Most of the members of the advisory board of the Texas’ controversial state curriculum are linked to christian advocacy groups, despite one of the goals of the new material is to be “free from bias.”
Since its initial release, the curriculum has attracted numerous critics, particularly because of its numerous lections containing passages of the Bible. This curriculum was supposed to be initially reviewed by a board of 10 people picked by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. This board, according to the Texas Tribune, consists mostly of people that have advocated for christian values.
Advisory board members include Marvin McNeese, who oversees the education program at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston, Andrea Ramírez, former director of the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Education during the Trump administration, Former Democratic Sen. Eddie Lucio who has openly spoke about his Christian faith and pro-life stances, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary with the Trump administration, Ben Carson, who also worked on creating school curriculum emphasized in Christianity.
“Instead of looking for help primarily from nonpolitical educators and researchers working in our state’s world-class universities, the commissioner is farming out the education of Texas kids to people who favor political agendas over teaching our kids the truth,” Val Benavidez, president of the Texas Freedom Network, an advocacy organization that focuses on the separation of church and state told The Tribune.
In addition, it is unknown to the public what advice this advisory board gave to the TEA about the curriculum, as the agency asked the attorney general to withhold documents related to the advice, arguing that it “and the Open Education Resource Advisory Board share a privity of interest in the matters at issue.”
The curriculum was shaped under House Bill 1605, a measure meant to address teacher shortages by offering standardized lesson plans to ease educator workload. Although school districts have the option not to adopt the materials, the added funding incentive—$60 per student annually—makes it a tempting choice for cash-strapped districts.
HB 1606 also mandates the curriculum to be:
- Of the highest quality.
- Aligned with state standards adopted by the state education board.
- Suitable for the age of students at the grade level for which the materials are developed.
- Free from bias and factual errors.
- In compliance with state law regarding required and prohibited curriculum.
Teachers, religious scholars and parents have already submitted their criticism of the curriculum. For example religious studies scholar David Brockman points to a kindergarten art lesson that dedicates four pages to biblical creation stories, with limited mention of other cultural myths, and argued the lesson was more focused on the creation story itself rather than art. In addition, he said the curriculum also “whitewashed” certain events, such as the brutal treatment of Native Americans.
In November, the Texas State Board of Education will review and vote on the final version of the curriculum.
