Texas: Critics lambaste education board on English curriculum

[Francis Hult]

Houston Chronicle

 

Critics lambaste education board on English curriculum

 

A preliminary vote on a new English and reading curriculum is expected today after scores of teachers, language experts and civil rights leaders blasted it Wednesday at a public hearing before the State Board of Education.

 

Board leaders contend they are under strict deadlines to approve a new English language arts and reading curriculum for the state's 4.7 million public schoolchildren and say the critics are misguided.

 

English teachers complained their expertise went ignored and told the 15-member board the proposal falls far short on reading comprehension and grammar. It also fails, they said, to provide a transition from grade to grade and ties teachers' hands by recommending what books students should read.

 

They begged for more time to perfect the plan. Others complained bitterly of the lack of Hispanic experts involved in the three-year process of writing the new curriculum.

 

None of the 65 people who signed up to speak during the hearing defended the plan.

 

Full story:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5651807.html

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