Texas Governor Rick Perry was at The Heritage Foundation on Monday to speak on his new book FED UP! Its message is bringing limited, constitutional governance back to Washington and the role that state governments should play in that restoration.
In his speech, the Governor stressed that the election was a clear message to lawmakers in Washington to return to exercising their constitutionally defined powers and that the federal government needs to support the states, not work against them.
One of the areas in which the Governor has demonstrated the kind of state leadership he advocates is education. Texas refuses to sign on to the national standards encouraged by President Obama’s Race to the Top program. National standards would likely standardize mediocrity across the states as well as conflict with the principle that Governor Perry articulated Monday morning: that the best government is that which is closest to the people. The push for national standards represents another area in which the federal government is trying to do a job that should be done by states.
Texas also has another good reason to oppose the suggested “common core” standards, since their Board of Education, under its Perry-appointed Chairman Don McLeroy, recently completed a revision of Texas’s social studies standards. The standards emphasize the American founding, highlight the role of free-market enterprise in American economic success, and institute “Celebrate Freedom Week.”
Media furor over the revised standards focused especially on the alleged removal of Thomas Jefferson from a list of political philosophers, prompting the Huffington Post to call the new standards “propaganda.”
Despite the hysteria, Thomas Jefferson fans can rest assured that the Founder retains his place—actually, places—in a number of different objectives under the new standards. Other revisions include insertion of additional historical figures, organizations, and movements, from The Heritage Foundation and the National Rifle Association to feminist Betty Friedan, labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, and of course, President Obama. (Only the first few drew the ire of The New York Times, of course.)
As Governor Perry said to Heritage in October, “Our reforms that we’re putting into place that have been fine-tuned for Texas and our very diverse population out there [are] working.” Texas doesn’t need a one-size-fits-all plan from Washington, and its social studies standards are a good case in point. Governor Perry has reaffirmed Texas’s commitment to the principle of federalism in education.
Co-authored by Jennifer Marshall.
Inez Feltscher is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at the Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/about/departments/ylp.cfm
There is good reason for every state to take control of the education standards in their respective state. The opportunities are diminishing under obama's rules and regulations on freedom and opportunity to succeed. High schools, colleges all should be competing. Whatever happened to game shows like "High School Bowl?" Innovate more educational game shows for the youth? That's what makes education inspiring, meaningful and fun. Keep the dangerous teachings and indoctrinations of "fed ed" out. It's not worth the bribe to compromise the minds of the youth.
Dear Governor Perry, Thank you for taking your state back from the federal government in any way it is a start and it will help. With your leadership hopefully other states will follow and some day America will be on the right track again. I haven't read your book yet but christmas is near and christmas break. I hope your education plan puts reading, writting and arithmetic back in its proper place. Also focus on American history not other countries.
Hurray for Governor Perry!! That is why I am leaving my native, insane, and once beautiful California and moving to Texas. California will sink into the ocean from the weight of regulations and taxes and people flocking here illegally and I do not want to go down with the inmates of the asylum. Now I understand the saying, "Don't mess with Texas"! I better hurry before the whole country wants to move there!
Stay strong Texas – you are our inspiration.
As a public school teacher, I applaude Mr. Perry' decisions and comments. I wish other states had the clear perspective and insight as he. I love the statement that "money is a drug". How true! Think how many "addicts" we have in our country who are willing to sell not only their very souls but also the souls of their children to attain the drug, "money". Bravo, Mr. Perry. Wish we could "clone" 49 more just like you~~
That is great!!!! We need a return to the policies and beliefs that made this country great. I believe that the States should call for a Constitutional Convention that would return our country to it's founding principles.
Pres OBOZO: "Tea Bagger-in-Chief"
You Can LIE but can you READ?
Invasion by illegal ie "Criminal Aliens"
Obviously you have never read the United States Constitution or
else feel that in your ivory tower and wealth that it does not apply to you!!
I feel you need to read the following and act according to the peoples wish
not your wishes or special interests wish list!
There are three references to the words "invasions," "invaded," and
"invasion" in our U.S. Constitution:
Article I, Section 8: "The Congress shall have Power To Provide for calling
forth the Militia to execute Laws of the Union, suppress
insurrections and repel Invasions."
Article I, Section 10:"No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any
Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time
of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with
another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War,
unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as
will not admit of delay."
