Texas State Board Of Education Approves Controversial History Textbook

The Texas State Board of Education recently approved a controversial history textbook that some academics say over exaggerates Moses’ influence on American Democracy and portrays Muslims in a negative light.

The new book passed with a 10-5 vote, despite a call by some to delay the vote so the public and board members a chance to review last-minute changes.  Board of Education Vice Chairman Thomas Ratliff commented on a request for a delay by saying,

I’m comfortable enough that these books have been reviewed by many, many people.  They are not perfect. They never will be.

Some Democratic board members and Liberal education groups have criticized the textbooks.  Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, expressed her disappointment in the Board’s vote,

What we saw today shows very clearly that the process the State Board of Education uses to adopt textbooks is a sham.  This board adopted textbooks with numerous late changes that the public had little opportunity to review and comment on and that even board members themselves admitted they had not read.

via The New York Times