Education First SBOE 10 Launches New Website

by: mktiv

Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 02:18 PM CST

The website EducationFirstSBOE10.org is geared to advancing the groups goals of raising voter awareness and interest in the State Board of Education, in particular the SBOE district 10 election of 2010.

Visit EducationFirstSBOE10.org for more!

UPDATED: SBOE 3: Is Michael Soto Our Savior in the State Board of Education?

by: Michael Hurta

Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 09:36 AM CST

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Three political methods exist to stop the State Board of Education from crippling our schools with an extremist agenda.

1. Run a Democrat against a socially conservative Republican and win.
2. Support moderate Republicans against the God-Fearing Conservative Republicans, and make sure they win.
3. Purge any Democrats who vote with the Socially Conservative Bloc.

The first two options will prove quite difficult.  Locally, lots of Democrats are lining up to take on the ultra-crazy Cynthia Dunbar, and they all should be applauded for that, but a 15-seat body to represent everyone in Texas doesn't exactly have "swing districts."  Beating Cynthia Dunbar in a general election, unfortunately, will require a lot of money, a lot of volunteers, and/or a lot of luck.  It's possible.  I'll keep my fingers crossed, but eventual failure in these efforts will not surprise me.

The second option is highlighted in this excellent article from the Texas Tribune.  Most notably, Thomas Ratliff, son of former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff, is running against former chair Don McLeroy.  I remain skeptical about putting too much stock here, too.  We just saw Republicans abandon their own candidate in NY-23 because she was too moderate, and almost every sign in Texas shows that Rick Perry and his extra-conservative gang lead the state GOP.  Success here will be easier than in the general election, so we should consider helping folks like Bill Ratliff if we can.  But still, failure in these endeavors won't phase me a bit.

That same Texas Tribune article reminded me of the third option:

Though the board had (and still has) ten Republican and five Democrats, seven socially conservative Republicans had formed a reliable voting bloc that, with the swing vote of Democratic member Rick Agosto, gave them the power to push forward a socially conservative agenda.

A Democrat should never vote with a far-right block anywhere, especially when his or her single vote is so important -- Not to mention on a regular basis, as Mr. Agosto does!

On a board where the Republicans have stocked many of their farthest right members, I'm not suggesting all Democrats be far-left, but they shouldn't consider associating with those in the farthest right, either.  Worse yet with Agosto, he is involved in some SBOE ethics problems, which could jeopardize his chances in a general election while opening up the opportunity for an even more conservative board member.  Some speculation even suggests that his ethics troubles and his periodic support of the Right Evangelistic positions are interrelated!  

Can this guy get any worse?  

We probably shouldn't wait to find out.

Thankfully, his seat is on the 2010 ballot.  People have been calling for challengers for a while, and the San Antonio Express-News even joined the fray in a mid-October editorial, saying, "surely there are more qualified candidates in this 11-county SBOE District 3 region than we saw in 2006."  After reading the editorial, I combed through the interwebs to see if anyone in this district has expressed remote interest in challenging the most Republican Democrat on the State Board of Education.  

One name came up: Dr. Michael Soto, an English professor at Trinity University.  Looking at his website, he looks like a potential asset for the board.  Wonderful.  Now, can he win?

He ran for the San Antonio ISD school board in May, and he garnered almost 44% of the vote.  Impressively, however, he managed this against former mayor Ed Garza.  In that race he managed to gain the support of local San Antonio businessmen, but the race isn't just in San Antonio.  SBOE 3 runs from Bexar County all the way down to Hidalgo County in the Valley.  And Agosto rings a bit more Hispanic than Soto.  He has a website already, but it's lacking in many respects compared to Rick Agosto's.  

He could use some help.  And right now, no one else is stepping up.  So if you live in the district, either offer Mr. Soto a hand or find another challenger.  We need someone here.

If he's the only other option, he could be our savior on the State Board of Education.  Right now, nobody has a better chance to rid the board of a bunch of bad votes.

Texas Education Roundup

by: Michael Hurta

Tue Sep 29, 2009 at 00:10 PM CDT

• Last week, a GAO Report (.pdf) noted that the Department of Education has listed Texas as a "high risk" state.  We have been marked for "Intensive Technical Assistance" and will be monitored on-site during the 2010 fiscal year.
• The State Board of Education not only has problems with managing what we teach our children, but there is also controversy about the Board's money management.  Unfortunately, a Democrat is involved this time.
  

  In July, the board fired its general investment consultant, R.V. Kuhns & Associates. Responsible for shaping the fund's investment strategy and contracting decisions, Kuhns was replaced with a rival, Massachusetts-based NEPC.

