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Group criticizes Texas Board of Education member over controversial book

Ohanian Comment: This
would be funny--if it weren't so emblematic of
the Texas Model that has brought our schools to
disaster. Interestingly, the author hasn't
gotten her fans over to Amazon to make
favorable comments. Right now, four people have
commented, all with worst rating
possible.

By Shirley Jinkins

An Austin watchdog group has called for the
removal of State Board of Education member
Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond, from the board’s
committee that governs what is taught in public
schools and which textbooks are adopted.

The Texas Freedom Network, a group that opposes
religious influence on public education, is
reacting to Dunbar’s newly published book,
One Nation Under God, which refers to
public education as "a subtly deceptive tool of
perversion" and calls the establishment of
public schools unconstitutional and
"tyrannical."

The book was published in paperback by
HigherLife Development Services Inc. of
Florida. It lists for $14.95 on Amazon.com.

Dunbar has served as the state board’s District
10 representative since 2006. Her district
covers 16 counties in Southeast Texas,
including half of Travis County. She is a
member of the board’s instruction committee,
which oversees curriculum and graduation
requirements, student assessment programs,
library standards, and the selection of
textbooks.

Dunbar is aligned with nine other socially
conservative board members on the 15-member
board.

In her book, Dunbar writes that she believes
public schools are unconstitutional because
they undermine the scriptural authority of
families to direct their children’s education.
Her own children have been privately educated
and home-schooled.

Reached Friday, Dunbar said her book was
written for Christian parents who are looking
for educational options compatible with their
beliefs. The phrase "deceptive tool of
perversion" is explained further and in context
in the book, she said.

"I also go on at the end of the chapter and say
that I do not believe that it would be
responsible to dismantle a system that educates
more than 80 percent of the children in this
country," Dunbar said. "We need to try now to
implement the best system of public education
that we can."

Dunbar said she was "very transparent" during
her campaign for the state board about having
educated her own children outside the public
school system and about her views on public
education. She said she believes the Texas
Freedom Network is watching her closely because
her district includes Austin, where the
organization is based.

"I’m not TFN’s favorite person, but that’s OK,"
Dunbar said. "I do not despise public
education. What I take issue with are the more
liberal organizations like TFN that tend to
contaminate public education."

Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom
Network, said Dunbar’s book "crosses the line"
and said it is critical that parents know of
Dunbar’s "extremist" views. The network has
30,000 supporters statewide, she said.

"Dunbar thinks our public schools are
unconstitutional and tyrannical," Miller said.
"Why on earth would she want to serve on the
SBOE? More importantly, why would Texans want
her to, either?"


— Shirley Jinkins
Star-Telegram
2008-12-06
http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/1077917.html

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