A tale of two posters…
By Ashley Bean Thornton Senate Bill 10 and House Bill 2696 are identical bills that have been filed in the two houses of the Texas Legislature. If passed, they would require a poster of the 10 Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom in Texas. Here is the version of the 10 Commandments…
Read MoreBills I’m Watching: HB 3 – Education Savings Accounts / Vouchers
(“Bills I’m watching…” is a series of blog posts where I summarize in plain language what I think a bill is saying. I am not a lawyer, I’m just a regular person who knows how to read. So, if you see something you think is incorrect about the way I have summarized this bill, please…
Read MoreBills I’m Watching: SB 26 – Teacher Compensation
(“Bills I’m watching…” is a series of blog posts where I summarize in plain language what I think a bill is saying. I am not a lawyer; I’m just a regular person who knows how to read. So, if you see something you think is incorrect about the way I have summarized this bill, please…
Read MoreBills I’m Watching: SB 10 – 10 Commandments in Public School Classrooms
(“Bills I’m watching…” is a series of blog posts where I summarize in plain language what I think a bill is saying. — ABT) SB 10 – relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Authors: King, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, Hinojosa, Adam, Huffman, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Middleton,…
Read MoreBills I’m Watching: SB 11 – Prayer/Bible Reading in School
(“Bills I’m watching…” is a series of blog posts where I summarize in plain language what I think a bill is saying. — ABT) SB 11: relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools. Authors: Middleton, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, Hinojosa,…
Read More“Peace” and “Quiet” are not the same. For true peace we need to start talking!
By Ashley Bean Thornton Do you remember when political conversations, even political disagreements, were more fun than they are now? I do. I miss that. After the frenzy and folderol of the recent election you may be thinking: “Political conversations – no thanks! That’s the last thing I want! I am ready for some peace…
Read MoreReligion in Schools…Where do you pitch your tent?
By Ashley Bean Thornton I have been thinking quite a bit about the different ways people approach the issue of religion in public schools. Here are a few of those different ways that occur to me… Camp 1: We are a Christian Nation. – The founders intended the United States to be a Christian Nation,…
Read MoreWhat next? For me at least…
By Ashley Bean Thornton The following is a presentation I made at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waco on November 17, 2024. I think I’m a better writer than a speaker, but if you prefer listening to reading…The video is posted at the end. – ABT Good morning! First of all – let me say…
Read MoreWould School Vouchers work for Waco?
By Ashley Bean Thornton School Vouchers (aka Education Savings Accounts, School Choice, Parent Choice…) are often touted as a way to help low-income students “escape failing public schools.” We know from existing voucher programs in other states that it is not working out that way. A recent study by the Brookings Institute, for example, found…
Read MoreIt’s been a year – Plus a little …
Hello Dillos – It’s been a little over a year since my political “re-birth” that led to the re-birth of the Dead Armadillo blog. I’ve done a lot of things I have never done before. I served as an election clerk. I went to a convention for a political party. I watched legislative hearings and…
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