Texas SBOE Embarrasses Itself And The State

The Texas State Board of Education has once again demonstrated that it has no shame when it coming to injecting right-wing politics and fundamentalist christianity into the state educational system.   As if it wasn't bad enough that they wrote a creationist statement to be added to state science books (which has been delayed fortunately because of a lack of state funds) and rewrote state history books to reflect their own fringe right-wing beliefs, they have now passed another silly resolution.

This time, using out-of-date textbooks that are no longer used, they are accusing textbook manufacturers of favoring islam over christianity in history textbooks.   They had to use the old books as their example because the rules prevent them from discussing current books 90 days after they are approved.   But while they couldn't discuss the current books, some right-wing fundie board members claim the current books also favor islam.

Now anyone who has read a Texas history textbook can tell you, this is just a bald-faced lie.   But truth doesn't matter at all to this board.   Far more important to them is injecting their own personal political and religious views into the classroom.   I think they have felt a little left-out of the rampant islamaphobia sweeping the country right now and took this opportunity to jump on the "I hate muslims" bandwagon.

Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network (a mostly christian organization that supports real religious freedom), said,   "It's hard not to conclude that the misleading claims in this resolution are either based on ignorance of what's in the textbooks or, on the other hand, are an example of fear-mongering and playing politics."   She is right on both counts.   It is fear-mongering political posturing and it is guided by ignorance.

There is only one saving grace in this whole silly affair.   The ridiculous resolution is not binding on future textbook decisions.   This makes the coming elections very important for education in Texas (and other states since by its size Texas dictates what is in textbooks sold in many smaller states).   For the sake of millions of school children, voters need to vote out as many of these right-wing board members as possible this November.

These right-wing fundamentalist board members have no conscience or shame, and they will continue to damage education until they are voted out of office.