Board adopts social studies curriculum for Texas classrooms after months of heated debate
By April Castro, APSaturday, May 22, 2010
Social studies changes to hit Texas classrooms
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas schoolchildren will now be required to learn that the words “separation of church and state” aren’t in the Constitution.
The State Board of Education approved several new social studies curriculum standards late Friday. The votes ended months of ideological haggling that drew attention beyond Texas.
Other changes include requiring students to evaluate efforts by the United Nations and other global organizations to undermine U.S. sovereignty.
The guidelines will be used to teach some 4.8 million students for the next 10 years.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says school officials “should keep politics out” of curriculum debates. But Republican board member David Bradley says the revision process has always been political.
