Students in Texas will no longer be required to learn about the first woman to become a major U.S. political party’s presidential nominee. Hillary Clinton, who also served as a U.S. Senator, U.S. Secretary of State, and a First Lady (twice) has been eliminated from the State of Texas public schools’ curriculum, after a vote Friday by the State Board of Education.
The reason?
The Texas State School Board wants to “streamline” the public schools’ curriculum, and Clinton did not make the cut for “significant political and social leaders,” according to a report in The Dallas Morning News. The Board, comprised of 10 Republicans and five Democrats, decided there are too many historical figures students across several different grades have to learn about.
Helen Keller was also eliminated, because she “does not best represent the concept of citizenship,” the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills working group advised. “Military and first responders are best represented,” they added.
The working group also eliminated Baptist Evangelist Rev. Billy Graham from the curriculum, but the Board voted to reinstate him.
Also eliminated were the biblical figure Moses and his “influence” on the writing of the nation’s founding documents, and “multiple references to ‘Judeo-Christian’ values.” But Moses, his “influence,” and Judeo-Christian values were also restored by the State School Board.
A final vote will take place in November.
Photo: Hillary Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention
Image by Disney | ABC Television Group via Flickr and a CC license