My apologies to those who get this more than once.
Texas, in a state-mandated review of the 'Essential Elements' (which, as
you know drive the textbook-adoption process) is now creating the TEKS
(see below). The second draft is online, and in my opinion it is not much
better than the first draft. I would like to encourage ALL TEXAS PUBLIC
SCHOOL TEACHERS to respond before it's too late. The document is broken
into various areas: physics, health, english, etc. I am quite concerned
about the vagueness and unusual language of many parts, which I assume is
due to the efforts of administrative personnel in writing these
objectives. If subject-area teachers do not give specific, detailed
feedback I fear that we will be stuck with weak, vague, incomplete, or
touchy-feely objectives for the next decade.
The document seems to defer to the Advanced Placement and International
Baccalaureate organizations' objectives when applicable (for certain
upper-level high school courses), but the rest is left to administrators,
parents, teachers, students, university professors and even 'business
professionals.' I guess this means that anyone can respond if you seem to
have a connection to Texas public schools (and if you're out of state, the
new objectives might affect your textbooks in the future!).
I think this is like the old saw about voting: "If you don't give input,
you don't have much right to complain." RESPOND RESPOND RESPOND by Sept.
3, 1996.
The following paragraphs are taken from the TEKS announcement--
"The second draft of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) is now
available for public review and response. Following a field review in
Spring 1996, the first-draft TEKS were revised. The second draft replaces
the earlier draft. The TEKS are being developed in accordance with state
law and, after extensive review and revision, will be adopted by the State
Board of Education to replace the state's Essential Elements.
Interested readers are encouraged to review the draft and respond by
September 3, 1996, on either a general or specific response form, which is
included in each of the 15 content areas. The TEKS are available on the
World Wide Web at