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The Republican-controlled Texas Board of Education on Friday rejected seven of 12 proposed eighth-grade science textbooks that would have required information about climate change for the first time.
The 15-member board rejected most books because they contained policy solutions to climate change or were produced by companies with environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies. Rejected. Some textbooks were also rejected because SBOE reviewers gave the books low scores for how well they adhered to state curriculum standards.
The board on Friday decided to include on the list five eighth-grade science textbooks published by Sabbath Learning Company, McGraw-Hill School Division, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Depository, Accelerate Learning, and Summit K-12. Voted to allow it.
San Antonio Democratic Committeewoman Marisa Perez Diaz said she was disappointed in Friday's decision to reject so many textbooks, including Spanish textbooks.
“My concern is that we will become irrelevant going forward in terms of publishers wanting to work with us and helping us get the right material in front of young people. That's heartbreaking for me,'' Perez-Diaz said at a press conference on Friday. meeting. “I'm very disappointed that so many things were rejected based on the way things were written and the arguments and ideas about the subject matter.”
During nearly a week of meetings that began Tuesday, commissioners discussed dozens of textbooks that will be on the list of approved materials for school districts to choose from next fall.
Although school districts are not required to choose exclusively from the SBOE's curated list, many districts choose to do so because it ensures that textbooks comply with state curriculum standards.
A science curriculum overhaul approved two years ago has thrown eight-grade science textbooks in particular into political contention. New standards will require eighth graders in Texas to learn about climate change for the first time next year, forcing textbook manufacturers to update their materials.
Texas is one of only six states that does not use Next Generation Science Standards to teach K-12 science curriculum. The standards were developed by states and a committee convened by the National Research Council in 2013 to recognize that climate change is real and serious, caused by humans, and that actions to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It emphasizes that it can be alleviated.
The latest Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requires eighth-graders to learn about climate change and explain how human activities “may” affect the climate. Critics say the standards do not go far enough, arguing that the requirements do not ensure that students learn how reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels can mitigate climate change. ing.
But overall, most proposed eighth-grade science textbooks do a good job of meeting the state's new requirement to include information about climate change, the Texas Freedom Network highlights. According to an analysis by educators who were asked to review a book by the Texas Freedom Network, a global think tank, about education.
The curriculum changes were approved before many of the current board members were elected. The organization has moved to the right in recent years after Republicans began taking aim at how history, race and gender are taught in schools nationwide.
Republicans have sought in recent years to penalize companies that adopt ESG policies, which typically involve aligning companies with international climate goals, setting internal emissions reduction targets, or reducing emissions from fossil fuels. They are trying to adopt investment strategies that emphasize renewable energy. In 2021, the Texas Legislature prohibited state funds such as the Texas Teachers' Retirement System from contracting with or investing in companies that are exiting oil, natural gas, and coal companies.
This week's discussion at the SBOE reflects this trend, with board members going too far in teaching students about books written by companies with green corporate policies and how to advocate for solutions to climate change. I voted against the book. Some wanted more emphasis on religion or argued that scientific theories should not be taught as fact.
For example, Republican Councilwoman Evelyn Brooks of Frisco, who represents the 14th District, on Tuesday questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, arguing that the religious concept of “creation” parallels scientific theories about the origins of the universe. He suggested that students should be taught the following. Brooks, who was first elected to the board in 2022, said he wanted to include more perspectives from people of faith in his books.
“The origin of the universe, the big bang, and climate change are my problems. Again, what evidence is used to support the theory, and if this is a theory that is taught as fact? That's my problem,'' Brooks said while discussing a textbook. “What about creation?”
Board Chairman Keven Ellis, a Lufkin Republican who has been on the board for six years, believes the board has pushed textbook standards “as far as possible” without ruling them unconstitutional. I said yes.
In another debate Tuesday, Julie Picklen, a Pearland Republican board member who has represented the 7th District since January, said some textbooks present the “theme” that humans are causing climate change. complained.
Human activities are likely responsible for almost 100% of climate change since 1951, according to the Fourth National Climate Assessment, a finding echoed in the Global Change Research Program's latest report released earlier this week. demonstrated repeatedly.
The Fifth National Climate Assessment stated, “It is clear that human activities, primarily greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels, are driving the global warming observed throughout the industrial era.”
Throughout Tuesday's meeting, Picklen moved to remove several textbooks from the SBOE's list.
She successfully removed textbooks produced by Discovery Education on Tuesday, claiming the company has a commitment to aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and that its efforts are “themes that recur across the curriculum.” did. Picklen said she was concerned that the book would violate anti-ESG state laws.
It also comes after Republican board member and secretary Patricia Hardy claimed on Tuesday that the textbook explicitly takes the position that students should warn friends and family about extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. The school board also chose to remove textbooks created by publisher Green Ninja.
“It's all scientifically explained and our position is that extreme weather events are caused by climate change,” said Hardy, a Fort Worth Republican who has served on the board since 2003.
In Texas, scientists, including the state's climatologist, have found that several types of extreme weather events, including more intense heat, droughts and hurricanes, are becoming worse due to climate change.
At this week's meeting, several Texans, including one scientist, spoke in favor of adopting the textbook.
Robert Baumgardner, a former geologist who worked at the University of Texas' Bureau of Economic Geology, said at Tuesday's board meeting that “it's time for climate change to be clearly expressed in Texas science textbooks starting in eighth grade.” Told. .
We also regret that elected officials are focusing on debating whether climate change is caused by humans, rather than preparing students to lead the energy transition. Some people expressed it.
“I can't believe we're having this conversation that we need to put climate change on the books and take religious matters off the books,” said Ethan Michelle Gantz, a community organizer and pipefitter in Houston. he said. “Climate change is happening now. It's not the future. …We need to be competitive in global markets.”
