Brody's Notes... Newly Approved Texas Schools Curriculum Standards Fraught with Ideology

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) May 21 | The Texas State Board of Education today approved controversial new standards for its social studies curriculum that could affect what students across the country study in their classes. According to a report by ABCNews correspondent Huma Kahn, the new standards call for a greater focus on the Biblical and Christian traditions of the founding fathers. It also calls for the teaching of free market principles, how government taxation and regulation can serve as restrictions to private enterprise, and emphasizes the achievements of Republican leaders, including former President Ronald Reagan and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.  The 15-member board dominated by conservative Republicans rejected calls for a delay and voted 9-5 to establish new standards for textbooks and teaching history, economics and other civics classes that will take effect in August 2011.