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The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is making national news again. That is nothing new and has been the case for many years. The reason of course, is textbooks. In spite of the fact that the Texas Legislature has taken away the power of the SBOE to hire and fire the Commissioner of Education (now the Governor appoints the head of the Texas Education Agency), the SBOE still has the authority to approve public school textbooks for Texas. That is important because Texas is such a large state that textbooks published for distribution here end up being used in public schools all over the country. Therefore, the SBOE in effect impacts what children are taught all over America.
In the 1980s the SBOE was involved in an attempt to regulate home schools in spite of the fact that it has statutory authority to set policy only for public schools. At that time, an act by the Texas Legislature to "reform" education had changed the SBOE from an elected body accountable to the voters to one appointed by the Governor.
The educational "experts" believed that would make things run more smoothly and get education in Texas "fixed." Home school parents were actively involved in the election in which the voters were to decide if the SBOE would remain appointed or revert back to an elected board. The voters of Texas overwhelmingly decided that they wanted to elect the SBOE.
Today the media would have you believe that all of the problems with the SBOE are related to the conservatives. Years ago conservatives on the SBOE fought to have phonics, a proven method of teaching reading, used in the textbooks, which was considered very controversial by the "educational experts." Last year the media accused the board of injecting creationism into science textbooks because they wanted to require that both sides of the issue be presented to students. Now the focus is on social studies textbooks.
The "Parent PAC" is involved in the SBOE races this election cycle. If you pay attention to political issues, you may remember this group as a group backing the teacher unions and "educational experts'" positions. Four years ago they recruited and/or supported candidates in the Republican primary against conservative Texas House incumbents. The incumbents were staunch defenders of home schooling and were described as "opposed" to public education because they were not willing to vote for the amount of funding the education lobby wanted.
This time around, they are supporting candidates who are challenging conservatives on the SBOE, who are also staunch supporters of home schooling and parental rights. In the 1980s the SBOE was used to argue that the state should control home schooling in Texas. If we're not careful, we could have some of those kind of folks replacing our supporters on the SBOE.
The real parent PAC is the THSC PAC - go to their website to check out who they are supporting in the SBOE races - and get involved and tell your friends that we need to support those who stand with parents on the SBOE.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Race for Texas Governor
The race for the Republican nomination for Governor of Texas is now heading into the final month before election day. Today news in the race focuses on new polls and latest fundraising reports as Governor Perry widens his lead over Hutchison in the poll and raises more money during the last month.
Governor Perry has increased his lead over Senator Hutchison by fifteen percentage points (44-29), and for the first time, Senator Hutchison has dropped below 30% according to a new Rasmussen poll. Debra Medina has increased her position four points to 16% on the strength of her performance in the debates.
Perry leads Hutchison among conservatives, who dominate in the Republican primary, by 18 percentage points, while Hutchison leads Perry among moderates by 11 points. Of likely Republican primary voters 80% have a favorable opinion of Perry, while 67% and 50% respectively view Hutchison and Medina favorably .
On the fundraising front Perry raised more than twice what Hutchison did in January, and both have about 10 million dollars on hand for the last month, although Hutchsion has spent 3.4 million dollars against Perry's 1.9 million dollars, mostly on TV and radio ads. In spite of almost three and a half million dollars spent, Hutchison's support fell by four percentage points since the last poll, a month ago. Medina has seemed to be the beneficiary of that loss of support. Indeed, the internal data from last month's poll seemed to show that Medina was hurting Hutchison more than Perry, and the latest poll seems to confirm that.
A Rasmussen poll released today shows that all three Republicans vying for the Republican nomination for Governor lead Democrat Bill White of Houston. Perry leads by 9 points (48%-39%) and Hutchison leads by 13 points (49% - 36%), which is unchanged from the January poll. However, in a switch from the last poll, Medina also leads White by a margin of 41% -38%.
Governor Perry has increased his lead over Senator Hutchison by fifteen percentage points (44-29), and for the first time, Senator Hutchison has dropped below 30% according to a new Rasmussen poll. Debra Medina has increased her position four points to 16% on the strength of her performance in the debates.
