School Dazes

NEW: In the latest turn in the saga over "In God We Trust" posters in Texas schools, an Austin law firm has sent cease and desist notices to four North Texas school districts alleging that the posters donated by Patriot Mobile don't actually comply with the state law. pic.twitter.com/bTdQSPbYIO

— Mike Hixenbaugh (@Mike_Hixenbaugh) September 2, 2022

It may mean something; it may mean nothing; but I've noticed this latest fight seems to be centered in North Texas. Not in Houston, home of the largest ISD in the state (which has single member districts, so there isn't really even a fight over taking control of the school board. Too many districts to fight in, too many Democrats in those districts, to put it bluntly.); not in Austin (don't confuse "Austin" with "liberal" anymore, please. That's properly Harris County, now.) Not in San Antonio or El Paso or in small rural districts, of which there are literally hundreds. No, the fight is very selective, and centered mostly around Fort Worth, the far more conservative "sister" is the sister cities of the DFW "Metroplex."

Some background on the fight over these signs: https://t.co/yW8m5N5T3A

— Mike Hixenbaugh (@Mike_Hixenbaugh) September 2, 2022

This is Sen. Hughes argument against posters that are not in English (like the ones one parent submitted, written in Arabic):

“In both the United States Code and the Texas Education Code, the motto is set out in quotation marks and is presented in English. Accordingly, the statutory prescription that the motto be displayed as it appears in the statute, and with no other ‘words, images, or other information,’ limits the legally mandated display of the motto to only posters or framed copies presented in English,” Hughes wrote.

That's not exactly statutory construction as the courts do it.  And it's interesting Sen. Hughes sent this letter to the Texas Education Agency, as if he were delivering an AG opinion letter.  It's fatuous nonsense, in other words, and not worth a wet snap compared to letters from a Texas lawfirm.

The law, by the way, is a year old.  No one noticed until Patriot Mobile decided to donate posters, again to certain school districts in particular.

Some folks have pointed out that this poster law is model legislation copied from a national playbook to reassert Christian values in government and schools: https://t.co/62kaLsQugG

— Mike Hixenbaugh (@Mike_Hixenbaugh) September 2, 2022

Anybody surprised by that? Bueller? Ferris Bueller? And the lawfirm is not acting randomly, or sua sponte:

Parents are delivering the posters and letters to each district this morning: https://t.co/0bDADHVhFH

— Mike Hixenbaugh (@Mike_Hixenbaugh) September 2, 2022

Patriot Mobile is going where they think they'll win.  They are acting in these North Texas school districts because they "took over" these four school boards (they claim). I'm not sure how long that's going to last, or how popular the school board members who got their districts into unnecessary lawsuits, are going to be.

It is interesting they aren't talking about CRT or porn in the libraries anymore.  Oh, they'll come back to it.  But they've pretty much run their string of grievances now, and most of Texas isn't interested.  Most school districts have their hands full providing all the educational, health, and welfare services now required of them (I don't remember an ambulance coming to any school I attended below college (none at the colleges either).  Today they are an almost weekly event.  Not to note a decline, just a dramatic change in circumstance.  Standardized tests, state tests, federal requirements, state requirements (posters are putting "God" back into the schools?  Isn't that idolatry?).  "Taking over school districts" is one thing.  Running them is another.

I think this "trend" is rapidly reaching its "sell-by" date.