curriculum

Sure, FOX News will tell you this was a brilliant triumph for The Faction. The other news outlets will all agree. But I maintain there's a number of missing (and larger) stories here, that should provide a glimmer of hope to those who feel grumpy about last week...

Final adoption of high school social studies, as amended is proposed. Mary Helen Berlanga objects to the whole process of 300+ amendments and such piece-mealing. "In my 27 years on this board, I've never seen anything like this." A lengthy speech follows on the failure to come to terms with the past of discrimination by everyone from the Klan to the Texas Rangers, none of which are mentioned in the history books.

2:10 pm
World Geography amendments from Pat Hardy:
11b) "identify the factors affecting the location of different types of economic activiites, including subsistence and commercial agriculture, manufacturing and service industries," passes without objection
16a) return to original wording, no objections
16b) no objection to going to revising definition of culture
21b) "analyze and evaluate the validity and utility of multiple sources of geographic information, such as primary and secondary sources, aerial photographs, and maps..." no objection
strike 21c); no objection

11:05 am Time to continue with Amendments to high school social studies

Pat Hardy (R-Weatherford) strikes "and MesoAmerican civilization" in World History, because it is now in another section.

9:15 am Hurst-Euless-Bedford's Trinity High School Show Choir led off with a performance a la the TV show "Glee" of "The Lullaby of Broadway" and other tunes. Too bad they can't inspire the Board to work together as in "The Music Man," in which barbershop singing inspires a fractious local school board to work together...

David Bradley (R-The Faction, Beaumont) moves to postpone issuance of Proclamation 2012 (Science Adoption). This would be moving it off until the next meeting, as has been done since July of 2009.

Bob Craig (R-Lubbock) opposes this, because it amounts to taking no action. Wants Agency to investigate costs for supplemental products.

Bradley withdraws motion, and suggests another motion: Postpone Proclamation 2012 (Science Adoption) INDEFINITELY. Plans subsequent motion to ask Agency and Board to develop request for supplemental materials instead.

After David Bradley (R-The Faction, Beaumont), carefully counts noses to be sure there's a quorum, Chair Lowe gavels a start at 1:15. No update on lawsuit over denial of charter school application, so there's no executive session. First up: Graduation requirement for PE: should it be satisfied by certain Career and Technology Education classes (firefighter academy, etc.) for the next year as a grandfather-clause issue. Vote on Friday, but doesn't seem to be any opposition.

The Board decided that this course was so similar to the "Communication Applications" course, that they decided to kill this one, and voted to do so unanimously.

All of the reading/literature programs were adopted so quickly and quietly that most observers missed it. After returning from break, Ken Mercer (R-The Faction, San Antonio) gave a grand "personal privilege" speech talking about how glorious it is that we've returned to phonics. "Our governor will be so proud," he said. "This is a historic moment in time."

Geraldine "Tincy" Miller (R-North Dallas) agreed and pointed out that nobody had signed up for public commentary on Reading. She says it's clear that hard work was done on committees to make sure these were solid curricula.

Pat Hardy (R-Weatherford) moves that the Board rules REQUIRE that ancillaries be provided electronically (digital or web-based) ONLY. She thinks the fact that the pre-K call is for a "system" will protect the unique needs of that grade. She believes that eliminating all of the shipping and expense involved will help publishers deal with the need for lower prices, given the state's budget woes. It is now forbidden for publishers to include print ancillaries.