Educational Research Analysts 1869372 194959532 2008-02-29T19:52:39Z 65.213.77.129 /* Liberal criticism */ {{mergeinto|Mel and Norma Gabler|date=November 2007}} '''Educational Research Analysts''' is an organization based in [[Longview, Texas]], founded by the late [[Mel and Norma Gabler]] to monitor [[public school]] [[textbooks]]. The organization reviews books to locate factual errors and to promote a [[Christian Right|conservative Christian]] [[perspective (cognitive)|point of view]], offering preference to textbooks which, for example, promote [[sexual abstinence]] rather than [[birth control|contraception]] and [[gun safety|firearms safety]] rather than [[gun politics|gun control]]. They launched the organization in [[1961]] from their [[kitchen]] table in tiny [[Hawkins, Texas|Hawkins]] in [[Wood County, Texas|Wood County]] in east [[Texas]], after having begun to review textbooks assigned to their son. Many of the books that the Gablers have given high ratings have been adopted by the Texas State Textbook Committee. If a school district wishes textbooks with other viewpoints than those approved by the state committee, it must fund such materials from its own resources. == Criticism == [[Liberal]]s, teachers, professors, parents, and civil libertarians have alleged that the Gablers promoted their [[fundamentalist]] views in the textbook selection process. They have pointed out that the Gablers did not have college degrees, yet assumed the role of textbook monitors and claimed editorial authority over textbook authors. Many have criticized the State Board of Education for giving the Gablers a platform from which to present their findings. These criticisms are more numerous than they would otherwise be since Texas, as a large and populous state, requires very many textbooks, and both publishers and smaller states can save much-needed operating costs or education funds by simply using the Texas version of a given text. == The deaths of the Gablers == Mel Gabler died of a [[brain hemorrhage]] on [[December 19]], [[2004]], after falling and hitting his head two days earlier. Norma Gabler died of Parkinson's disease on [[July 22]], [[2007]]. She had been unable to assume her duties for the last two years of her life.[http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=26168] The organization is now operated by Neal Frey, who had worked with the Gablers since [[1982]]. ==External links== *[http://www.textbookreviews.org/ Educational Research Analysts] *[http://texscience.org/files/censorship-texas/ Censorship of Evolution in Texas] *[http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north332.html Mel Gabler, RIP] [[Category:Educational organizations]] [[Category:Textbook controversies]]