Teaching Students to Be Thoughtful, Productive Citizens Is Good Education Policy

Legislation designed to objectives of public education passed the legislature today. Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) applauded the action. “Government works when citizens are involved and actively engage in the public policymaking process,” said Texas CSE Director Peggy Venable.

Currently, in the list of the objectives of public education, there is no objective addressing the appreciation for the basic values of the state and national heritage, and the appreciation and awareness of the function of a free enterprise society.

H.B. 319 includes in the list of the objectives of public education that educators prepare students to be thoughtful, active citizens who have an appreciation for the basic values of our state and national heritage and who can understand and productively function in a free enterprise society.

“This legislation is important,” said Venable. “Well over 200 citizens reviewed social studies textbooks this past year and we were disappointed to see that the textbooks did not teach students how to productively participate in government.”

“The more citizens who participate in the process, the better our public policy decision making will be,” said Venable. “This is our government and it is incumbent on citizens to be involved.”

If signed by the Governor, this legislation will become effective September 1, 2003.