BOE Member Again Concerned with Textbooks

For the second year in a row a Board of Education member warned of the potential textbook problems because of a decision in Texas.

Sam Levy, a board member, raised concerns about what a decision by the Texas Board of Education on its history curriculum could do to textbooks across the country during Monday's Board of Education meeting. The curriculum changes promote "patriotism" and "conservative values," he said, and, among other things, minimize Thomas Jefferson's role in founding the country, renaming the slave trade to the "Atlantic Triangular Trade" and notes the Civil War started because of state's rights and not slavery.

A year ago Levy raised concerns about science textbooks because of a Texas decision about how evolution could be taught.

Again Monday night, he said the decisions in Texas could affect Millburn-Short Hills because Texas is the largest purchaser of textbooks in the country. He cautioned the BOE Program Committee, which was preparing to review textbook purchases this week, administrators and teachers to keep an eye on the textbooks.

Scott Kamber, a board member, questioned if the board, and others, should pass a resolution saying they won't buy textbooks with the Texas slant. If enough education leaders do such a thing, it could prevent textbooks from being changed.

Levy pointed out California lawmakers have been examining a ban on the Texas textbooks.