JULY 14, 2015 – State Board of Education chair, Donna Bahorich, Houston, asks a question from staff about GED practices during the State Board of Education meeting held in Austin, Texas, on July 14, 2015. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed her to chairmanship in June 2015. (RODOLFO GONZALEZ / AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
You might say that Donna Bahorich took an old-school approach to proving herself worthy of chairing the State Board of Education, even among some of her critics: She earned it.
That is why her confirmation by the Senate Nominations Committee on Thursday should not be in question. And why the full Senate should support Bahorich’ s reappointment as chair of the 15-member State Board of Education.
I’m not saying that state senators should not press the Houston Republican on issues, such as whether biology standards under review should be limited to the science of evolution or watered down with requirements that undermine the science.
And I’m not suggesting that senators ignore controversies the education board – that sets curriculum standards for Texas public schools and oversees the $37 billion Permanent School Fund – regularly wades into, such as its consideration of a textbook about Mexican-American history and culture. Aside from being racially-insensitive, the book contained 141 errors that scholars pointed out.
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