White calls for removing politics from classroom

[white cloud]

AUSTIN — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White said Saturday that if elected in November, he would pick a new chairman for the State Board of Education to “undo some of the damage” from controversial social studies curriculum standards adopted Friday. Critics contend they shortchange minorities and push a rosy view of history.

The 15-member board will have at least two four members in January, when their terms expire.

Some Texans have called for a limited review to address some of the more controversial standards that will influence new history, government, geography and economics textbooks for 4.8 million public school children. Only the board chairman sets the agenda, and the governor chooses that leader — currently Gail Lowe, R-Lampasas.

The board appointed academic experts, historians and teachers to recommend new social studies textbooks but then did a massive rewriting by considering some 400 amendments.

“Obviously, I would pick a chair who would try to undo some of the damage that is being done as quickly as we can,” White said. “We should have standards which reflect the views of professional educators and historians and respect the integrity of that process rather than injecting political ideology in the classroom — regardless where that ideology came in the political spectrum.”
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7017917.html

[texastoast]

1. Bravo Bill!

I'm with Bill.

[sonias]

2. This really could be an issue White can gain some ground on

He needs to keep pounding Perry on this too. Perry tries to keep his hands clean on this but they are obviously dirty. He appointed both of the crazies to head this board - McLeroy and then Gail. He is directly responsible for the actions of this board. It doesn't matter that both of them were "elected". Perry chose the direction of the board by appointing the crazy Board Chairs he did. If one of the moderate Rs were SBOE Chair, things might have been different.

But of course the Texas press lets Perry walk away from the mess. :eyes:

Standards for a decade

Gov. Rick Perry has not commented on the new curriculum standards, and his office said he does not plan to consult with Lowe.

“The State Board of Education members are independently elected officials, and the governor has no intention of getting involved in the process,” Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said.

That is a total lack of leadership and accountablity on Perry's part. :puke: