The Texas state board of education drew worldwide attention recently when its members tussled over the theory of evolution鈥檚 place in the school curriculum.
Now, some Texas lawmakers are convinced that those decisions should be left to somebody else.
Fed up with the controversy brought on by the board鈥檚 debates over divisive issues like the teaching of evolution, a bipartisan group of state legislators has stripping the 15-member board of its decision making power over curriculum and textbooks.
If they have their way, it will mark a major change for school publishing鈥攏ot just in Texas, but nationwide. The Texas board wields considerable power because publishers recognize the state鈥檚 large share of the market and cater to its demands.
The board鈥檚 influence helps explain the interest in its prolonged debate over revision of state science standards. The new document, approved last month, removed language calling for students to learn the 鈥渟trengths and weaknesses鈥� of scientific theories, including evolution, which pleased scientists, though they had a more mixed reaction to other sections. (鈥淩etooled Texas Standards Raise Unease Among Science Groups,鈥� April 8, 2009.)
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ken Seliger, a Republican from Amarillo, would remove the board鈥檚 authority to approve textbooks and curriculum and hand it to the state education commissioner, currently Robert Scott. The commissioner would make decisions based on the recommendations of teams of subject-matter experts鈥攁ppointed by him.
The bill was heard in the Senate education committee on April 14, though that panel had not voted on it as of press time last week. The measure has yet to be considered by the full House or Senate.
Jeremy Warren, a spokesman for Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat who is also a sponsor of the bill, said legislators from both parties believe the board has strayed from its core mission.
The board鈥檚 meetings have 鈥渄egenerated into political and theological discussions that have nothing to do with schools,鈥� Mr. Warren said. 鈥淪enator Ellis believes it鈥檚 time for the Texas legislature to step in and perform its oversight role.鈥�
