There is an ongoing debate in education between parents and teachers’ unions and school boards in Texas.
This debate has escalated as a result of a controversial policy debate at the Texas State Board of Education.
Parents across Texas and the country have awakened to the fact that controversial topics are being taught to their children. This fact has resulted in tense debates and protests at local school boards. A related controversy erupted during a recent consideration of new standards for a Social Studies curriculum.
Parental rights advocates argued that much of the proposed changes for curriculum standards would open the way for the teaching of controversial transgender and sexuality issues.
According to the Texas Scorecard, State Representative Mayes Middleton said in a letter to the chairman of the State Board of Education: “The proposed changes, Mr. Chairman, are unacceptable and in many cases illegal… proposed standards for Grade 8 also violate H.B. 3979 by requiring educators to discuss the controversial issues such as the ‘pride’ movement, but only as framed alongside with the Civil Rights Movement.”
This kind of controversy is not uncommon when it comes to the State Board of Education and curriculum standards.
However, the outpouring of opposition from parents all over Texas was uncommon and it resulted in the State Board of Education deciding to postpone its decision.
According to some reports five Democratic board members left the room to avoid the vote.
According to The Texan News, Board member Marisa B. Perez-Diaz accosted a parent giving testimony on the border issue saying, “If you knew about what you were testifying about, you would be able to point to what TEKS you were referring to. What do you know about borders? What were you taught in school?” She continued, “This country did not always have borders. We are sitting on stolen land. We need to understand our indigenous roots. What do you remember learning about Native American history? What do you know about borders?”
Even more controversial was a statement by the President of the Texas State Teachers Association, the oldest teacher union in the state, in which she referred to the parents who expressed their concerns to the State Board of Education as “extremists.”
Some have suggested this is reminiscent of the U.S. Attorney General labeling parents expressing their views before local school boards as “domestic terrorists.”
There is indeed a battle in the public policy and political arena today on what will be the role of parents in the education of their children. We believe parents have a God-given right to raise their children as they see fit and we support and praise parents who participate in setting educational standards.
Help us in our mission of not only Keeping Texas Families Free but in keeping you updated as to all the latest news in the legislative front.
If you agree with us and support our mission to support parents, join THSC or become a supporter and help us stand in the gap for this father and the families of Texas.
Subscribe to our newsletters to receive important updates.
Tim Lambert, THSC President
Tim Lambert, has been the president of the Texas Home School Coalition since 1990 and involved in homeschool leadership since 1984. He and his wife Lyndsay taught their four now-grown children at home for 16 years, graduating the last two in 2000. As the head of the organization for the leading home school state in the country, he is recognized as an authority on home education issues.
Tim has testified before numerous Texas legislative committees on issues related to homeschooling and often deals with state government agencies, including the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He has also addressed such conferences as the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers on the topic. He holds a B.A. in political science from Texas Tech University and is active in the political arena, serving eight years as Republican National Committeeman for Texas. Tim is committed to serving the homeschooling community and to protecting parents’ right to choose the method of education of their children.
There is an ongoing debate in education between parents and teachers’ unions and school boards in Texas.
This debate has escalated as a result of a controversial policy debate at the Texas State Board of Education.
Parents across Texas and the country have awakened to the fact that controversial topics are being taught to their children. This fact has resulted in tense debates and protests at local school boards. A related controversy erupted during a recent consideration of new standards for a Social Studies curriculum.
Parental rights advocates argued that much of the proposed changes for curriculum standards would open the way for the teaching of controversial transgender and sexuality issues.
According to the Texas Scorecard, State Representative Mayes Middleton said in a letter to the chairman of the State Board of Education: “The proposed changes, Mr. Chairman, are unacceptable and in many cases illegal… proposed standards for Grade 8 also violate H.B. 3979 by requiring educators to discuss the controversial issues such as the ‘pride’ movement, but only as framed alongside with the Civil Rights Movement.”
This kind of controversy is not uncommon when it comes to the State Board of Education and curriculum standards.
However, the outpouring of opposition from parents all over Texas was uncommon and it resulted in the State Board of Education deciding to postpone its decision.
According to some reports five Democratic board members left the room to avoid the vote.
According to The Texan News, Board member Marisa B. Perez-Diaz accosted a parent giving testimony on the border issue saying, “If you knew about what you were testifying about, you would be able to point to what TEKS you were referring to. What do you know about borders? What were you taught in school?” She continued, “This country did not always have borders. We are sitting on stolen land. We need to understand our indigenous roots. What do you remember learning about Native American history? What do you know about borders?”
Even more controversial was a statement by the President of the Texas State Teachers Association, the oldest teacher union in the state, in which she referred to the parents who expressed their concerns to the State Board of Education as “extremists.”
Some have suggested this is reminiscent of the U.S. Attorney General labeling parents expressing their views before local school boards as “domestic terrorists.”
There is indeed a battle in the public policy and political arena today on what will be the role of parents in the education of their children. We believe parents have a God-given right to raise their children as they see fit and we support and praise parents who participate in setting educational standards.
Help us in our mission of not only Keeping Texas Families Free but in keeping you updated as to all the latest news in the legislative front.
If you agree with us and support our mission to support parents, join THSC or become a supporter and help us stand in the gap for this father and the families of Texas.
Subscribe to our newsletters to receive important updates.
Tim Lambert, THSC President
Tim Lambert, has been the president of the Texas Home School Coalition since 1990 and involved in homeschool leadership since 1984. He and his wife Lyndsay taught their four now-grown children at home for 16 years, graduating the last two in 2000. As the head of the organization for the leading home school state in the country, he is recognized as an authority on home education issues.
Tim has testified before numerous Texas legislative committees on issues related to homeschooling and often deals with state government agencies, including the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He has also addressed such conferences as the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers on the topic. He holds a B.A. in political science from Texas Tech University and is active in the political arena, serving eight years as Republican National Committeeman for Texas. Tim is committed to serving the homeschooling community and to protecting parents’ right to choose the method of education of their children.
