Texas panel gives initial thumbs down to Mexican-American textbook
The State Board of Education on Wednesday tentatively rejected another Mexican-American studies textbook for Texas high school students over concerns that it isn’t comprehensive and contains errors.
If the board rejects the book in a final vote Friday, it will be the second time in as many years the board has turned down a Mexican-American studies textbook. Last year, the board dumped a textbook after scholars, activists and politicians denounced it as racist. The more recent one, “The Mexican American Toolkit,” has not received the same level of public criticism, but a state review panel of five high school teachers and college professors over the summer did not recommend adopting an earlier, uncorrected version of the textbook.
“I think it’s a disservice to the Mexican-American community because it is limited in its scope. It could be used as a supplemental. It’s not a textbook,” said board member and former social studies teacher Pat Hardy, R-Fort Worth.
Ruben Cortez Jr., D-Brownsville, was the only board member to vote in favor of the textbook.
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