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.
There is a K-12 education challenge for moderates and liberals. Right now the jingoistic social studies, anti-science religionists dominates the elected State Board of Education by 9-6 here in Texas, and Texas is
crucial to the country.
The wrong-wing right-wing (8 Republicans and 1 Democrat) outnumbers the moderates and liberals by 9 to 6 (2 Republicans and 4 Democrats). They would inject their fundamentalist religion into the schools under the guise of "academic freedom", as if "academic freedom" in science, or anything else, means anything if one does not know enough to do the science. We'll watch them take science apart in January.
Does it matter to you? Consider this:
The 15 member State Board of Education comes up with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These lead to textbooks on the "approved" list. The state of Texas will pay for textbooks, but only those on the approved list. None of the 1000+ public school districts in the state wants to pay its money for textbooks, or to require students to pay for them, so everyone of them orders from the "approved" list. Publishers developed their books, with Texas TEKS in mind, and then try to hawk those same books everywhere.
Think on these questions, then answer my one question quiz:
A. We had heavy interest in the campaigns for President this year, and in the unprecidented attendance at Democratic party precinct caucuses here in Texas. Given our interest in education, how many Democrats paid the $300 filing fee to challenge right-wing Republicans Terri Leo and Barbara Cargill, in the area of our largest city, Houston?
Answers:
- 6
- 4 (2 in one district, and 2 in the other)
- 2 (1 in each district)
- None, only Libertarians ran against them
B. Democrats have been winning lots of elections in Dallas county recently. How many Democrats challenged right-wing Republican Geraldine "Tincy" Miller for reelection on our State Board of Education when whe was last up in 2006?
Answers:
- 3
- 2
- 1
- None
C. Since Democrats are very interested and involved in education, how many Democrats got on the ballot to run in 2006, for 4-year terms on the State Board of Education for the two districts that include 41% and 59% of the Travis county which includes "liberal" Austin, and the main campus of the University of Texas?
Answers:
- 6
- 3 (1 in one district, and 2 in the other)
- 2 (1 in each district)
- None
D. Is the State Board of Education at all important to anyone in other states?
- No, it only deals in colleges in Texas, and if Texas doesn't education college students, there are more jobs which the rest of us are more likely to obtain.
- No, it only comes up with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills(TEKS), for K-12, and who cares?
- No, it only comes up with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and these only lead to what textbooks Texas school districts and school children end up buying.
- Yes, It comes up with TEKS, and that leads to textbooks on the "approved" list. The state of Texas will pay for textbooks, but only those on the approved list. None of the 1000+ public school districts in the state wants to pay its money for textbooks, or to require students to pay for them, so everyone of them orders from the "approved" list. Publishers developed their books, with Texas TEKS in mind, and then try to hawk those same books everywhere.
Now take the one question poll.
What can you do, now, to help?
- If you live in Austin, or near Austin. phone John (512) 371-3853. Learn of discussions going on this next weekend.
- If you live in Texas, outside the Austin area, email John. Ask for a link to find what district you're in. Learn whether your SBOE district is up in 2010. Get the status on that district. Learn how you and your friends might organize and lead discussions so that you're not caught flat-footed on candidates. John could email you on what we're already doing in Austin, and how you might organize on your own.
- If you live outside of Texas, but have acquaintances in Texas, ask for email which you could forward to them.
- If you live outside of Texas, but know no one in Texas, comment here, or email John with your words of support.
- Any of the above.
--John Keohane
keohane@prodigy.net
(512) 371-3853
Austin, Texas