Gov. Abbott announces statewide push to expand Turning Point USA chapters in Texas high schools
It's a topic getting a lot of attention on social media. On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a statewide push to expand Turning Point USA chapters in Texas high schools.
Club America is Turning Point USA's high school outreach program. According to the organization, it's a student-led conservative group that "spearheads impactful initiatives, helps students register to vote, and inspires meaningful conversations about the foundations of a free society."
According to Abbott, at least 500 high schools across Texas already have chapters, but Abbott said he wants more.
"Let me be clear. Any school that stands in the way of a Club America program and their school should be reported immediately to the Texas Education Agency, where I expect meaningful disciplinary action to be taken place for any stoppage of TPUSA in the great state of Texas," Abbott said.
Turning Point USA was founded by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was assassinated in September. While many people believe Kirk shared hateful rhetoric, others praised him as a champion of free speech and conservative values. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is also promising $1 million in campaign funds to help grow the program.
"This is about values, this is about constitution principles, this is about restoration of who we are as a country," said Abbott.
But some educators said the group is partisan and doesn't belong in public schools, adding that Abbott himself has said that public schools are for "education not indoctrination."
"Turning Point supports white, Christian supremacy," said Sheila Walker, with the Texas State Teachers Association and NEA Dallas. "The governor needs to quit practicing politics and promote the unbiasedness of a truthful education for the future of our students, to educate Texas students."
CBS News Texas did some digging within North Texas school districts. While we didn't find any partisan political clubs listed, we did find some religious groups, including bible study clubs, Fellowship of Christian Artists, and Young Life Christian Ministry.
"But were those other groups pushed by the governor, you know? So those are the questions: The liberal groups, are the other groups on the campuses, did the governor mandate them, is this something that's coming from the governor's seat?," Walker said.
It's unclear how the governor plans to enforce the implementation of Club America or what disciplinary action the Texas Education Agency might take. CBS News Texas after the governor office about that, and they referred us back to the press release.