Source: https://texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com/tag/gail-lowe/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 12:59:19+00:00

Document:
In a special article today in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, State Board of Education Member, Pat Hardy writes in support of the texas social studies standards approved in May 2010 and in support of conservative Republican Gail Lowe being confirmed by the Texas Senate this session, i.e. before the end of May.
I put the word moderate in quotes because the media often likes to describe Pat Hardy as a moderate even though I think you’ll find that Pat sees herself as a conservative and Pat is a strong supporter of the Texas Social Studies standards. She also has over 40 years of experience in education, particularly in the subject of social studies.
Pat says this in her article: “Some activist groups, including one from Washington, D.C., don’t like our social studies standards. However, Lowe should be judged on her respect and fairness during meetings, not whether or not her votes match up with D.C.-based power players.
As an educator with 40 years’ experience as a social studies teacher and coordinator, I fully support the social studies standards adopted in May 2010 by the State Board of Education by a 9-5 vote.
To repeat a curriculum adoption process that lasted nearly 18 months would be a misuse of precious tax dollars and would thwart the will of the voters. Little, if any, changes in the actual content would result.
THE ACTUAL TEXT OF THE TEXAS SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!! They were released Friday, June 25th. Every one has been wanting to see the actual words/language themselves, so here it is!
The SBOE adopted numerous recommendations by professors, teachers, and experts (religious freedom language is one example). However, the SBOE rejected other recommendations made by some professors and/or teachers, such as completely removing Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, Neil Armstrong, Albert Einstein, George Patton, the Liberty Bell, Mother Teresa, and Jonas Salk. The SBOE also rejected efforts by some teachers and/or professors to reduce the teaching on Independence Day and Veterans Day.
The final standards also include religious freedom language that allows students to study the actual words of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and compare and contrast those words with the phrase “separation of church and state.” This language was adopted by an 11-3 bipartisan vote. This language is even supported by a moderate Republican, Bob Craig (who sponsored and proposed this final langauge), and supported by Democrat, Lawrence Allen, and all other Republicans-Don McLeroy, Terri Leo, David Bradley, Cynthia Dunbar, Tincy Miller, Pat Hardy, Gail Lowe, Barbara Cargill, and Ken Mercer. Mavis Knight had historically inaccurate language on this issue, which was rejected.
Contributions of Founding Fathers: John Hancock, John Jay, John Witherspoon, others.
Thomas Jefferson: five specific references, Declaration of Independence referenced throughout.
Religious Heritage: impact of religion and Judeo-Christian legal tradition on America.
Religious Diversity: Student will learn about Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Confucianism, and Christianity.
· Landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases: Brown v. Bd of Education, Sweat v. Painter, Hernandez v. Texas, Roe v. Wade, Tinker v. Des Moines, Miranda v. Arizona.
Groups: LULAC, NAACP, NRA, Moral Majority, Heritage Foundation.
Some are making outrageous statements about the new Texas Social Studies standards. It’s obvious, they either have not read the new standards, or they are intentionally misleading the public.
They claim Thomas Jefferson is not in the standards.
In Grade 5: “Founding Father and Patriot her(o)…Thomas Jefferson..”.
In U.S. Government (twice) “the contributions of the political philosophies of the Founding Fathers, including…Thomas Jefferson…”.
Moreover, the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson authored, is referenced at least 25 times throughout the K-12 Social Studies standards.
They claim religious freedom is watered down in the standards.
This standard was proposed by moderate Republican Bob Craig. This social studies standard was approved by a bipartisan, 11-3 vote.
Religion has very diverse coverage: in Texas social studies, students will learn about Confuscianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Judaism and Christianity.
They claim The State Board of Education members have no teaching experience.
They claim that teachers and professors were kept out of the process.
The fact is the State Board of Education had five public hearings and heard hours of testimony from numerous professors and teachers and many of their suggestions are reflected in the standards. Furthermore, many of the changes suggested by a select group of appointed teachers to a review panel were adopted.
They claim that that the term slavery was taken out of the standards.
The fact is slavery is in the standards.
“explain reasons for the development of the plantation system, the Atlantic triangular growth of the slave trade, and the spread of slavery; and…” There were no official objections to this language, by Republicans or Democrats, in January when the initial change was made.
Then, last week, the State Board of Education voted 15-0 to change the phrase “Atlantic Triangular Trade” to “Transatlantic Slave Trade”.
Slavery is covered numerous other times throughout the K-12 course.
They claim there are no references to capitalism.
The fact is capitalism is in every grade of social studies standards starting at grade 2.
They claim that minorities and women have been diminished or “whitewashed”.
Cesar Chavez (2 references), Dolores Huerta, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King (5 references), Jr, Sonia Sotomayor, Barack H. Obama, Sandra Day O’Connor, Wallace Jefferson, Rosa Parks (2 references), Susan B. Anthony, Lorenzo de Zavala, Booker T. Washington, Henry B. Gonzalez (2 references), Hector P. Garcia (3 refences), Raul A. Gonzalez, Jr.(2 references), Jose Antonio Navarro, Francisco Ruiz, Hillary Clinton, Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, W.E. B. Dubois, Irma Rangel, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Ochoa, Harriet Tubman, Roy Benavides, John”Danny” Olivas, Carmen Loma Garza, Vernon J. Baker, Carlos Espalier, George Washington Carver, Crispus Attucks, Wentworth Cheswell, Placido Benavides, William Carney, Philip Bazaar, Enrique Esparza, Bessie Coleman, Lydia Mendoza, Phillis Wheatley, Lulu Belle Madison White, Amado Pena Jr., Scott Joplin, Marcus Garvey, Kadir Nelson, Juan Seguin, Carmen Lomas Garza, Juan Antonio Badillo, Jane Addams, Abigail Adams, many others.
Juan N. Seguin, Lorenzo de Zavala, and Jose Antonio Navarro are covered, including the significant contributions of Tejanos such as Juan N. Seguín, Plácido Benavides, and Jose Francisco Ruiz during the time period of the Texas Revolution, The Republic of Texas, and the annexation of Texas to the United States. Standards also include the following Tejanos who died at the Alamo, Juan Antonio Badillo and Carlos Espalier.
They claim the standards include “positive references” to the Moral Majority, the National Rifle Association and the Contract with America.
This section does not make a “positive” or a negative reference to these organizations, it simply lists them as being a part of “conservative resurgence”.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.