I won't email, but will repost this posting to other blogs.

0 votes

I'll reply here, to cheer you on.

1 vote

I won't do anything on this.

4 votes

Elected Education Official Makes Charges vs. Obama

JohnKeohane

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday November 09, 2008 · 5:06 PM PST

2008/11/09 · 17:06

State Elected Official Says Obama Conspiring with Terrorists and will declare martial law

From the Houston Chronicle, on November 3, 2008, from the AP:

Headline: "Education Official stands by her Obama terror claim

"State Board of Education member Cynthia Dunbar isn't backing down from her claim that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is plotting with terrorists to attack the U.S.

"In a column posted on the Christian Worldview Network Web site, Dunbar wrote that a terrorist attack on America during the first six months of an Obama administration 'will be a planned effort by those with whom Obama truly sympathizes to take down the America that is threat to tyranny.'

"She also suggests Obama would seek to expand his power by declaring martial law throughout the country."

For the complete story:

http://www.chron.com/...

Poll

44 votes Show Results

Cynthia Dunbar said Obama:

44 votes Vote Now!

Cynthia Dunbar said Obama:

Would not watch out for terrorists?

0 votes

Would work with terrorists to destroy the United States?

44 votes

Would fight terrorists, though not effectively?

0 votes

Would fight terrorists effectively?

0 votes

Why the Texas Board of Ed. is important in all 50 states

JohnKeohane

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday October 27, 2008 · 7:44 AM PDT

2008/10/27 · 07:44

Why the Texas BOE is important in all 50 States

The Texas Board of Education defines Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. If the TEKS define science courses as filled with non-science, or social studies as filled with American jingoism, those become our Texas textbook standards.

The SBOE for Texas picks textbooks for a state
approved list. Textbook publishers are notoriously
weak-kneed. They will adjust textbooks to the TEKS.
Only textbooks which, in the opinion of the SBOE, adequately meet our TEKS will be on the approved list.

Texas is a big buy for textbook publishers, and the publishers do not want to produce multiple versions of their texts. It's true that any of the 1000+ school districts in the state can buy any texts they wish, WITH THEIR OWN MONEY. If they want the state to buy the books, they must choose among books on the approved list. I expect that no district in Texas wants to buy texts with their own money.

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