Petitions circulating to stop SBOE history revision

Frustrated with the justified swipes your out-of-state friends are taking at the Lone Star State's educational, uh, initiatives? You're not alone; right on the heels of a well-placed insult from a friend in Bodymore, Murdaland, of all places, I received this call to arms:

FORWARD THIS MESSAGE
Hi—
Last week the Texas State Board of Education, led by Governor Rick Perry’s appointee for chair, Gail Lowe, voted to remove Thomas Jefferson from social studies textbook standards.
Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and a world-renowned scholar who advocated democratic, limited government. He was deleted from a list of historical figures who inspired political change because Governor Rick Perry provided no leadership or voice for mainstream Texans against people who decided to substitute their political agenda for the judgment of professional historians.
Please join me to send an e-mail to Governor Rick Perry today, telling him it’s time to stop playing political games with our kids future.
Thanks.

From    Your name here
To    Governor Rick Perry
Subject    SBOE's New Curriculum Standards
Message    Dear Governor Perry,

Last week the Texas State Board of Education, led by your appointee for chair, Gail Lowe, voted to remove Thomas Jefferson from social studies standards.

Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and a world-renowned scholar who advocated democratic, limited government. Why was he deleted from a list of historical figures who inspired political change?

Lowe also led the SBOE to pass more than 100 other amendments to Texas' social studies standards, without a single classroom teacher or historian in the discussions.

Our kids' education is not a political game to be influenced by ideologues and partisan politics. Please urge the SBOE to reconsider these changes to Texas' curriculum standards instead of pursuing partisan agendas in public office.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Your John Hancock Here (quick, before our kids no longer know who John Hancock was)