  The action was taken directly contrary to the recommendation of the school fund's state staff. Not only did NEPC rank lower than Kuhns in the Texas Education Agency's evaluation, it also cost more - $1.05 million compared with Kuhns' bid of $398,000 for the same work. (In its final proposal, NEPC lowered its fee to $580,000, though it remained the high bidder.)

  The decision to hire NEPC raised concern among state officials because it was championed by board member Rick Agosto, D-San Antonio. As a marketer for institutional investment firms in his private career, Agosto had prior business contacts with NEPC.

• Last week the 15-year Texas Student Media Director, Kathy Lawrence, retired while siting health reasons.  Assistant VP for Student Affairs Jennifer Hammat was appointed as the interim replacement.  Texas Student Media advises many media organizations run primary by students, including The Daily Texan and KVRX 91.7 FM.
• Now that funding for the bad policy runs dry, Texas schools begin turing a cold shoulder to the failed "abstinence-only" classes.  This must explain it:
  

  More government money has been spent on the cause of sexual abstinence in Texas than any other state, but it still has the third-highest teen birth rate in the country and the highest percentage of teen mothers giving birth more than once.

• Texas Tech Universitiy's enrollment has jumped over 1,500 from last year, to an all-time high of 30,049.

SBOE Social Studies Battle: Teaching Republican Party Ideology?

by: Michael Hurta

Sat Aug 22, 2009 at 10:38 AM CDT

Oh, except for possibly teaching Republican Party ideology.

Texas high school students would learn about such significant individuals and milestones of conservative politics as Newt Gingrich and the rise of the Moral Majority - but nothing about liberals - under the first draft of new standards for public school history textbooks.

[...]

The first draft for proposed standards in United States History Studies Since Reconstruction says students should be expected "to identify significant conservative advocacy organizations and individuals, such as Newt Gingrich, Phyllis Schlafly and the Moral Majority."

Gingrich helped lead House Republicans to their 1994 takeover of Congress and became House speaker. Schlafly founded the conservative Eagle Forum and became a leading opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment aimed at formalizing women's equality with men. The Moral Majority formed in the late 1970s as an evangelical Christian organization that influenced politics and public policy for decades.

I'll be honest, I had never heard of Phyllis Schlafly before this article.  And although Newt Gingrich is probably an important figure in American history that deserves examination, his inclusion stems only from a decision that reeks of political party bais.

Thankfully, not every Republican on the board is in line with teaching about the conservative movement from a partisan slant.  Terri Leo (R-Spring) commented, "It is hard to believe that a majority of the writing team would approve of such wording.  It's not even a representative selection of the conservative movement, and it is inappropriate."

As Leo alluded to, teaching the conservative movement is one thing, and teaching conservatism is quite another.  The recommended curriculum proposes the latter.

There are other Republicans on the board, like Ken Mercer, who think they can teach conservatism by adding liberal activists to the "names to recognize" list.  They think this will placate Democrats.  Mercer even suggests trying to appease the group he is most afraid of, but it won't work:

Among liberals to include, Mercer would nominate the National Education Association, MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood and the Texas Freedom Network - a group that says it promotes "religious freedom and individual liberties to counter the radical right."

"We don't think it's appropriate to be listing groups and people in the standards just because they're conservatives or liberals," said Kathy Miller, the group's president. "The state board should simply stop putting politics ahead of our kids' education and putting teachers in the position of indoctrinating students with political agendas."

The road to an updated Social Studies Curriculum is a long one, and this is likely just one bump that we will encounter.  To obtain school syllabi that teach accurate history, we need to continue keeping an eye out.  Subtle additions like this one are to be expected.

Another SBOE 5 Candidate

by: Michael Hurta

Fri Aug 21, 2009 at 02:24 PM CDT

In the comments, as well as in emails we have received, we learned that a guy named Daniel Boone was also running.  Yes, it's no coincidence that he has the same name as that Daniel Boone.  Apparently, he's related.

Daniel also ran for House District 73 in the 2008 cycle, getting about 26 percent of the vote against Republican Doug Miller.  It was not his first run for this seat: he was a write-in candidate in 2006 when he received 2,690 votes (5.64%) when there was not a Democratic Party candidate.  Boone was a career Air Force officer, rising to Lt. Colonel.  Also, with a PhD in Experimental and Clinical Psychology, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at several universities, including the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Although some might consider him an also-ran and find more excitement in Bell-Meterau, it is exciting in general to know that multiple people are taking a jab at this seat, just like SBOE 10.

