Texas Board of Education to vote on new public school textbooks

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The future of your child's education will be decided this week. The Texas State Board of Education will vote on new textbooks, but not everyone is happy about what could be taught between the covers of school books.

"In the long term, it's really dangerous to interject one's liberal or conservative views and try to turn that into historical fact," said Professor Bob Buzzanco with the University of Houston.

Professor Buzzanco says he's surprised to hear some of the content included in proposed US history books; for example, that Moses had a direct influence on the founding fathers and the idea that all international terrorism is tied to Islam.

They're theories that just don't sit well with Art Dewey, a U.S. History professor at Carnegie Vanguard High school.

"What I'm looking for in a textbook is one that gives a balanced narrative of history," he said. "It doesn't try to tell us one thing is great or one thing is horrible, but a balanced narrative."

On Friday, the State Board of Education will ultimately decide what history book Dewey will use to teach his students. And that decision could impact kids all across the country.

"A lot of companies when they produce textbooks, rather than make a bunch of different ones, will try to market the ones for Texas for other states as well because Texas is such a large market," he said.

For months, the state board has held meetings and listened to feedback from citizens all across the state, most of which was critical. Now critics hope that feedback will not be ignored for the sake of those at the center of the debate -- the students.

"They are being taught a narrow point of view and I think it's putting them at a competitive disadvantage with regards to kids who are going to places where they are getting a more full interpretation and different point of views," said Dewey.