Tag Archives: SBOE

Science textbook delay

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The adoption of new science textbooks may be delayed a year as a budget maneuver. The $1.4 billion price tag for new science textbooks and other materials has been causing sticker shock among state officials bracing for the upcoming budget … Continue reading →

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“We went out and won some elections”

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I know people who read this blog understand the importance of voting in every election, but I think it’s good to be reminded from time to time. So with that, this Statesman article about the current state of the SBOE … Continue reading →

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White tells the SBOE to wait till next year

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the SBOE is set to take a final vote on their proposed revisions to the social studies textbook standards. They’ve received a lot of mostly negative feedback so far, but have said they’re still considering specific suggestions. … Continue reading →

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They get letters

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Many people have told the SBOE what they can do with their proposed textbook standards for social studies. The State Board of Education had received more than 20,000 public comments as of last week on the proposed revision of social … Continue reading →

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The historians have their say

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The various legislative groups held their SBOE hearings on Wednesday. In pointing out the many ways in which that unesteemed body screwed the pooch on social studies, they joined with others in calling for a delay in adopting the new … Continue reading →

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Where’s Gail?

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This morning at 9 AM in Austin, a hearing will be held by various legislative groups including the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the Legislative Study Group, the House Black Caucus, and Senate Hispanic Caucus, to discuss the recent changes to … Continue reading →

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We’ve done well, but we can still do better

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The defeat of wingnut candidate Brian Russell, who was backed by departing SBOE member Cynthia Dunbar to succeed her, in the GOP runoff this week is unquestionably good news that will help de-loonify that dysfunctional body. I’m as glad as … Continue reading →

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Historians want SBOE to hold it right there

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A group of historians have called on the SBOE to review and rethink its recent changes to the social studies curriculum. Historians are decrying the social studies curriculum standards crafted by the State Board of Education that they say misrepresent … Continue reading →

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Runoff results

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Going by early vote totals, it seems likely that the remaining Democratic nominees will be Tanner Garth, Bob Thomas, Bruce Kessler, and Deborah Wright. On the Republican side, Danny Dexter and James Lombardino look to be in good shape for … Continue reading →

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Bill Hobby bashes the SBOE

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, I don’t know who put the hot sauce in former Lite Guv Bill Hobby’s Cheerios, but keep it up, I say. Go read it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean. When you’re done with that, you can … Continue reading →

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Just a minute, SBOE

Posted on April 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I almost missed this op-ed by State Rep. Carol Alvarado about everyone’s favorite clown show, the State Board of Education. In it, she hits on a theme we’re seeing more and more of. How can board members claim that our … Continue reading →

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More legislative pushback against the SBOE

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas risks becoming a national laughingstock by diminishing Thomas Jefferson, banning the word “capitalism,” and otherwise distorting history for its public schools, the chairman of the Legislature’s largest caucus said Tuesday, announcing a hearing on the state’s proposed social … Continue reading →

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Turns out we’re not actually destroying the world one textbook at a time

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good to know. Though Texas has been painted in scores of media reports as the big dog that wags the textbook industry tail, that’s simply no longer true — and will become even less true in the future, as technological … Continue reading →

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A fine whine from the SBOE

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, some of the wingnut members of our State Board of Education got their widdle feelings hurt by some of the coverage of their most recent hijinks, in particular about their amendment to remove Thomas Jefferson from the world history … Continue reading →

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Electronic textbook update

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last year, the Lege passed a law that allowed school districts to provide electronic textbooks instead of the traditional kind as a way to save money. The bidding process to provide these texts is now going on. With Texas budgeted … Continue reading →

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“The list of shame”

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here are three last reminders of that gang of idiots known as the State Board of Education before they return in May to finalize the vandalism they committed last week. First up, from the Texas Freedom Network: So what happened? … Continue reading →

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The SBOE has low self-esteem

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I think I finally figured out why they do stuff like this. The State Board of Education tentatively approved new standards for social studies Friday with members divided along party lines — some blasting them as a fraud and conservative … Continue reading →

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The SBOE continues on its rampage

