Texas SBOE Hearing

An Unexpected Journey

I had heard talks on the radio, Patriot Talk920, that the counsel for Islamic relations or CAIR, trying to push Islamic propaganda in schools. They were asking for people to testify against radical Islam. I decided this is something I could and would love to do. Right away, I went to SBOE website, and registered to speak at the capital.

Preparation

I didn't want to look like an idiot, so I had to figure out what I was testifying for and what I thought about it. 

There were 3 sets of hearings, and the one being discussed on the radio was the first item. Public Testimony on proposed instructional materials and/or TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge). 

The board submitted a required readings list that, if approved, will go into effect in Texas for the next 2 years. I had the choice to say ‘for’, ‘against’, or ‘comment on’. I choose ‘for’ because, of some of the readings I saw on the list. Psalm 23, Chronicles of Narnia, Animal Farm. It seemed like a step in the right direction to me. Later I would hear testimony of them taking out George Washington out, but one else said he would still be in social studies. So, who knows?

The testimony itself had to be a max of 2 mins. I began writing and after timing myself, I found I had written 5, so then began the refinement process. This would be my first time speaking in this format, so I began practicing as I would preform, reading over and over again, to find the certainty in each word.

I asked my roommate, Sam, sometimes called Samwise, if he would like to join, he agreed to come along, then another good ole boy from my church, Blake, decided to come too. We picked up an Airbnb in West University, Austin, and set out. Stopping at Buc-ee’s for a Philly cheese steak burrito. 

West University

Arriving in West University we settled in, then walked around to see the land. A bustling college town in the middle of the city, filled with sports bars, food trucks of mostly ethnic food, craftsmen style bungalows, beautiful new modern buildings, and even some bougie sorority buildings. A diverse cultural hub, that had flocks of white girls with their favorite drinks. 

We locked in for the night, I practiced my speech some more, watched a movie than hit the hay. Late in the night Sam had to bang on the wall to get our neighbors to stop getting it on so noisily.

The next day I woke early, dressed, and left before Sam and Blake were ready, to account for any trouble I might have finding the place. I reached the capitol court yard, and as I was walking towards the large domed building I noticed people filling into one of the large buildings on my left. I saw a sign of the name of the building I was looking for and fell in.

The Characters

I stood next to a Jew with his ear pierced and a colored yarmulke. I asked him how he was doing, and if he was for or against the framework. He told me he was against, passionately, because of the religious content proposed. After I stopped asking questions he asked if I was for or against. I told 'for'. He looked disappointed.

Before it got awkward we were shuffled off up stairs, with a growing number of people, I found the room where I was to testify, and took a seat on back end. 

Next to me sat 2 men, one who ran a jail ministry and podcast, the other more mysterious. He didn’t wish to share his profession, but he informed us, he had been following these proceedings closely and regularly. 

I guess he’s some sort of documentarian. He gave me some solid advice and insight about the proceedings, so I decided to make a few last minute changes to my testimony…  

Testimonies of Interest

The first notable character was a rabbi for a baptist school, he came representing those interests. My first thoughts were,

 “How can you be a rabbi at a Baptist school?”.

He said I don’t see how you can teach children of Pauls conversion, in a classroom with Jews and Christians. How do you explain how Jews used to kill Christians? He used this as his bias to deny all religious texts from the required readings, despite his love for psalm 23.  

A giant of a man, a pastor, argued, for its literary value and it cultural significance. He said,

 “I didn’t realize there were any baptist schools that believe teaching bible is “controversial in that context”.” 

Which is what his organizations stance is. The woman to my left (Fran), told me that was her representative, Fran testified in favor of classical educations and sits as president of a board.

How can a school that claims Christianity and not believe you should teach the bible in its entirety? Historical context and its significance. 

The next Speaker was a woman who claimed to be a pastor, who wore a white collar like a priest. She immediately put herself against the board, accusing.

“I know to many of y’all’s bad theology”.

 She argued against favoring of Christianity over other religions, siting herself.

“y’all wouldn’t want me teaching your kids the bible”. And “the separation of church and state”. Which she suggested as part of the constitution. The cross questioners pointed out that was a private letter by Jefferson and not expressed in the constitution. That the ethos was classical Christian teachings.

There were a few other notable speakers, a man representing the church and the state, saying “The key is to teach it as history.”. 

Another was a Muslim leader that stumbled over his words, said.

“75 % of the quran is about slavery and 25% is about freeing slaves, and our nation, (Assuming he meant Islam) was the first to abolish slavery. The black female board woman Mrs Childs, pointed out  Hati abolished slavery in 1804. 

Another member I couldn’t identify, asked.

“Were you aware Pilgrims at Plymouth were the very first formal government to abolish slavery, since Genesis 1:1, they called it man stealing, and punishable by capital punishment “ 

He thanked her and said he was aware, then stepped down. Conceding the debate immediately.

My favorite testimony of the day though was Bonnie Wallace, a woman going around the country testifying about materials her and her organization have found in our school libraries. 

