Could Education swing governor's race?

Bill White wants to take the politics out of Texas textbooks — after he uses itfor political gain

Is Bill White really taking the politics out of Texas textbooks?
Photo by Richard Michael Pruitt
Textbooks could work against Rick Perry in the governor's race.
Rick Perry is no commenting Texas' history shift.

It's hard to find many people (besides the Republican block of nine on the State Board of Education) who are publicly thrilled about the dramatic changes approved for Texas textbooks and the state's social studies curriculum. Even Gov. Rick Perry (who selected current Board leader Gail Lowe) has declined to comment on the history switch that's causing a national uproar (any celebration in Perry's house in the Austin hills is for his eyes only).

So it's no great surprise that Bill White — Perry's opponent in the governor's race — is coming out hard against the shifting and reprioritizing of various historical events. Who doesn't want to put themselves on the other side of this issue?

“Obviously, I would pick a chair who would try to undo some of the damage that is being done as quickly as we can,” White told the Houston Chronicle. “We should have standards which reflect the views of professional educators and historians and respect the integrity of that process rather than injecting political ideology in the classroom — regardless where that ideology came in the political spectrum."

Yes, Bill White wants to take the politics out of Texas textbooks — right after he uses it for political gain.

White needs to deploy the textbooks controversy strategically like he must also use NASA shifting more and more into a Florida operation and Continental's flight to Chicago to have a chance to be be elected. That's how the game is played.

But does doing that really qualify as taking the politics out of something?

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Houston restaurant serves Beyoncé a Southern feast and more top stories

Courtesy of Taste Kitchen + Bar

Legendary rapper Jay-Z with Taste Kitchen + Bar chef-owner Don Bowie.

Editor's note: t's time to look back at the hottest Houston news of the week, starting with a Southern feast fit for Queen Bey. Plus, new bar openings from some big names. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head to this guide for 4th of July weekend fun.

1. Houston restaurant served Beyoncé a Southern feast for her first meal in H-Town. One of Houston’s most prominent Black-owned restaurants gave Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and her family their first taste of the Bayou City. On June 27, the party ordered an extensive spread from Taste Kitchen + Bar, the restaurant in downtown known for its chicken and waffles and other Southern-inspired fare.

2. Exclusive: New cocktail bar from Houston hospitality stars coming to the Heights. The Heights’ growing bar scene will soon welcome a new addition with serious cocktail cred. Anvil owner Bobby Heugel has partnered with bartender Jacki Schromm to open a new cocktail bar in the former Ready Room space.

3. Country star Koe Wetzel opens new location of his lively bar in Houston. One of Texas country’s rising stars has brought his lively bar to Houston. Koe Wetzel's Riot Room opened in Midtown in June.

Koe Wetzel Riot Room Houston The pickup truck on the front of the building makes it easy to spot. Photo by Motion Theory Media

4. Houston will have vivid sunsets and air quality issues from Saharan dust. An annual meteorological phenomenon has blown in to make Houston's sunsets a little more spectacular. A huge Sahara Desert dust cloud made its way to the Houston area on June 29, bringing hazy skies. The bad news is that air quality might worsen; the good news is that locals can expect a week of Technicolor twilights.

5. Houston CEO's art-filled River Oaks mansion listed at $6.2 million. Art lovers seeking a home that’s a perfect showcase for their collection will be very interested in 1069 Kirby Drive, currently on the market for $6.2 million. The home is owned by Pete Bell, the CEO of Cotton Holdings.