Perry leads Hutchison among conservatives, who dominate in the Republican primary, by 18 percentage points, while Hutchison leads Perry among moderates by 11 points. Of likely Republican primary voters 80% have a favorable opinion of Perry, while 67% and 50% respectively view Hutchison and Medina favorably .
On the fundraising front Perry raised more than twice what Hutchison did in January, and both have about 10 million dollars on hand for the last month, although Hutchsion has spent 3.4 million dollars against Perry's 1.9 million dollars, mostly on TV and radio ads. In spite of almost three and a half million dollars spent, Hutchison's support fell by four percentage points since the last poll, a month ago. Medina has seemed to be the beneficiary of that loss of support. Indeed, the internal data from last month's poll seemed to show that Medina was hurting Hutchison more than Perry, and the latest poll seems to confirm that.
A Rasmussen poll released today shows that all three Republicans vying for the Republican nomination for Governor lead Democrat Bill White of Houston. Perry leads by 9 points (48%-39%) and Hutchison leads by 13 points (49% - 36%), which is unchanged from the January poll. However, in a switch from the last poll, Medina also leads White by a margin of 41% -38%.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Republican Brand
Much has been made regarding the decline of public support for the Republican Party. That is primarily because of the spending and lack of fiscal restraint the Republicans were guilty of when they controlled congress under President Bush.
Just two years ago, many told me they thought there was no difference in the two major political parties and things could not get any worse. Well, I don't hear those comments today.
The Obama administration spent at historic levels last year and has just presented a budget that sets new records in spending and taxation. National Review points out that,"between 1789 and 2008, the U.S. government borrowed a total of $5.8 trillion. But in just the first three years of the Obama administration, the government is set to borrow $4.4 trillion more."
A new CNN poll showed that 70% believe that it was a good thing for Democrats to lose their 60-seat majority in the U. S. Senate. That opinion is directly related to spending issues in general and health care reform in particular. In this environment, even Democrats are beginning to question the spending requests of Obama, and for Republicans the issue is just as serious.
In spite of the fact polls show that those who identify themselves as Democrats is dramatically shrinking, Republican party affiliation is not growing. In spite of the fact that a plurality identify themselves as "conservatives," the Republican party is losing these folks to the category of "independent." I think that is because many conservatives are not convinced that Republicans are conservative.
A new Rasmussen poll in Florida shows former Speaker of the Florida House, Marc Rubio, with a 12-point lead over Republican Governor Crist, who last fall had a 30-point advantage. Crist is perceived as part of the tax-and-spend Republican faction who got us into this mess. He supported Obama's 787 Billion dollar stimulus plan last year, and by many accounts, that was the beginning of his loss of support as Rubio has run as a conservative on fiscal and social issues.
Individuals are beginning to pay down their debt and increase their personal savings in response to the fiscal crisis our nation faces, and we expect our government to do the same. If the Republicans are to succeed in the 2010 elections, they must choose fiscally conservative nominees who will convince the public that they understand the crisis and are willing to take our country back to fiscal sanity.
Just two years ago, many told me they thought there was no difference in the two major political parties and things could not get any worse. Well, I don't hear those comments today.
The Obama administration spent at historic levels last year and has just presented a budget that sets new records in spending and taxation. National Review points out that,"between 1789 and 2008, the U.S. government borrowed a total of $5.8 trillion. But in just the first three years of the Obama administration, the government is set to borrow $4.4 trillion more."
A new CNN poll showed that 70% believe that it was a good thing for Democrats to lose their 60-seat majority in the U. S. Senate. That opinion is directly related to spending issues in general and health care reform in particular. In this environment, even Democrats are beginning to question the spending requests of Obama, and for Republicans the issue is just as serious.
In spite of the fact polls show that those who identify themselves as Democrats is dramatically shrinking, Republican party affiliation is not growing. In spite of the fact that a plurality identify themselves as "conservatives," the Republican party is losing these folks to the category of "independent." I think that is because many conservatives are not convinced that Republicans are conservative.
