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Hi John,
Last week, the State Board of Education (SBOE) heard public testimony on the state's new, Bible-infused elementary school reading curriculum. An overwhelming majority of the 100+ parents, grandparents, educators, and advocates who testified showed strong opposition, urging the board to reject the materials. It was a powerful showing for the religious freedom of Texas students! ✊
In addition to mobilizing testifiers from across the state, TFN hosted a press conference [[link removed]] outside the meeting to call on the board to reject the curriculum. “Teaching about the influence of religion in history and culture is an important part of a well-rounded education, but you can’t turn public schools into Sunday schools,” said Carisa Lopez, deputy director of TFN .
Now, will the conservative-dominated SBOE do their duty as elected officials and actually listen to the will of their constituents? We’ll have to see. As always, TFN is here to bring you the highlights (and lowlights) with your SBOE Rundown.
Extra! Extra! Elected Leader Complains About Having to Listen to Constituents
Just 8 testifiers into what ended up being 8 full hours of public comments, Republican SBOE member Audrey Young interrupted to complain about having to hear “the same thing over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.” She brought up a board rule allowing the chair to censor “repetitious testimony.” She continued to regularly interrupt testifiers, including TFN’s own Senior Organizing Strategist Emerald Belmarez .
Board member Marisa Pérez-Díaz (D) kindly reminded member Young that it’s their responsibility to “listen to the people who took the time to be here.” Member Staci Childs (D) then made the motion to suspend the rule cited by Young. Her motion passed 6-5, allowing all testifiers to be heard. 🎉
More Meeting Malarkey
*
SBOE
Chair
Aaron
Kinsey
(R)
claimed
the
process
of
developing
the
curriculum
has
been
“transparent.”
But
as
multiple
testifiers
reminded
the
board,
the
state
still
refuses
to
tell
Texans
who
actually
wrote
the
lessons.
[[link removed]]
What
we
do
know
is
that
one
of
the
subcontractors
associated
with
the
curriculum
is
the
extreme-right
Texas
Public
Policy
Foundation.
Moreover,
the
curriculum’s
advisory
board
is
stocked
with
conservative
politicians
and
political
operatives
[[link removed]]
who
helped
develop
Project
2025,
the
radical
blueprint
for
a
second
Trump
administration.
*
SBOE
Member
Tom
Maynard
(R)
challenged
Nancy
Kasten
,
a
highly
respected
rabbi
who
spoke
at
TFN’s
press
conference,
on
how
to
interpret
religious
texts.
In
a
superhuman
showing
of
restraint,
she
reminded
him
that
people
of
faith
interpret
and
understand
religious
texts
in
different
ways.
*
Austin
Kinghorn
from
Texas
Attorney
General
Ken
Paxton’s
office
bizarrely
defended
the
controversial
curriculum
by
telling
SBOE
members
that
the
Constitution
doesn’t
protect
people
from
being
offended.
Yes,
this
is
the
same
AG’s
office
that
supports
people
banning
books
they
don’t
like.
You can’t make this stuff up, folks.
What’s that? A glimmer of hope from Republican members?
A couple of Republican board members indicated some concern about the curriculum turning public schools into Sunday schools. But MAGA board member Julie Pickren dug her heels in and insisted that she's received 12,000 emails in support of the curriculum — although it should be known that she doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to… well… the truth [[link removed]] .
You can count on TFN to hold these members and others accountable as we approach the November meeting.
What happens next?
The fight continues! The board is scheduled to vote on approving or rejecting the curriculum at its November 19-22 meeting. Please save the date, follow us on Instagram if you don’t already [[link removed]] , and keep an eye on your email inbox so that we can update you and send you advocacy opportunities.
Public schools are NOT Sunday schools! We’ll be there in November to pressure the SBOE to reject this harmful curriculum, and we hope you will, too.
In freedom,
[[link removed]]
Seneca Savoie (he/him)
TFN Organizing Director
P.S. ICYMI, we read through and analyzed the state's entire proposed curriculum in our newest report [[link removed]] and the conclusion is clear: It overemphasizes Christianity, too often portrays Christianity in a one-sided way that whitewashes difficult historical truths, and incorporates detailed Bible lessons in unnecessary and unwarranted ways. Give it a read. [[link removed]]
Donate to the Teach the Truth campaign [[link removed]]
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TFN is a statewide non-partisan, grassroots organization that is building an informed and effective movement working toward equality and social justice.
Texas Freedom Network
P.O. Box 1624
Austin, TX 78767
United States
Phone: (512) 322-0545
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