Concerned Texans gathered in Austin on Tuesday to voice their opinions about the proposed changes to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for social studies across all educational levels—from elementary through high school. This public commentary session highlighted significant concerns regarding the direction of history education in the state.
In a controversial move last year, the State Board of Education (SBOE) voted to shift the focus of social studies away from world history and culture, placing greater emphasis on Texas and U.S. history. This decision has sparked a heated debate among educators, parents, and advocacy groups.
Felicia Martin, president and executive director of the Texas Freedom Network—an organization dedicated to promoting equality and social justice—expressed her concerns about the new curriculum. She argued that it provides a narrow perspective on history, potentially limiting students’ understanding of the world.
“A curriculum that exclusively focuses on the Americas and Europe treats the rest of the world as a sideshow,” Martin stated. She criticized the work group’s dismissal of significant historical civilizations in Africa and Asia, as well as the removal of topics related to early Islamic contributions to mathematics and science, which she emphasized were crucial to the development of European knowledge.
Adrian Reyna, a social studies teacher with the San Antonio Independent School District and executive vice president for the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, echoed these sentiments. “We’re talking about removing mentions of the Japanese internment camps and the civil rights movement,” he noted, criticizing the curriculum’s overtly Western and Christian-centric framing of history.
The SBOE aims to streamline historical topics into a chronological framework, introducing ancient history in earlier grades and progressing towards modern history as students advance through school. For instance, students in kindergarten through second grade would focus on key figures, places, and events, while third to eighth graders would delve deeper into the development of Western civilization, the U.S., and Texas.
Martin raised concerns about a proposed standard that would mandate a uniform reading list for all students across districts, eliminating flexibility in teaching methods. She warned of the implications this could have on educators and students alike.
If these proposed TEKS changes are approved, Reyna anticipates an increase in teachers’ workloads, particularly for those working with younger students. “The material being introduced may not be developmentally appropriate for younger students,” he cautioned, suggesting that the proposed content could overwhelm them.
While no official vote was scheduled during Tuesday’s meeting, the SBOE is expected to vote on these changes this summer. If approved, the new social studies curriculum would be implemented starting in the 2030-2031 school year, marking a significant shift in how history is taught in Texas schools.
