Cynthia Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Noland Dunbar is an American lawyer and author in Richmond, Texas
who served as a Republican
on the Texas State Board of Education, which establishes policy for the Texas public school system, from 2007 to 2011. In 1990, she graduated Regent University School of Law, During the 2009-2010 academic year, she was commuting from her home in Texas to teach in the Liberty University school of law.
in science classes. In the general election that year, she defeated Libertarian Martin Thomen, a clerk, with 225,839, 70.38% to 95,034, 29.62%. She did not run for reelection in 2010 and her term ended in January 2011.
Her 2008 book One Nation Under God advocates that the Christian religion
should be in the public square more. She has been criticized for a section of the book that calls public education
a "subtly deceptive tool of perversion" as well as saying that "The establishment of public schools is unconstitutional and even 'tyrannical'."
In early 2008, Dunbar ran for the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives
representing , the district formerly represented by Tom DeLay, but she eventually withdrew and endorsed Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
.
In late 2008, Dunbar wrote an article on the Christian Worldview Network website saying that a terrorist attack on America during the first six months of an Obama administration would more likely "be a planned effort by those with whom Obama truly sympathizes to take down the America that is threat to tyranny." Though Dunbar was criticized, she refused to retract the claim saying "I don't have anything in there that would be retractable."
and mention of the Age of Enlightenment
(in which reason was advocated as the primary source and legitimacy for authority).
Namely:
According to an article in The Guardian, there are a number of changes such as these :
Dunbar says these are important steps to overturning what she believes is the myth of a separation between church and state in the US. In 2008, Dunbar published a book, One Nation Under God, in which she argued that the United States was ultimately governed by the scriptures.
Richmond, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,081 people, 3,413 households, and 2,628 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,975.4 people per square mile . There were 3,595 housing units at an average density of 965.3 per square mile...
who served as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
on the Texas State Board of Education, which establishes policy for the Texas public school system, from 2007 to 2011. In 1990, she graduated Regent University School of Law, During the 2009-2010 academic year, she was commuting from her home in Texas to teach in the Liberty University school of law.
Political career
In 2006, Dunbar won the Republican nomination for the Texas State Board of Education for District 10, saying voters responded to her because she supports teaching intelligent designIntelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
in science classes. In the general election that year, she defeated Libertarian Martin Thomen, a clerk, with 225,839, 70.38% to 95,034, 29.62%. She did not run for reelection in 2010 and her term ended in January 2011.
Her 2008 book One Nation Under God advocates that the Christian religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
should be in the public square more. She has been criticized for a section of the book that calls public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
a "subtly deceptive tool of perversion" as well as saying that "The establishment of public schools is unconstitutional and even 'tyrannical'."
In early 2008, Dunbar ran for the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
representing , the district formerly represented by Tom DeLay, but she eventually withdrew and endorsed Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs is a physician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives representing from November 13, 2006, until January 3, 2007. She has also served as a City Councilwoman in Houston, Texas for three terms...
.
In late 2008, Dunbar wrote an article on the Christian Worldview Network website saying that a terrorist attack on America during the first six months of an Obama administration would more likely "be a planned effort by those with whom Obama truly sympathizes to take down the America that is threat to tyranny." Though Dunbar was criticized, she refused to retract the claim saying "I don't have anything in there that would be retractable."
Modifications to Texas K-12 Social Studies Curriculum
As a sitting member of the Texas State Board of Education, in March 2010, Dunbar proposed and won ratification of a number of modifications to Texas K-12 social studies curriculum, notably the removal of Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and mention of the Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
(in which reason was advocated as the primary source and legitimacy for authority).
Namely:
- “explain the impact of Enlightenment ideas from John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Thomas Jefferson on political revolutions from 1750 to the present.” was changed to
- “explain the impact of the writings of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and Sir William Blackstone on political revolutions from 1750 to the present.”
According to an article in The Guardian, there are a number of changes such as these :
- ...sidelining Thomas Jefferson, who favoured separation of church and state, while introducing a new focus on the "significant contributions" of pro-slavery Confederate leaders during the civil war.
- Study of Sir Isaac Newton is dropped in favour of examining scientific advances through military technology.
- a suggestion that the anti-communist witch-hunt by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s may have been justified.
- One curriculum amendment describes the civil rights movement as creating "unrealistic expectations of equal outcomes" among minorities.
- ...drop[ping] references to the slave trade in favour of calling it the more innocuous "Atlantic triangular trade"
Dunbar says these are important steps to overturning what she believes is the myth of a separation between church and state in the US. In 2008, Dunbar published a book, One Nation Under God, in which she argued that the United States was ultimately governed by the scriptures.
External links
- Cynthia Dunbar- Official website