Lawmaker: Texas textbook standards biased

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A Texas lawmaker says the first draft of new standards for history books used by state schools are one-sided and feature "right-wing ideology."

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, is unhappy review committees appointed by the state board of education recommend including conservative figures such as Newt Gingrich, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday.

The board will finalize new standards next spring.

"It's important that whatever course they take, that it portray a complete view of our history and not a jaded view to suit one's partisan agenda or one's partisan philosophy," Fischer said.

The first draft says students should be expected "to identify significant conservative advocacy organizations and individuals, such as Newt Gingrich, Phyllis Schlafly and the Moral Majority."

Texas Board of Education member Ken Mercer thinks students should study both liberals and conservatives.

Among the liberal groups Mercer recommends for inclusion are the National Education Association, MoveOn.org and Planned Parenthood.