DIS09-The Secret Shield Defending Religious Freedom From Government Intrusion

In this episode of DIScourse, we met with Paul Colbert, a retired figure in Texas education and politics, who dedicated 12 years to the Texas House of Representatives, advocating for the needs of south-central and southwest Houston. Serving as the Public Education budget chair for eight years, Paul played a pivotal role in shaping educational funding and policy while also representing public education on the Appropriations Committee. Before his legislative tenure, he honed his expertise as the research director for the Texas Senate Education Committee for five years. Even after leaving office, Paul has remained actively engaged in shaping education policy and other critical areas, particularly health care, serving as a consultant through every legislative session since his retirement.

In this episode of Amplify OER by the Texas Education Agency, host Jackie Besinger delves into the critical issue of religion's impact on K-5 education, highlighting alarming implications for our curriculum and the necessity of ensuring that every child receives a quality education anchored in the preservation of citizens' liberties and rights. Alongside Paul Colbert, they shed light on the contentious debate surrounding Open Educational Resources (OER), emphasizing that such a curriculum undermines the fundamental protections against government interference in the true free exercise of religion. They explain that partisan religious views, much like the roles of chaplains and social workers, have no place in public schools, and express concern over the Texas government's dismissal of crucial points that suggest a push for religious indoctrination that directly conflicts with parental rights and the principles of traditional methods of education.

DIScourse is a platform dedicated to fostering dialogue with all political parties. We stand firmly against the uniparty system and the dismissal of different perspectives. Our mission is to promote civil discourse as the essential pathway to preserving our constitutional republic, ensuring that every individual, regardless of party affiliation, has a voice that deserves to be heard.

Starring: Jackie Besinger