Texas oversteps, tramples parents’ rights OPINION

State takeover of HISD draws criticism from parents, educators and state representatives

Editorial

Vast restructuring of Houston Independent School District (HISD) will take place in the coming months, as the State of Texas, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced their intention to replace the elected school board officials, as well as the Superintendent, with stateappointed managers.

According to an article from Houston Public Media, the state-appointed managers will have “immense power. They can control the budget, school closures, collaborations with charter networks, policies around curriculum and library books, as well as hiring or firing the superintendent, among other important decisions.”

The district takeover occurred due to “poor academic performance” and “allegations of misconduct,” said TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. The takeover is being credited largely to the failed TEA evaluations of Wheatley High School.

Many parents and teachers are worried about the ramifications of the state takeover, with educators telling ABC News that they fear the takeover will re -

Commentary

By Luna Infante Staff Writer

On March 2, Tennessee passed HB 9, a law restricting adult cabaret performances from taking place in public spaces or in the presence of children. This law bans these shows from taking place within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks and places of worship. This law intends to ban something which can be perceived as harmful to minors and is considered obscene. According to NPR, anyone who breaks these laws could face misdemeanor charges, which are punishable by a fee of up to $2,500, and/or one year in jail. In contrast, those guilty of subsequent violations could face felony charges, which are punishable by up to six years in jail. This law has impacted individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, many of whom see the law as restrictive for numerous reasons. Not only will this law prevent drag shows from taking place in various spaces, but it is also vague. Many drag performers worry that the lines of this law are hazy because drag shows are not always obscene or sexually explicit. Stella Yarbrough, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, states her concern, “government officials could easily abuse this law to censor people based on their own subjective viewpoints of what they deem appropriate.”

It is understandable why the state sult in school closures and other unforeseen reforms.

Many representatives are criticizing the move as well, speculating that the takeover is not the result of authentic, meaningful action but rather that HISD is the latest victim of Texas’ partisan politics. According to WFAA, Representative Ron Reynolds, chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, says the takeover is “nothing more than the state taking over a majority Black and Brown district run by Democrats to be replaced by folks who support GOP legislative efforts, such as vouchers, private schools and the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.”

Bigotry is a drag

has bans on sexually explicit performances such as exotic dancing or performances involving nudity, as minors should not be exposed to these kinds of shows. But to ban drag shows in public spaces is taking steps backward in inclusivity. According to the bill, this ban includes “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest, or similar entertainers, regardless of whether or not performed for consideration.” This section of the bill is extremely unclear, as it is subjective whether something can be seen as prurient or not, and not be a crime. With this law, the lines are beginning to blur, and many see this ban as a subtle attack on trans people.

After the Governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee signed this law into action, a yearbook photo of him resurfaced online. The photo shows him in drag, wearing a dress, on a football field. Lee says there is a huge difference between wearing a dress at a football game and drag queens wearing a dress on stage. Hella Skeleton, a drag performer in rural Middle Tennessee, states how that line is not clear. “For Bill Lee to say, ‘You know, that was lighthearted when I did it,’ that is absolutely absurd when a lot of drag is extremely lighthearted.”

The bottom line is that with the state’s takeover of HISD comes a forced replacement of elected officials, which is undemocratic in nature. The parents of HISD have the right to elect officials they feel represent their children’s best interests and promote the educational values of the parents that elect them. These state-appointed officials will have vast influence and power over the lives, curriculum and academic quality of Houston students, and they must be held accountable for their decisions.

The right of parents to choose what they feel is best for their children is being stripped from their hands, and we, as citizens, cannot allow this to continue. This state takeover is occurring in the largest school district in Texas, which means that it can likely happen anywhere. We must find an alternative solution to the educational problems at hand that does not involve authoritarian actions by the state.

You can find the contact information for your local representative’s office at https://house.texas.gov/members/ and https://senate.texas.gov/members.php.