The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board
The State Board of Education rarely does the big things easily. But so far its hitting the proverbial sweet spot with proposed standards for social studies classes. For the first time in a decade the elected board is re-crafting the list of people concepts and dates that students from kindergarten through 12th grade need to know in their social studies classes. Now the 15 members just need to maintain that balance before the final votes in November and early next year.
Most of the standards dealing with world geography world and American history U.S. government economics psychology and sociology are not controversial. Teams of teachers and professors appointed by various board members have written them during laborious meetings and most Texans would applaud their work.
But several sections have sparked dissent mostly those that deal with which historical figures and events that students should know. One of the more expressive dissenters has been David Barton the former vice chairman of the Texas GOP. He is one of six outside reviewers the committee appointed to examine the work of the teachers and professors.
Some of the objections in his 87-page response are reasonable. He raises important points about conservative figures like Newt Gingrich being quarantined into a special section on conservatives while liberal leaders such as Betty Friedan are woven into the standards without being identified as liberal. He notes how some consequential African-Americans including Reconstruction leaders in Texas were not included. And he urges that students be able to identify and define our inalienable rights.
The teams drafting the standards cant incorporate all his views or those of the other reviewers. But they should give them a serious read and come back to the full board at its November meeting with a near-final draft.
This newspapers evaluation of the proposals indicates that the teams are doing a good job of including important Texas figures from Sam Houston Moses Austin Stephen F. Austin Davy Crockett Juan Seguin and Charles Goodnight all the way to Lyndon Johnson the two Bushes Barbara Jordan and Irma Rangel. And they also have included the crucial American figures such as George Washington Martin Luther King Jr. Abraham Lincoln Franklin Roosevelt Thurgood Marshall and Ronald Reagan.
Sure theres some room to quibble. For example why did Columbus Dad Joiner the man who discovered the game-changing East Texas oil field get bumped?
But there is absolutely no reason for the board to get into a big blowup over these standards. Events and figures should be included because they are historically important not because they fit a preferred political creed.
The final work will be a success if all board members keep seeking that sweet spot.
So far the process has been working something you cant always say about the State Board of Education.
Want to read the drafts? Click here.
