Try these websites and (possibly) you may be able to contact the (elected, but volunteer, unpaid) SBOE members:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3803
http://votekenmercer.com/ Won a tough Primary against a convenient Republican who was backed by Red McCombs - no one knows why. He faces a Democrat in November.
http://www.joaniemuenzler.com/ (This is one of those twilight zone stories. http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/86675592.html Joanie lost to a man that doesn’t seem very bright. None of us can figure the results of this Republican Primary, not at all. The man actually told local reporters that some one handed him an application and promised he’d get paid. He won’t say who gave him the promise. His qualifications? He claims that he’s qualified because he ran for office in college student government.
The only clue is that some anti-Republicans crossed over to skew our Republican Primary results http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2010/03/texas_sboe_wingnuts_lose_prima.php)
I believe that there is still ongoing controversy about the final form of our Social Studies TAKs, our minimum standards or knowledge set, but our kids will be taught about Christmas, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Day here in Texas.
I don’t know about Texas, but the NC move to make high school history begin with 1877 has apparently been killed.
Ping
LS,
Go here and/or google Jonathan Saenz, Liberty INstitute, lot of insight on Texas textbook controversies:
http://texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com/
http://texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/watch-our-fox-news-interview/
Also, Bill Ames had a great writeup in Texas Insider on the social studies TEKS controversy:
http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=18289
Are you a Texan?
Because if not, I question what makes you think you should be speaking.
Thanks.
Noting.
This may help since you are going on FOX. This Statement by the Board answers all your questions.
Fox inaccurately reporting State Board of Education action
AUSTIN The Fox Network in recent days has repeatedly broadcast highly inaccurate information about the State Board of Educations efforts to adopt the new social studies curriculum standards.
Here are the facts. The direct quotes come from the March 10 broadcast of Fox & Friends.
Fox: Texas board of education begins hearings today on proposed changes to textbooks
The truth: The State Board of Education today is expected to take a preliminary vote on updated social studies curriculum standards. The standards detail what teachers are to teach in each class. New social studies textbooks are not scheduled to be selected until 2011.
Link: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=8203