The Texas State Board of Education voted 11-3 today to keep language in the social studies curriculum that directs teachers to “Examine the reasons the Founding Fathers protected religious freedom in America and guaranteed it free exercise by saying that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof and compare and contrast this to the phrase ‘separation of church and state.’” The elected board has 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats.
The fight over the establishment clause is part of a larger struggle over the public school social studies curriculum. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have accused Republicans on the board of politicizing their curriculum and not devoting sufficient attention to civil rights. Republicans, however, argue that they are promoting balance and ensuring that Texas students learn patriotism and the true intent of the Founding Fathers of our nation.
The state’s standardized tests and textbooks are required to be based on the curriculum adopted by the State Board of Education. Decisions made in Texas can often have an sizable impact on textbooks nationwide because the state is such a large purchaser of books.
Socially conservative groups immediately praised adoption of the amendment. “The new addition to have students compare and contrast ‘separation of church and state’ with the actual words of the Constitution is an excellent idea and will be a real service to the students,” said Kelly Shackelford, president of the conservative Liberty Institute. “It takes a true liberal extremist to oppose students reading the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union is calling on the Texas Legislature to neuter the elected board.
The debate over the history standards continues all day today, with a final vote expected some time this evening.
