Religious right may gain sway over state Board of Education

[antigop]

http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/491641.html

Although little noticed by the public, the race for a local seat on the State Board of Education could lead to a dramatic ideological shift on the panel and -- by extension -- in Texas school policy.

That's the word from several board observers, who say a March 4 primary victory by challenger Barney Maddox over incumbent Pat Hardy for the Fort Worth-area District 11 seat would give social conservatives their first majority on the board.

According to some, that could mean changes in policies on sex education and the teaching of history.

"This one vote would give a majority to a faction that is determined to censor information for their own political and personal beliefs," said Dan Quinn, a spokesman for the Texas Freedom Network, a group that opposes religious conservatives in government.

Maddox has not returned numerous phone calls from the Star-Telegram and did not provide information about his candidacy for the newspaper's recentvotersguide.

[tbyg52]

1. Oh dear - K&R, K&R!!!!

Those who can vote in this race, please be aware!

[sonias]

2. This race in on the R side

Our Democrats don't get to vote for this. It's going to be hard for Hardy to win.

KXAN 36
Hardy, in particular, faces a tough race. A former school teacher, Hardy is considered an outspoken centrist among Republicans on the board and often draws from the ranks of Democratic voters for her support. With the Democratic primary still in play, however, Hardy can't depend on many of those Democratic voters crossing over to support her in her race.

Hardy is opposed by Barney Maddox, a Cleburne urologist. Maddox, who served on the review committee for biology textbooks during an adoption cycle during the late 1990s, criticized the accepted textbooks at the time for failing to outline the scientific weaknesses of evolution, as required under the state's own science standards.

The Lege has stepped in before and taken power away from the State Board of Education, and they may have to do it again. This may be our only hope. We need to take back the Texas House and reel this agency in some more.


Sonia

[niccolos_smile]

3. May gain?

It seems they already have.