Texas education officials approved new high school social studies standards, drawing support from Moms for Liberty members who urged their passage before the State Board of Education’s final vote.
The SBOE gave final approval on September 4 to revised standards for U.S. History, U.S. Government, World History and World Geography, completing the board’s revision of K-12 social studies standards.
The vote followed months of debate and public testimony over how Texas students should be taught about American history, capitalism, Western civilization, Christianity and Islam.
Moms For Liberty Leader Supports Changes
Before the final vote, Denise Bell, chapter chair for Moms for Liberty Harris County, spoke in support of the proposed changes and urged the board to approve them.
“Right now teens are being taught that collectivism is a viable alternative to capitalism. My daughter’s AP US history course taught that under capitalism, class mobility is stifled with limited mobility,” Bell told board members during public comment. “This is unacceptable.”
Bell also spoke with The Dallas Express before the standards were approved, saying she supported the proposed standards and amendments offered by SBOE member Brandon Hall.
“Earlier this week at the Texas State Board of Education, I joined other parents in urging passage of the amended Social Studies standards, including the Hall amendments. Unfortunately, Marxist, communist, and socialist bias is frequently found in Texas classrooms, including my own children’s,” Bell told The Dallas Express.
“These new Social Studies standards would require every high school to teach the truth about our founding and give an accurate account of capitalism and Western civilization, and that is why they must pass.”
Bell continued, telling The Dallas Express, “An education free from historical bias and political propaganda is the bare minimum Texas students deserve, and it is essential to the survival of our Constitutional Republic. Texas taxpayers and parents have every right to expect those minimum standards from public education in the state of Texas.”
Western Civilization And Financial Literacy
The SBOE said in its official announcement that the updated standards emphasize Western civilization and the principles that influenced the founding of Texas and the United States.
The board separately adopted new Personal Financial Literacy standards covering budgeting, saving, investing, and developing business plans. SBOE Chairman Aaron Kinsey said those standards also address financial outcomes under capitalism, socialism and communism.
Debate Over Instruction Involving Islam
The standards generated additional controversy over instruction involving Islam.
According to a KTRK report republished by ABC7, the board approved language describing early Islamic campaigns against Jewish and Christian groups as “brutal” and identifying “Radical Islam” as a motivation for the September 11 terrorist attacks.
That debate became contentious during public testimony before the vote.
During one exchange, as witnessed by The Dallas Express, Hall questioned a Muslim activist about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“Who were the victims on September 11?” Hall asked.
“I choose not to answer this,” the activist responded.
“Muslims were not the victims on September 11; they were the perpetrators on September 11,” Hall told the activist.
The September 11 attacks were carried out by 19 al-Qaeda hijackers. Muslims were also among the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks.
Critics argued that some of the language involving Islam could lead students to associate the broader religion with terrorism.
Sameeha Rizvi, government affairs and legislative manager for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told KTRK that students might interpret references to radical Islam as blaming the religion generally. She called for more specific language and a fuller account of history.
Implementation Begins In 2030–2031
The newly adopted high school standards are part of the SBOE’s broader overhaul of social studies education. The board’s official review page provides framework documents and materials from the revision process.
Schools are expected to begin phasing in the changes during the 2030–2031 school year.
Provided by Dallas Express
