Texas Freedom Network
{{Infobox Organization
| name = Texas Freedom Network
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| abbreviation = TFN
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| formation = 1995
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| type = Non-profit
| status = 501(c)(4) Educational Organization
| purpose = Religious Freedom, Civil Liberties
| headquarters = Austin, Texas
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| region_served = Texas
| membership = 19,000 members
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| leader_title = President/Executive Director
| leader_name = Val Benavidez
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| affiliations = Texas Freedom Network Education Fund
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| website = {{URL|https://tfn.org/}}
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The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) is a Texas organization which describes its goals as protecting religious freedom, defending civil liberties, and strengthening public schools in the state. It works to counter the activities of the Christian right.{{cite book |last = Rozell |first = Mark |title = God at the Grass Roots, 1996 |publisher = Rowman & Littlefield |location = Lanham |year = 1997 |isbn = 0-8476-8611-6 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/godatgrassroots10000unse/page/45 45–46] |url = https://archive.org/details/godatgrassroots10000unse/page/45 }} Founded in 1996 by Cecile Richards, the daughter of former Governor Ann W. Richards.{{cite book |last = Green |first = John |title = Prayers in the Precincts |publisher = Georgetown University Press |location = Washington |year = 2000 |isbn = 0-87840-775-8 |page = [https://archive.org/details/prayersinprecinc0000unse/page/53 53] |url = https://archive.org/details/prayersinprecinc0000unse/page/53 }} The group had 19,000 members by 2004.[https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2004-10-15/233324/ Smoot Steps Down], Rachel Proctor May, The Austin Chronicle, October 15, 2004
Leadership and direction
Under Richards, the organization focused mainly on education, but under the leadership of Samantha Smoot (1998–2004), it broadened its focus to include hate crimes and gay rights. As of July 2023, Val Benavidez is the president.
The TFN has opposed the attempts of Don McLeroy and other religious conservatives on the Texas State Board of Education to mandate that Texas high schools offer Bible classes and change history textbook standards, arguing that many of the proposed changes violate religious freedom and the separation of church and state.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-01-bible-study-watchdog-group_x.htm |work=USA Today |title=Watchdog group attacks school Bible study |date=2005-08-01 |accessdate=2010-05-25}} TFN has also closely followed the activities of the Board of Education and activists on other education issues, such as the teaching of evolution in public schools.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/education/27texas.html?fta=y |work=The New York Times |title=Defeat and Some Success for Texas Evolution Foes |first=Michael |last=Brick |date=2009-03-27 |accessdate=2010-05-25}}
Bible study curricula
In 2005 TFN criticized the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools curriculum for promoting a fundamentalist Christian view and violating religious freedom. It commissioned a report by Southern Methodist University biblical scholar Mark A. Chancey,[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-01-bible-study-watchdog-group_x.htm Watchdog group attacks school Bible study], USA Today which found:
{{quote|a blatant sectarian bias, distortions of history and science, numerous factual errors, poor sourcing reveal a curriculum that is clearly inappropriate for the 1,000 public schools the NCBCPS claims use its materials.[http://tfn.org/publication/the-bible-and-public-schools-report-on-the-national-council-on-bible-curriculum-in-public-schools/ The Bible and Public Schools: Report on the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools] Mark A. Chancey}}
Evolution curricula
{{see also|Strengths and weaknesses of evolution}}
In a survey commissioned by TFN, "94% of Texas scientists indicated that claimed 'weaknesses' of evolution are not valid scientific objections to evolution (with 87% saying that they 'strongly disagree' that such weaknesses should be considered valid)."{{cite press release |title=Survey of Texas University Faculty: Overwhelming Opposition to Watering Down Evolution in School Science Curriculum |url=https://tfn.org/overwhelming-opposition-to-watering-down-evolution-in-school-science-curriculum/ |publisher=Texas Freedom Network |access-date=20 May 2022 |date=17 November 2008}}{{cite report |last1=Eve |first1=Raymond A. |last2=Belhadi |first2=Chawki A. |title=Evolution, Creationism & Public Schools: Surveying What Texas Scientists Think about Educating Our Kids in the 21st Century |url=http://www.tfn.org/site/PageServer?pagename=2008BiologyReport |website=Texas Freedom Network |access-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228153127/http://www.tfn.org:80/site/PageServer?pagename=2008BiologyReport |archive-date=28 February 2009}}
Other issues
- In February 2009 a TFN-funded study conducted by two Texas State University researchers, titled Just Say Don't Know: Sexuality Education in Texas Public Schools found that in many cases, students are given misleading and inaccurate information about the risks associated with sex.{{cite news |last1=Heinauer |first1=Laura |title=Study: Texas schools flunking sex ed |url=http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11783347 |access-date=20 May 2022 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=25 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301093321/https://www.sltrib.com/ci_11783347/ |archive-date=1 March 2009}}
References
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