As you know, Texas is conducting a controversial re-write of their social studies standards. This gained notice because a very conservative cluster of school board officials basically hijacked the Board and began pushing through really objectionable stuff. Here's a summary. Because publishers historically have written their high school materials for Texas and then adapted them for other states, this raised concerns that kids nationwide would be using conservatively biased textbooks. This has so alarmed people that legislators in California proposed a bill barring any Texas standards from California schools. Heck, this whole brouhaha even made the Daily Show.
Well, I'm here to offer an publisher industry insider update on this whole mess. The executive summary is: let's all take a deep breath and wait a bit. The TX Board did finally approve amendments to their standards but because they created such a stir they had to roll back some of their more egregious changes. So, while there is a standard calling for a look at the Constitution and Bill of Rights for the lack of the phrase "separation of church and state," Thomas Jefferson wasn't pulled from the standards. Also, they may be re-re-visited. Three of the most conservative members are lame ducks and the incoming folks have pledged to re-open this debate--something they can legally do when they take office in January. And, the state legislature has threatened to refuse funding for the textbook adoption with these standards.
And, as always, it comes down to that funding. Across the country, school districts are facing massive budget crunches and are trying to reallocate money set aside for textbooks and materials, controversial or not, to payroll to keep teachers. Texas has already postponed their science adoption because of budget issues. If science is delayed, you know social studies will be. In the end, it could all be much ado about nothing.
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