Though he received a majority vote, a 2/3 Senate approval was needed for confirmation and was not achieved. Thank you, Gov. Perry, for having appointed Don McLeroy chairman of the SBOE.

McLeroy and the SBOE need to continue to address contentious issues, as Texans deserve for our elected officials to disagree and allow the majority to prevail. Just like in the legislature. Just like in the general population.

No question, Don McLeroy got a raw deal. Sen. Steve Ogden was right in a statement he made regarding Christian conservatives will get the message they need not run for State Board of Education and expect to get Senate approval or support. . Texans -- and Texas students -- don't deserve to hear that we must check our religious beliefs at the door and acquiesce to the so-called "politically correct." Don't liberals understand why home schooling is so popular and why more and more Texans want school choice?

That's the real message that come out of this whole mess. Those who voted against McLeroy essentially told Texans that the public schools should not allow a diversity of beliefs -- at least, not if you are Christian and/or conservative.

The Senators voting against McLeroy deserves a failing grade for their narrow views, their partisanship and their accepting diversity as only the politically-correct approach to “teach Texas students anything but Christian beliefs.”