The books that she’s found have involve sex with Jesus, sex with dead bodies, sex with animals, and sex items. This is straight up horrendous, satanic, pagan, abomination in our public schools. Asking the very important question… Is this what we want our future generations to be exposed to?

https://youtu.be/EJJYi4k37t8

Protecting Texas children. Has collected a large catalog of these explicit texts. 

https://protectingtexaschildren.com/behind-the-shelves

Bonnie urges the Texas SBOE, that they need to immediately add a list of prohibited books. arguing not banning, not burning, but boundaries, and that our public school system is broken and needs reimagine.  She had to fight for time back as Mrs Childs tried to stop her from speaking about books that involve sex with animals, dead bodies. and 2 about our Lord and savior Jesus. In here testimony I record her shameful behavior.

The lead argument was not actually against the ideology of the text, it was on the teachers ability to teach all the required works within the given 36 week school year. These arguments were mostly given by women school teachers. They sited studies about student under engagement when overwhelmed by too much materials. These arguments seemed plausible, but also like soft bigotry of low expectations, for students and their teachers. 

The board said that the required reading was up to the Harvard gold standard. I could not find a Harvard Gold standard, however, studies sight that an average middle schooler who reads 20 minutes a day will be able to read up to 500000 words a year. Which is what she said was reflected in the reading. This is over the authors head.

Despite sounding like they were pretty certain, most of opposition was middle aged white ladies, Muslim women, and LGBT, with some multiculturalism. I think it was just the strongest angle they could use to block the curriculum. So I felt good with my vote.

To me the fruit of more Christian influence, writing, and scripture, out way whether some teachers and students can handle the curriculum or not. The public school system is already such a mess, maybe when the people groan long enough, God will bring about new leadership.

I plan to home educate my kids, and give them a classical education, and maybe have them infiltrate some organization, after I’ve trained them. 

My Testimony

Finally after debating with some Muslims, Jewess, and a Quaker, I was going to check back into my seat, when Mark appeared and said he was looking for me. Apparently some people had been skipped and my turn was quickly coming up. 

My body was feeling good, despite a small twitch in my eye after so much disagreement. I did some more deep breathing exercises and when they called my name I was ready. The woman had trouble pronouncing my last name. I had 2 other believers on either side that had excellent testimonies advocating for classical teaching and leaders with their statements of faith, and an Indian man who wanted to see a book about a “holy man” who enchants a monkeys paw. I told him, I could do without that book too. 

Then it was time, I was urgent and disciplined, but after watching the footage later, they gave me an extra 30 seconds without me realizing it. My words were strong, it could have been a bit more fluid and I didn’t need to rush after all, the words would have had more weight if I allowed a pause. Overall I was very encouraged by my performance, especially since this was my first time testifying. Finally here it is 

Let us not submit to Islam

Hello and thank you for holding these hearings. I pray The Spirit moves you to consider and act wisely.

I am pleased to see things like Psalms 23, and the Chronicles of Narnia in the required readings. These are things that inspired my thinking. Shout out to focus on the Families, radio theatre. 

If I were so bold as to recommend anything to the board, I would add, 

Johnathan Edward’s a “A Faithful Narrative of the surprising work of God.” 

Johnathon Winthrop’s, “A Model for Christian Charity.” 

Or the Sermon on the mount, the most perfect example for Christian charity.

It is my understanding that there are people here today that would like to see Islam taught to the students of Texas.  If you must teach anything of Islam this is what I would say.

Western civilizations history is fraught with examples of fighting off islam’s influence and oppression.

Christopher Columbus, a great man of faith,

Who was inspired by the gospel, to reach the ends of the earth.

Received funding from the queen, his words…

“I protest to your Highnesses that all the profits of this my enterprise may be spent in the conquest of Jerusalem.”

Our first great president created our prestigious navy. To fight state sanctioned piracy by the Ottoman Empire. Who’s ambassador, when asked to stop, said…

“It was written in the Quran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the prophet were sinners, who it was right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave”.

The Quran verse 9:29 says 

“Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, nor comply with what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor embrace the religion of truth from among those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the tax, willingly submitting, fully humbled.”

Does this sound like it’s compatible with Western Civilization, something we can submit to?

Look at its effects, how Islam treats non believers, and their own people? 

The “faithful” are radical Islam.

Will you teach them about a prophet who married a child, and whose false religion has permitted the defilement of the innocent? 

Or will you teach them of the love and sovereignty of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 

The cornerstone on which this nation was founded. 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Philippians 2:10-11

For more

For the rest of my experience here is a link to my vlog, I interview a man running for office, and argue with  a Muslim, and run into a bunch of guys from Patriot Academy. A great group of young people, learning about out country and working to fix it.

https://www.patriotacademy.com/. 

https://youtu.be/CtsIqsHBhy0. <-- My vlog

If you feel lead to support me on this adventure I can make more time for speaking, journalism, writing. I do all of this because I believe it is my calling.

Final Exhortation

“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Ephesians 5:8-16 ESV