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sadly, despite the encouraging election results in the SBOE races last week, there’s still plenty of opportunity for the Board’s troglodyte caucus to wreak havoc on the schoolchildren of Texas. The State Board of Education’s Hispanic and African American members … Continue reading →

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Liveblogging the SBOE social studies hearings

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No, not me. I’m not there, and besides, I’m no good at liveblogging. Here’s all the coverage you could need, from people who actually are good at this. First and foremost, the indispensable Texas Freedom Network. Stephen Schafersman, blogging for … Continue reading →

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Time to send in the clowns

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You know that old expression about how no one’s life, liberty, or property are safe when the Legislature is in session? That’s how I feel these days about the State Board of Education. And that means it’s loin-girding time, because … Continue reading →

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Who is George Clayton?

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’re still learning about surprise new SBOE member George Clayton. The Statesman talks to him and sheds a little light on who he is. Clayton said he realized the board needed a “voice of reason” last year when the board … Continue reading →

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More on the SBOE

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Freedom Network does a victory dance over the defeat of wingnut SBOE member Don McLeroy, noting that overall the forces of good did much better than the far right did. “Don McLeroy was right when he said this … Continue reading →

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Runoff roundup

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a look at some of the runoff elections that will be on the ballot next month. On the Democratic side…boy, there’s not much. No statewide runoffs, as Linda Chavez-Thompson got a majority in her three-candidate race for Lite Guv. … Continue reading →

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Election results: McLeroy loses!

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The second-best news of the evening is that wackjob SBOE member Don McLeroy lost to Thomas Ratliff, thus making the state’s worst elected body at least somewhat less dysfunctional. The board’s balance of power is delicate. Though it’s had ten … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Statesman on the SBOE

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman makes some recommendations in SBOE primaries in hopes of getting a better, or at least a slightly less dysfunctional, Board for the coming year. In the District 5 Republican primary, Tim Tuggey, 54, gets our endorsement. Tuggey, running … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Where I stand

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting begins in the primaries today. With that in mind, the following are Democratic candidates I will be voting for, or would be voting for if I lived in their district. I am only addressing contested races – you … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Cisneros for Bell-Metereau

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve written about the GOP primary in SBOE District 5 a couple of times, as there’s a sensible Republican (Tim Tuggey) running against incumbent wingnut Ken Mercer there. SBOE 5 also has a competitive Democratic primary, and by all indications … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: DMN for Ratliff and Kinky

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Dallas Morning News has a couple of endorsements of interest, one good and one puzzling. In the good one, they endorse challenger Thomas Ratliff in his GOP primary race for the SBOE against wingnut Don McLeroy. McLeroy, a board … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: ParentPAC for Tim Tuggey

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas ParentPAC has gotten itself involved in another Republican SBOE primary, this time on behalf of San Antonio’s Tim Tuggey, who is challenging incumbent Ken Mercer in District 5. Here’s their release: The bipartisan Texas Parent PAC today announced … Continue reading →

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In case you needed further proof that the SBOE is a clown show

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

These guys just defy parody. In its haste to sort out the state’s social studies curriculum standards this month, the State Board of Education tossed children’s author [Bill] Martin, who died in 2004, from a proposal for the third-grade section. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: ParentPAC for Thomas Ratliff

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m very glad to see that the Texas ParentPAC is getting involved in the SBOE primaries. Here’s their press release for the District 9 GOP race: The bipartisan Texas Parent PAC today announced its endorsement of Thomas Ratliff for election … Continue reading →

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Another SBOE primary fight to watch

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned before that the GOP primary for SBOE District 5 is worth watching, but I didn’t know much about it at that time. This Statesman article helps to fill in the blanks. The brouhaha over the teaching of evolution … Continue reading →

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Wrapping up the SBOE social studies debate

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, the debate over the new social studies standards went on so long that the SBOE decided to put the rest of it off till March, meaning the final adoption will be in May. If only they could push it … Continue reading →

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The SBOE takes on social studies

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Somewhat surprisingly, nothing too horrible appears to have happened. Yet. Kindergartners would learn about a Texas revolutionary and first-graders would discuss the idea of holding public officials accountable under proposals approved Thursday by the State Board of Education, which began … Continue reading →

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