Excerpt:
A fight over content in Tennessee's social studies textbooks is part of an emerging national effort by groups who believe God commands Christians to support the nation of Israel and that Islamic radicals are the biggest problem in America.
In Volusia County, Fla., a November school board meeting was canceled over safety concerns after textbook protesters showed up with anti-Islam signs. In January, representatives for ACT! for America and other anti-Islam groups vowed to fight on after the Alabama Board of Education dismissed allegations that 11 textbooks on the state's social studies materials list were unfairly tilted toward Islam.
After school boards in Williamson and Sumner counties dismissed debates over textbook content, parents successfully requested a bill that would change textbook adoption at the state level. Instead of the governor appointing nine of the 10 textbook commission members — the education commissioner is the 10th — the bill would divide appointments among the governor and the speakers of the state House and Senate, which supporters say will bring in a diversity of viewpoints.