It’s The three P’s -- Not The Three R’s (In Texas)

The state of Texas has an interesting approach toward education.  They don't write school curriculum there the way I remember it being done in Newtown for example. 

Granted, I've been out of the loop for a few years but recent conversations with friends who are still actively involved confirm that not a whole lot has changed.  I'm familiar with the process because back in the day when I was a classroom teacher and especially a math/science specialist, I was heavily involved in curriculum development.  

Let me tell you how I recall it being done.  The Assistant Superintendent of Schools is, among other things, traditionally in charge of curriculum development.  As I remember, curriculum was on a 5 or 6 year review cycle.  I confess I haven't formally researched this so you'll have to take my word for it. 

Anyway, every few years, the Assistant Superintendent would ask the principals to forward to him/her a few names of people to serve on a curriculum development committee. 

Once that is done those people would gather with the Assistant Superintendent, receive instructions and set about writing curriculum. Once it is written -- or revised -- it's offered to  the rest of the faculty to review. 

If changes are in order, they're made and the process keeps cycling through in this fashion until everyone's happy.  Then it goes to the Board of Education.

They listen to what we have to say, approve it and discuss the funding of any new materials that may be needed. 

If the curriculum is in the least but controversial as it was when we were getting into 'sex education', public hearings are scheduled but that didn't happen very often. 

And that's it. 

Pretty neat system, isn't it?  Let's look at how it's done in Texas. 

First of all it's a top down system.  Unlike Newtown, and every other town in the state,  the localities do not have a say in curriculum content. 

Rather, the State Board of Education gathers together and writes curriculum.  Note:  Most of these folks are NOT educators.  They're business people, religious leaders and politicians. 

According to an article I recently read, it is an extremely conservative group and as such they have infused their personal ideals into the curriculum. 

For example if it's decided that it's OK to teach evolution, they require equal time be devoted to 'creationism'.  Plus,  there can be little or no mention of the value of the multicultural nature of our society.  Finally, one last example of Texas BOE wisdom, the names of important Hispanics in our country have been excluded. 

Several members of the Board who realized how ridiculous this is resigned but the majority are  holding fast to their twisted principles. 

So why am I discussing something a bunch of right wing lunatics is doing in the great state of Texas.  Who cares as long as it stays there?  Right?

Well, here's why. 

Texas wields enormous purchase power in the publishing industry so guess which books publishers are going to offer us when the time comes.  It sure as heck isn't going to be something offensive to the fine folks on the Texas Board of Education, is it? 

That's why we need to be watching what's going on there and counter it where possible.  The alternative is to write/create our own materials -- which I recall we've done.

Fortunately, saner heads prevail in states like New York and California so a balance of sorts is maintained.  In the meantime  Texas students and educators are the unfortunate victims of  the politicizing of curriculum.