Textbook subjects under debate in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The Texas State Board of Education reportedly voted to exclude former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros from textbooks for lower grades statewide.

The San Antonio Express-News said the state board took part in preliminary voting Thursday in the ongoing debate on social studies curriculum standards for Texas public schools.

While Cisneros, who once served as U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary and was the first Hispanic mayor of a major U.S. city, failed to earn the board's support for a textbook inclusion, the board did vote to include former Texas Supreme Court Justice Raul Gonzalez in public school texts.

The Austin American-Statesman said while a final decision regarding the curriculum standards is not expected until March, board members are attempting to wade through 88 pages of proposed standards.

"I know this will be a long and laborious process," Board Chairwoman Gail Lowe said of the process.

The American-Statesman said board members supported keeping examples of religious observances from Islam and Hinduism in the curriculum while adding educational examples regarding citizenship and political accountability.