Education Commissioner Robert Scott Makes Case for Texas Democrats

The Commissioner of Education in Texas is appointed, not elected. The Governor makes the appointment. Today, at a legislative hearing over the proposed social studies standards, Governor Rick Perry's appointee, Robert Scott, unwittingly made the case for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC):

"This inspires passion," Texas Education Commissioner said. "When you push out a particular group and say, 'we don't care about you' over time that creates a problem."

Scott added: "And when the pendulum swings back, you know, there's - whether you call it payback or a shifting in the alignment - I think that we need to be mindful as we deliberate to try to prevent the pushing out of any group, regardless of who they are. And that's what I think this process needs to be about."

Now, what he was talking about was the poor, oppressed religious right who got themselves elected to the State Board of Education for one reason only - to inject religion into the new science and social studies standards. They "snuck" onto the Board in plain sight when Texas Democrats were asleep on the job and didn't run anyone against them. Scott makes an amusing comment about the way things used to be before religious zealots controlled education in Texas:

Scott clarified his remark, explaining an historical context.

In the 1990s, for example, the four board conservatives lost, 10-4, in the adoption of new social studies curriculum standards.

"There was no outrage. No hearings. No New York Times editorial," Scott said of political swings.

Well, no, there was no outrage because common sense, accuracy, scholarship and the good of Texas school children were the standards back in the day.

I interpret Scott's remarks as:

1. Support of MALC's position that we "need to be mindful as we deliberate to try to prevent the pushing out of" Mexican Americans in the social studies standards.

2. The plain truth. Elections matter, and when we elect Democrats the pendulum will swing back, there will be a "shifting in the alignment" and we'll get the SBOE back on track to putting quality education for Texas school children first.

Let's all stay awake this go round and elect Bill White for Governor, and Judy Jennings  and Rebecca Bell Metereau for the State Board of Education.