First Draft of History

by: liberaltexan

Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:01 PM CDT

The SBOE appointed a panel of experts to advise the SBOE on the social studies curriculum, and points of debate include the role of the Bible and Christian influence on the founding of the United States; debates on which historical figures should be included in lesson plans, textbooks, and standardized tests. The debates about curriculum in Texas have been hyper partisan; a group of fundamentalist Christian social conservatives controls a majority voting block on the SBOE. This partisan divide has far reaching effects, as the curriculum standards, specifically the language used in text books, has a national impact because the text books purchased by Texas (the second largest purchaser of text books in the country) are often used as a model for other states text books.

More Below the Fold...

History Curriculum Battle: McLeroy Blind to Reality

by: Michael Hurta

Sat Aug 08, 2009 at 01:31 PM CDT

His essay actually reads intelligently.  He starts by praising the West and defining the freedoms that have become apparent in many places of the West:

The West has relieved human suffering to a unprecedented degree; the West has developed freedom to a unparalleled level, both in freedom of coercion by other men and in freedom of opportunity to rise above one's original station in life. This is demonstrated by an incredible standard of living where even its "poor" are rich by global standards. It is also seen in the full political rights of all and the accepted idea of equality of all-including women and minorities.

This idea has a lot of merit, but McLeroy acts as if this "freedom" that has been discovered in the West has barely ventured beyond the West, and certainly not among un-Christian countries.  So, he continues:

We must look at the indisputable historical facts without the fear of being labeled ethnocentric. Where in the modern world do we find freedom? Freedom, as we know it, can be found in Europe-before and after the totalitarians, in England, Canada, the United States, parts of Latin America, and parts of the Pacific Rim. It is never found in the ancient world, though Athens and the Roman Republic came closest. It is never found in the rest of the modern world. Freedom is unique to the areas of the world that have been touched by Christianity.

The emphasis is mine -- for it is surely a conclusion that McLeroy comes to only with scant research.  So, let me continue for him.  To look at "the indisputable historical facts without the fear of being labeled ethnocentric," I will use some normal qualifications to determine if a country has "freedom of coercion by other men" and "freedom of opportunity to rise above one's original situation in life" - essentially, political freedom, economic freedom, and economic sustainability.  I will consider a country "free" under these standards: the country must be labeled free by Freedom House and must, in all three sets of data here, have a GDP per capita above the World Average.

Unsurprisingly, I find a few non-Christian countries that Don McLeroy must have missed in his research, such as Israel, Japan, and Estonia.  These are not simply exceptions to the rule -- they are countries of very diverse religious backgrounds that have achieved freedom, apparently from something else other than freedom.  Christianity is clearly a part of our history, but it is not the force that allowed freedom to blossom in this world.

In his interview with Fox News, McLeroy talked about the Declaration of Independence.  Surely, a document referring to our creator must point towards a basis in Christianity, right?  Once again, McLeroy only knows the surface of the details.  

Thomas Jefferson, as a historian on him would know, was greatly influenced by John Locke when writing the Declaration.  So,  his slight mention of our creator was probably derived from Locke's mentions of God.  I'm sure Mr. McLeroy knows this.  Only, Locke wrote his Second Treatise of Government using God only as a rhetorical tool to hide his true wishes for a much more secular society.  The fact that the Declaration of Independence mentions God [only] one time does not show that our government was based at all in Christianity, but instead that Thomas Jefferson did not feel quite as much need as Locke to appeal to Christians in his argument for freedom.

All of the above said; I would not mind Christianity being discussed at times in our history classrooms.  But when discussing the founding of our democracy; thought, rationality, bravery, and determination are much better vantage points.

Photo from the Don McLeroy dinner

by: Al Stanley

Fri Jul 31, 2009 at 09:50 PM CDT

Among the highlights:

Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond, asked Rene Nunez, D-El Paso, to take a photograph of McLeroy and "Don's Darlings," which included herself, [Terri] Leo [R-Spring] and Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands.

What I wouldn't give for a copy of that picture! Oh wait ... here it is ...

SBOE Chair Gail Lowe is Not Much Improvement from Rick Perry

by: Michael Hurta

Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 02:16 PM CDT

So, those who wanted Governor Perry to appoint someone better than Don McLeroy can thank him for that.  Actually, unless he appointed Cynthia Dunbar, I don't think it could have gotten worse.  So Rick Perry made an easy choice that is meant to appease those who complained about Mr. McLeroy.  And in some ways, he succeeded.  Already, there are some who are applauding him for selecting a more moderate choice.

