Texas

Regulation

"The religious right also ended up influencing textbook content indirectly by having a lasting impact in Texas, the second largest adoption state in the country. Like California, Texas had statutory provisions that prohibited the adoption of instructional materials that showed bias toward any particular group or presented genders and ethnicity in stereotypical roles. But unlike California, Texas did not have extended “social content” guidelines—and other provisions of state law were actually a throwback to the cheerleader textbook era of the 1950s. Textbooks were required to promote “understanding of the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system, and emphasize patriotism and respect for recognized authority.” Nor could textbooks 'encourage life styles deviating from generally accepted standards of society.'" (Fordham 2004, 15)

Attempting to introduce greater objectivity into the adoption process, in 1995, "the Texas legislature revised adoption laws so that textbooks could only be challenged for factual inaccuracies or failing to comply with the state’s curriculum standards" (Fordham 2004, 22). However, by then, publishers had already modified their processes to encompass the sensitivity necessary to keep their Texan customers.

Links

• Texas State Board of Education
  • Division of Instructional Materials and Educational Technology
• List of Texas School Districts

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