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Tuesday, March 25, 1997

Bullock says he's about ready to support appointed board

By PEGGY FIKAC Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - The State Board of Education, whose meetings have become battles between members backed by religious conservatives and more liberal factions, perhaps should again become an appointed panel, Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock said Monday.

"I'm about ready to go back to the appointed board, kick this bunch out and start over again," Bullock, a Democrat, told the Texas Daily Newspaper Association annual meeting.

"I think it's gone a little far to the right. We need to balance this thing up a little bit," Bullock said of the elected Education Board. "They need to behave. Texas government needs to get on with educating our children."

Some board members backed by religious conservatives have objected to a state law curtailing their authority in such areas as textbook content and have contended that a state curriculum rewrite has been intruded on by a national group and the federal government.

More liberal board members have warned that the Legislature may disband the panel. Bills have been filed to abolish the board or drastically curtail its powers.

Board Chairman Jack Christie of Houston, a Republican board member who is not aligned with those backed by religious conservatives, said he understands frustration from Bullock and legislators.

"I get frustrated also. I think it was Dwight Eisenhower who said when going down the road of life, the extreme right and the extreme left are gutters," Christie said.

Christie noted, however, that Texas voters in 1987 endorsed a return to an elected State Board of Education. The board temporarily became an appointed body in 1984 as part of an education overhaul.

The board chairman had an alternative suggestion: "Board members ought to have requirements that their children have been, will go or are going to public schools, and they should be able to pass the TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills) test.

"You ought to have some type of vested interest in the public schools," said Christie, who has three children. Two go to public school and one is 3 years old.

Board member Richard Watson of Gorman, who is backed by religious conservatives, said he would concur with voters who wanted to return to the elected board. He said philosophical differences improve the process.

"I would say that when we have some board members that express differing opinions, it brings healthy debate," he said. "It brings different ideas and philosophies to the table."

As for Christie's suggestion, Watson asked, "Does he want to put those same restrictions on members of the Legislature? ... They're the ones that actually make the laws. We just more or less implement them."

Watson has five children. The one who is school-age is being home schooled. Two children now in their 20s got most of their education in public schools, he said, and the remaining two are age 4 and 2. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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