Article IV, Section 4:"The United States shall guarantee to every State in the
Union as Republican Form of Government, and shall
protect each of them against invasion, and on
Application of the Legislature, of of the Executive (when
the Legislative cannot be convened) against domestic
Violence."
Your Oath of Office and sworn duties as referenced mean you must Act and
put a Stop to the Invasion of all the Illegal immigrants we are experiencing.
Our U.S. Constitution mandates that invasions shall be repelled by Congress.
and that means the persons in the House of Representatives and the U.S.
Senate. Our nation's sovereignty must be protected.
How can you even stand in front of a mirror and even look yourself in the eyes
knowing you are a "Bought & Paid Hoe" for special interests and the
Democratic Party Hacks? Tell me I am wrong, please because I fear for the
future of our country as you certainly don't care about the people or our
country!!
You go to the SAME PLACE for LYING as you do for STEALING!!
rick perry is fabulous. thank GOD we have such greatbpeople in government!!!!!!! i think Texas is one of the great states in our country thank you rick GOD SPEED and good luck!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeaaa, Texas! Stick to your "guns" (principles).
From a native Texan who'se stuck in California.
Blacks should demand reparations from African blacks for selling their "own" into slavery. African kings sent representatives to Pres Lincoln to try and persuade him not to free the blacks and end the slave trade in America. Why did the black kings want the slave trade to continue? Because black kings were the biggest supplier of slaves to the white man for transport and black kings were making fortunes selling off their surplus population and the captives they took raiding other tribes!! Look it up as the truth hurts!! Black nations in Africa should be the 1st to pay reparations !!
Look at the differences. The federal government is pushing diversity (read European bad, All others good). Texas is facing reality. All the diverse people of Texas contribute to our general well-being. For those of foreign origin the mastery of the english language and American history is necessary to the success of their children.
A rising tide raises all boats. An attitude of "Whatever feels good" ensures failure. I'm proud that my grandchildren have been subjected to standards of education which will help them succeed in life.
You Go, Governor Perry!!!!
We can only pray that Gov. Perry's war on Federal government's control of public education will be joined by other states. In this we must support him. It is unconscionable that today's school children know so little about the founding of this country and the people and policies that made it great.
Dr dbiggs,CA
References please. If you are going to make statements like this you need to back up with facts/web links, etc.
Thanks.
I want to move to Texas! With a governor like Perry, the state will prosper. We need more state officials to stand up to the Federal Government bully. And why would states prostitute themselves for the little bit of breadcrumbs the Feds hand out for complying with Race to the Top. Where did the Feds get the money to bribe the states to get in line? The tax payers from those states! No wonder the Feds want to dummy down education! If the people don't understand the Constitution, they won't know their elected pubic servants are dismantling it piece by piece. Revolution, Baby!!
I always said the dumbing down of the American children has been a resounding success. Proof is what we have in Washington. Since the government took over the education of our children, we have been subject to it's revisionist philosophy, and sinking to the lowest level. Kudos to Texas for understanding the truth instead of the power hungry liberals. And, MAJOR KUDOS for realizing the folly and not taking the attached strings along with the bribe. Ford did it too, and became prosperous in the first year, unlike the auto companies that took Obama's bribes. Texas is a class act, and tru to the dream that made America great. With it's leadership by a great governor, maybe more states will follow and we can save our great country from sinking deeper into the slime created by the false saviors. (Arizona is trying hard too…)
to: Mario,
Do some of your own homework.
The Spanish ran the slave trade and sold millions throughout the world, where America was only a bit player in the business. The Africans sold their own people, they were not kidnapped by other countries, get a clue. Blaming America for all the black people plights is a fools game. You will only impress the ignorant and gullable by your insinuations. Dr dbiggs comment is well founded in fact, though maybe not appropriate for this topic. But it does serve to prove the point that a better education system is needed, and you provide proof of that.
President Rick Perry has a nice ring to it. Governor Perry is the type of leader we need to lead this nation out of the mess were in. He's a big reason I am moving my family back to Texas from California. I had to put my children in private school from kindergarten thru college just because the public school education in the state of California was riddled with liberals who just wanted to indoctrinate our children. Give them Hell Texas.
It's the emperor's new clothes. I'm writing the curriculum for my district and it's scary. What were they thinking?
Food for thought…