AUSTIN, Texas — Controversial changes to Texas’ history curriculum could be coming soon.
- Texas Board of Education in process of changing history curriculum
- Board wants to cut certain figures from required lessons
- Final vote will be held Friday
This week the Texas State Board of Education is weighing whether to keep instruction about the ways states’ rights helped cause the Civil War, but scrap lessons featuring Hillary Clinton and Barry Goldwater.
Board members listened to testimonies of more than 35 people Tuesday, among them were people whose personal, impassioned pleas convinced the board to change course on several subjects.
Educators have complained the curriculum is overwhelming, leading to a shallow overview of these historical figures and a need to "streamline." So board members have been working to cut back on what teachers are required to cover in the classroom.
Helen Keller was one of the proposed historical figures the 15-member board was initially considering eliminating. Board members heard from Robbie Caldwell and her 17-year-old daughter Gabby, who is deaf and blind.
“We have far too few women that are American heroes and even fewer heroes that are individuals with disabilities,” Robbie Caldwell said during her testimony. “Without broad academic knowledge of Helen Keller, my daughter and other deaf blind students cease to exist.”
Caldwell said she believes the author and advocate’s story of triumph, despite adversity helps people better understand Gabby’s disability.
“Helen Keller, not only humanizes people with disabilities, that’s one, makes them valuable, makes them a part of the community, two. However though, she teaches those, the things that we really want students to learn, which is to become resilient to continue despite obstacles,” Robbie Caldwell said.
Gabby Caldwell, who attends the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, also testified. She called Keller a hero.
“I like to travel and want to travel the world. I study hard, too. I believe I can do these things, because Helen Keller did them,” Gabby Caldwell said.
After hearing different criticisms, board members gave in and made some amendments to the original recommendations to the curriculum. Those amendments reinserted Keller, Hillary Clinton, the World War II Women Airforce Service back into required teachings. Descendants of the WASPS argued for the historical importance of these female war veterans.
“The WASP's are recent examples of good citizenship, volunteering to do a dangerous and sometimes fatal job, knowing they would possibly receive no benefits or recognition. Only to serve the United States during a time of great need,” Erin Miller, who fought to have her grandmother buried at the Arlington National Cemetery said.
The board will vote on a number of additional changes, including language that strikes “state’s rights” as contributing to the Civil War and requires students to discuss factors contributing to the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. The latter sparked much discussion in the meeting. While some supported the standard in the face of reported rising Anti-Semitism, others said the language was biased against Islam and feared it would increase violence against Muslims.
Board of Education Chairwoman Donna Bahorich, a Houston Republican, said there are too many topics and noteworthy people for educators to cover.
“At the end of the day the board has done the best job that it can to make sure that what we’re presenting is factually accurate and it allows opportunity for the types of discussions that we want in a classroom for teachers to be able to have with students so that they are informed citizens,” Bahorich said.
Any changes to the curriculum does not mean teachers cannot include it in their lesson plans, they just will not be required to do it.
A final vote is set for Friday.