In this Sept. 16, 2014 file photo, Texas Board of Education board members, from left, Donna Bahorich, David Bradley, and Thomas Ratliff, raise their hands to ask questions during a public hearing for new textbooks up for adoption and use in classrooms statewide, in Austin, Texas. Another ideological battle may be brewing as the Texas Board of Education considers adopting social studies textbooks for use across America’s second-largest state. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

1. Texas tussle: New history textbooks criticized
2. Texas State Board of Education
3. Texas board may vote to let academics check school textbooks

WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas panel has approved 89 history and social studies textbooks for use in classrooms across America’s second-largest state, after one top publisher withdrew a book.

The Republican-controlled State Board of Education voted along party lines 10-5 Friday, sanctioning most proposed books and electronic lessons. It defeated six books, however, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt withdrew a high school government textbook.

Because Texas’ market is so large, textbooks published to meet its standards can affect those sold in other states.

Long decrying the books have been academics, experts and activists on the right and left. Some say they are too sympathetic to Islam. Others say they exaggerate Moses’ influence on American democracy.

But approval means the books will be ready for more than 5 million Texas public school students next fall.

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