But where is Ms. Lowe more moderate?  It seems, I think, her rhetoric.  From the Denton Record-Chronicle:

Ms. Lowe, who called herself a creationist, said the study of evolution is important to the teaching of biology. At the same time, she added, "Kids ought to be able to hold religious beliefs and still study science without any conflict."

And when she exerts her creationist ideas at Board meetings (for surely all members of the social conservative block do), she does so with subtlety.  

But she is not so moderate in her rhetoric regarding sex education, where she has said, "I think parents have overwhelmingly shown that they want abstinence to be taught," although I strongly doubt a majority of parents really think that.  Her words aren't so subtle regarding environmental science or the make-up of families, either.

So, when looking at the new Chairwoman's words, we see that she is really only significantly better than Mr. McLeroy in one area of policy: evolution.  She might not be as bad with her devotion to conservative principles that hold Texas schools back, but her website claims she is "Committed to excellence and conservative Republican principles," including "traditional values in education."  

Now, though, I want to take another look at that one policy area where she is "better" than her predecessor; evolution.  See, her rhetoric there is encouraging, but a look at her votes make it look like her words might only be a mask.  Let's look at her record.  In 2003, she voted against biology textbooks that did not explain the "weaknesses" of the theory of evolution.  In 2009 she was still at that position, voting to reintroduce the "strengths and weaknesses" clause to the state curriculum.  Overall, she has "strongly favored" creationism through her time on the State Board of Education, despite her tricky rhetoric that might suggest otherwise.

The Texas Freedom Network sees the Lowe appointment as the minute improvement that it really is.  The organization's president Kathy Miller released the following statement:

It's disappointing that instead of choosing a mainstream conservative who could heal the divisions on the board, the governor once again appointed someone who repeatedly has put political agendas ahead of the education of Texas schoolchildren. Ms. Lowe has marched in lockstep with a faction of board members who believe that their personal beliefs are more important than the experience and expertise of teachers and academics who have dedicated their careers to educating our children and helping them succeed. We can only hope that she will rise above her history on the board and as chair keep the board from continuing to hold the education of our children hostage to divisive 'culture war' battles.

I think the Governor appointed someone with the same agenda as Don McLeroy, he simply appointed someone who is a bit quieter about her views.  In doing so, I believe he hopes the Texas Freedom Network and everyone else who wants a world-class education in this state will not notice the Board's continued mismanagement.

In this political maneuver, though, he appointed a chairwoman not known for her management skills.  She has already fought for at least a couple bad appointments to different committees.  Her appointment David Barton (to the Social Studies Curriculum Panel) argued for removing César Chavez from our curriculums.  She also co-nominated Charles Charner to the Science Curriculum Expert Review Panel, a scientist who has said, "The problem is, the conclusive evidence is really hard to get on evolution."

I really don't know why Rick Perry is trying to bring back a social war into our schools that was fought on that field decades ago (and won by the scientists/evolutionists).  For those of you who did not see it, The Economist recently released a Special Report on Texas that was complimentary in many ways.  The report, however, gave some warnings, and the biggest warning regarded the state's education.  In a write-up on the "state's best and worst sides," the magazine quotes a sociologist who states bluntly, "If we fail to turn our education system around, we will find that a whole generation has been locked out of the jobs market."  The problem is, though, we can't turn our education around into a globally competitive 21st century system if we continue to dwell on issues of the past.  With the appointment of Gail Lowe, Failure Governor Perry is doing just that -- continuing to dwell on a slate of issues from the past.

Cynthia Dunbar: Constitutional Scholar?

by: ProgressiveInTexas

Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 02:42 PM CDT

Article 7, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution states: "A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.".

Ms. Dunbar also appears to be lacking in her factual knowledge of American History and the United States Constitution.

In a letter to John Tyler, Thomas Jefferson wrote: "I have indeed two great measures at heart, without which no republic can maintain itself in strength: 1. That of general education, to enable every man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom. 2. To divide every county into hundreds, of such size that all the children of each will be within reach of a central school in it."

In her book, Ms. Dunbar claims that the framers of the Constitution formulated an "emphatically Christian Government.". She also believes that only those who share in HER belief system should be allowed into Government.

Has she heard of the First Amendment?  Did she fail her high school history classes?  Does she realize that what she advocates is exactly what the founding fathers found reprehensible?  In the 18th  century, England was a theocracy. Only those of the correct faith were permitted hold public office or receive government commissions.

Lest we forget that  Iran is a theocracy.  The First amendment is the bulwark that protects us from the perils of a theocracy. Maybe the Texas Bar Association should reexamine her qualifications.