A new Rasmussen poll in Florida shows former Speaker of the Florida House, Marc Rubio, with a 12-point lead over Republican Governor Crist, who last fall had a 30-point advantage. Crist is perceived as part of the tax-and-spend Republican faction who got us into this mess. He supported Obama's 787 Billion dollar stimulus plan last year, and by many accounts, that was the beginning of his loss of support as Rubio has run as a conservative on fiscal and social issues.
Individuals are beginning to pay down their debt and increase their personal savings in response to the fiscal crisis our nation faces, and we expect our government to do the same. If the Republicans are to succeed in the 2010 elections, they must choose fiscally conservative nominees who will convince the public that they understand the crisis and are willing to take our country back to fiscal sanity.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hitler's Revenge?
Home school families in Germany have been under a full scale assault by the national government for years. The federal officials rely on a statute enacted during the days of the Third Reich and Hitler's reign. The law states that the state has an overriding interest in the education of the children and requires that all children attend public schools to prevent "the emergence of parallel societies based on separate philosophical convictions."
This has resulted in the state prosecuting home school families, placing fathers in jail and removing children from the home and placing them in foster care. The situation has become so dire that families who are driven by conviction to protect their children from negative influences of the state-controlled education system have been leaving the country.
Last week a U.S. Immigration Judge in Tennessee rendered a landmark decision when he granted political asylum to a German home school family who had fled their country. The family had been fined more than $10,000 over the years and were facing still further action. This ruling is seen as a slap at Germany for its harsh actions against home school families. In fact, it makes Germany today look much like Hitler's Third Reich, which considered any action not sanctioned by the state as a threat to the government. We should continue to pray for the courageous home school families in Germany and that the federal government would change its policy.
This has resulted in the state prosecuting home school families, placing fathers in jail and removing children from the home and placing them in foster care. The situation has become so dire that families who are driven by conviction to protect their children from negative influences of the state-controlled education system have been leaving the country.
Last week a U.S. Immigration Judge in Tennessee rendered a landmark decision when he granted political asylum to a German home school family who had fled their country. The family had been fined more than $10,000 over the years and were facing still further action. This ruling is seen as a slap at Germany for its harsh actions against home school families. In fact, it makes Germany today look much like Hitler's Third Reich, which considered any action not sanctioned by the state as a threat to the government. We should continue to pray for the courageous home school families in Germany and that the federal government would change its policy.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Home School Hero at the Super Bowl
Tim Tebow has been a home school hero to many for a long time and for many reasons. He was a home schooler who played football with a public high school in Florida and became a Division 1-A recruit.
He was the first college football player to both pass and rush for 20 touchdowns and was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. He is often pointed to when people argue that home school students should be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities at public schools. Bills have been filed in a number of states to require public schools to let home school students participate, which are often referred to as "Tim Tebow" laws. Home school parents are, after all taxpayers who pay lots of money to support the public education system.
Aside from that aspect, Tim Tebow is known for his character and outspoken Christian testimony. His parents were missionaries, and he is no stranger to sharing the gospel. He often had scripture verses painted on his eye black during football games.
Aside from that aspect, Tim Tebow is known for his character and outspoken Christian testimony. His parents were missionaries, and he is no stranger to sharing the gospel. He often had scripture verses painted on his eye black during football games.
But now, Tim Tebow is in the middle of a national controversy related to a Focus on the Family ad to be aired during the Super Bowl. He and his mother have shared their story:
"Tim's parents, Bob and Pam Tebow, moved to the Philippines in 1985 to conduct a Christian missionary outreach. While pregnant with Tim, Pam contracted amoebic dysentery through contaminated drinking water. Her doctor told her that the medications she needed to recover would result in irreversible damage to the child she was carrying. She was advised to have an abortion. She refused."
The media has been full of articles as so-called "pro-choice" groups call on CBS to refuse the ad because it's "divisive." Let me get this straight, the story of a courageous mom who endangers her life because she is unwilling to abort her unborn child is divisive!? These people are nuts and they are not "pro-choice." The only "choice" they support and celebrate is the choice of abortion and all of this while a new poll shows a majority of Americans believe that abortion is "morally wrong." I think Pam Tebow is my new home school heroine.
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