After the Texas Association of School Boards sent a letter to school board members claiming they are not anti-parent, Texas State Sen. Mayes Middleton of Galveston is calling the association out for their policies that say otherwise.
In their letter, the association claimed they were being targeted by special interest groups that are “spreading the fake message that vouchers would empower parents” and that these groups are falsely categorizing them as anti-parent.
The letter also states the association has always maintained that they support the role of parents as the primary and most important educators of children.
Despite their claims that they have always been pro-parent, Middleton says the taxpayer-funded lobbyist organization has used tax dollars to promote the sexualization and indoctrination of Texas children in schools.
The association has been an avid supporter of critical race theory and integrated it into its mission, saying, “We believe in and are committed to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion; promoting dignity and mutual respect; striving to eradicate systemic racism; and providing opportunity for all.”
The association also opposed the Texas Privacy Act, which designated that dressing rooms, showers, and bathrooms are separate for males and females in all schools, colleges, universities, and government facilities.
Recently, the association has also directed school boards to disregard Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to deem gender mutilation in children as child abuse and opposed the A-F accountability system for school performance.
Middleton, meanwhile, filed Senate Bill 175, which would restrict the use of public funds by political subdivisions, like the association, for lobbying activities.
In the Texas House, State Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R–Spicewood) filed House Bill 3538 as a companion bill to Middleton’s.
Despite opposition from TASB, when the Senate bill was considered in committee last week, many school board members came to support the legislation.
“Last week, when I laid out Senate Bill 175, the ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, many school board trustees showed up in support of the ban,” said Middleton. “TASB claims to represent all school board members; they don’t. They don’t even represent individual school board members; they represent school boards as a governmental entity, often against the interests of students and parents.”
Middleton’s bill has been passed out of the State Affairs Committee and awaits a full vote of the Senate.
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