Texas Textbooks Revamped to Reflect Conservative Bias

Texas newspapers began covering it a few weeks ago, but now it is making headlines nationwide: conservatives on the Texas State Board of Education have been busy writing and passing amendments that will significantly change the content of K-12 textbooks to reflect their bias.

Every ten years, textbook content is reviewed and updated. But this time, the updates are making national headlines because Republicans on the board believe current textbooks are too liberally biased and are passing amendments that present a "fairer view" of Republicans throughout history. Next year's textbooks will have changes in their Social Studies, American History, and World History sections, to name a few.

The Texas Board of Education has a strong, very right-wing conservative majority, which is the catalyst for these fundamental changes to children's education. The leading voice of this majority is Dr. Don McLeroy, a dentist who, after 11 years on the Board, was defeated in the February primary in favor of a more moderate Republican. This is a small glimmer of hope on the horizon. However, before the results of the February primary and the November election take effect, the seven strongly conservative members have a few more weeks to vote in favor of changes to the upcoming textbooks.

The two main areas where these changes are visible are in the role of religion and minorities in history. In the new standards, Christian ideas and influences play a much more important role in the establishment and development of the United States. For instance, the board gets rid of the idea of separation between church and state.  In contrast to the increased role of religion, minorities, including Hispanics and women, will play a smaller, less significant role in the textbooks. Attempts by more liberal members of the board to include names and achievements of minorities in both Texas and U.S. history were shut down by conservative members.

Now that the board has made its decisions, the new standards will be available for public comment starting in mid-April and then put to a final vote in May.

As one of the largest states and thus largest education systems, Texas textbook standards are hugely influential. Textbook companies design textbooks based on the standards that the larger markets put out. California usually reviews standards at the same time as Texas, thus lending a more balanced view to the new publication; however, due to budgetary problems, California has decided to review their standards in 2014. This means that the republican, religious, majority-focused, conservative standards being pushed in Texas will show up in classrooms all around the country. That's definitely worth headlines, don't you think?

Sign the petition to tell Texas State Board of Education Members to vote against the new standards in May.

Photo credit: CC Rogers