Testimony of Peggy M. venable :State Board of Education Testimony
I thank you for the opportunity to address the proposed changes in the schedule for adoption of the Social Studies textbooks.
First, I represent the members of Citizens for a Sound Economy who testified on the science textbooks. I appreciate that our members found errors and examples of theories being presented as facts and had other concerns about some of the textbooks. Textbook publishers have been responsive to our concerns and we look forward to working with you and others on the Social Studies textbooks.
I’d like to state what we as citizens have identified as our concerns.
I recognize the concerns Chairman Shore has that the SBOE have opportunity to review the final publishers’ text before making your final vote and that the vote by law appears to need to be taken before December 1 to allow ISD’s time to go through their selection process.
With these concerns in mind, and knowing that the SBOE granted the publishers more time to allow for the events of 9/11 to be included in the appropriate textbooks, we ask that the timeframe for public review be extended.
Rather than July 2002, I would recommend the public testimony be taken in September and the board vote in November….we are recommending not changing the timing for public comment.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice my concerns on behalf of our membership and we look forward to working with you on the Social Studies textbook adoption.