PHOTOS BY LISA CARNLEY District 14 State Board of Education Member Gail Lowe, right, a Republican, greets her Democratic challenger, Dr. Edra Bogle, at the recent Lampasas County Conservative Club forum. The Lampasas County Conservative Club hosted a forum Thursday night for several candidates in the November General Elections.

District 14 State Board of Education member Gail Lowe, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Dr. Edra Bogle for the seat.

Both spoke at Thursday night's event.

In her opening statement, Ms. Bogle said the state of Texas has had the very best schools, but all schools need to be up to the same standards. "In the past, some have been good, and some not so good. We are afraid of change, and we need to teach students to handle new ideas and materials that will help them live in a changing world."

Mrs. Lowe, who has represented the district for six years said when she sought her seat initially, she campaigned on the core values of strong curriculum standards, prudent spending of the Permanent School Fund and traditional values.

"I have not changed my core principles because my core beliefs have not changed."

She said SBOE members continue to focus on more rigorous curriculum standards to get graduates ready to go out into the workplace and for a post-secondary education. "I have supported traditional values in education, and I am pleased to represent conservative values. I have prudent management skills that are essential in economic times like ours."

Both candidates were asked if the SBOE should have the power to reject textbooks.

Ms. Bogle noted that the State Board of Education received the power from the legislature with the provision that when board members reject a textbook they had to issue details on why it was rejected.

She gave an example of a math textbook recently rejected by the SBOE without, she said, an explanation. "Is the board openly defying the state by not giving a reason to reject the textbooks?"

Mrs. Lowe countered that seven board members rejected the thirdgrade textbook because it clearly didn't meet state requirements for math expectations. "The board is within its right to reject books that do not meet the standards."

Candidates were asked if the state is trying to legislate the State Board of Education out of existence, and if so, are they in favor?

Mrs. Lowe said it is important that the state board remain an elected body. Citizens have been disillusioned in the past with an appointed board, she said, and the idea only lasted one term.

"An elected board is a way the citizens have of placing someone who represents your values and is accountable to you, the citizens, for decisions made in education."

Ms. Bogle said hardly anyone knows what the board is, what it does or who is on it. "I agree an elected board is a good idea, but there needs to be a way to educate citizens to vote not just for the party but for the person who best represents their ideals."

Both candidates were asked if they support school vouchers.

Mrs. Lowe said vouchers are not popular with the Texas Legislature. "They have been trying to pass that legislation for years," she said. "I do support parental choice, but I am a proponent of charter schools. That is the best parental choice out there and should be supported as an option within the public school system."

Ms. Bogle said while one in 100 parents takes advantage of a chance to switch their children from public to charter schools, the other 99 must not be left behind. "We need money to improve our public schools."

Candidates were asked if the SBOE should have oversight over homeschools.

Ms. Bogle said if parents want to homeschool their children, she thinks it's great. "But these children should have to take the same state testing that children who go to public school have to take. It's not fair not to have to take the same rigorous tests public schoolchildren have to."

Mrs. Lowe said parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their child. "The state does not have the right to do that. I don't support regulation over homeschooling. Parents have that right."

Candidates were told by the forum moderator that in many ways, educationally, Texas ranks near the bottom when compared to other states. They were asked how they would increase standards.

Mrs. Lowe said about 40 percent of high school graduates end up in remedial education when they get to college. "That means they are not getting what they need when it's time to move on."

Mrs. Lowe said the SBOE is continuing to examine science and social studies curriculum and to better align subjects to assure what is being taught in the classroom will help elevate Texas' ranking.

Ms. Bogle said children are dropping out of school at much higher rates than the state shows.

"We are forcing out children who are not able or willing to memorize fact after fact. Our best students, our average students and even our slower students are getting bored memorizing facts. That needs to change."

In closing, Ms. Bogle said under the current SBOE administration, education in Texas has taken a wrong path. "We need to put an emphasis on details, facts and on thought. We need to teach real science and sex education. Our school system is in trouble, and it's partly because of very well-meaning people like Mrs. Lowe who believe what they are teaching is to preserve our children's innocence," she said.

"In this day, there's no way to preserve their innocence. Texas needs to be teaching its children how to handle the world they are in," she said.

Ms. Bogle added that she believes charter schools are eating up money that should be spent on teaching the state's children in public schools.

Mrs. Lowe closed by saying she is a solid conservative. "I am one of the most conservative members on the state board, and my voting record shows that."

The SBOE representative said schools should not indoctrinate children but should educate them. "It's not the role of government to undo the values parents send their children to school with. That's why homeschooling has grown.

"Parents have a right to direct the education of their children, and the state does not have the right to interfere with that."

Mrs. Lowe said textbooks need to uphold traditional values and, she said, "It's important what we teach our children reflects those values."