It is time to restore pride in Texas.
I have recently moved to Texas after being away for a long time. I have traveled a lot and everywhere I have gone, I was received well as a Texan. How I remember the cabbie in Dublin who was so awe struck when I told him I was from Texas. "Really? Are you really from Texas? I used to read the Zane Grey books!", he said with his Irish lilt. I nodded my head.
Teaching in Buffalo, New York where the "yous guys" made my "all Ya'll" sound weird, again being a Texan was a boon to my work.
"Oooh, Watch out the short little lady is from Texas. Don't make the teacher mad."
And even in Alberta which is a western province and most like Texas, people would ask, "Are you really from Texas?" Like Texas is a larger than life type of place to be from. People live in 50 states but whoa, say you are from Texas and you get some kinda reaction. That is till.......
Somebody from Texas got into a high place and messed us up.
Sometime between 2000 and 2008, education of our nation's children became a politcal toy of Republicans and they have been at it ever since.
In Texas, the religious conservatives pushed change the mission of the Texas State Board of Education into becoming yet another tool to impose their religious/political views on our children and others.
But this problem goes beyond Texas's borders. Decisions made by the Texas SBOE influence textbooks greatly. That means your children where ever YOU are in the United States.
Well, We now have three candidates that will change that. I have met all three of these candidates and I like them very much. I am an science educator myself and understand the influence of Texas SBOE on the nations textbooks. I spoke at length with Judy Jennings about high stakes testing v.s. authentic and performance testing of students. We shared similar outlook on the impact of high stakes testing on teaching and learning of our school children.
Rebecca Bell Metereau
District 5
Rebecca Bell Metereau received the Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Service from Texas State University, where she is Professor of English and Film and directs the Media Studies Minor.
http://www.voterebecca.com/...
Educator
You can see Rebecca and Judy here.
Judy Jennings
District 10
Dr. Jennings is currently the Director of Curriculum and Assessment at Resources for Learning, where she works to support teachers and schools. She has worked both for the Texas Education Agency and in the private sector on accountability and assessment issues.
Dr. Jennings has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and has worked in the field of education for almost 15 years.
http://www.votejudyjennings.com/
Michael Soto District 3
Let's Put Our Kids First! Yes, indeed! Let's do. I met Michael Soto at the Democratic rally when Harry Reid was in San Antonio recently. I was able to speak to him for a bit and found out that he was energized about being on the SBOE. I liked him instantly and believe he will do a much better job for the children of San Antonio.
http://www.michael-soto.org/
Actblue link for Judy and Rebecca
Donate to Michael here
http://www.michael-soto.org/...
Come on folks support your local school by helping turn the Texas State Board of Education BLUE! For the sake of YOUR child.
Because Texas is important to your child's science education...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Because really now! Mexico has no such problem with the teaching of evolution.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
I love Texas and I am proud to be a Texan and I am proud of these very bright and wonderful EDUCATORS who are winning to devote time to the SBOE and our nation's children.