Today, Texas Values will testify in front of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to protect civic responsibility and religious freedom education in Texas high schools. SBOE, which oversees all 1,200 school districts in Texas, is reviewing draft documents for high school Social Studies standards. Texas Values will testify today to make sure Moses is not removed from the standards and that the Establishment clause that details religious freedom in the Constitution is taught to students as well.
Additionally, the U.S. Government draft removed teaching students the foundations of being good citizens which includes civic affairs, serving in the military, voting, serving on a jury, observing laws, paying taxes, and serving the public good. There were additional issues with the standards with deletions and additions that do not provide a holistic approach to teaching Social Studies.
Mary Elizabeth Castle, Senior Policy Advisor for Texas Values said, “Students should be taught accurate and fair historical events. Religious historical figures like Moses and the exact words of the Establishment clause should not be removed from the classroom. Students have a right to know American founding principles and the foundations of how to be good citizens.”
Texas Values made a list of recommendations to the board on standards that should be reinstated and other standards that should not be added. For more information on these recommendations, please contact Texas Values at info@txvalues.org.
SBOE will have the first vote on the high school Social Studies standards in September 2022 and the final vote will be in November 2022.