Disturbed by the religious and conservative stamp Texas educators recently voted to put into school textbooks, the Interfaith Alliance sent letters Monday to textbook publishers urging them to reject the state's proposed standards. With over 185,000 members from 75 faith traditions, the Interfaith Alliance promotes religious freedom and democracy.

"Should you need our support in resisting this pressure from the Texas State Board of Education to replace American history with conservative ideology," wrote Reverend C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, "we would be honored to stand by you and support your commitment to the most accurate educational materials possible."

Gaddy's letter comes in response to a March 11th decision by the Texas Board to amend state textbooks to reflect a more Christian and conservative worldview. Characterizing America as a Christian nation founded upon and governed by Christian beliefs and removing Thomas Jefferson from the curriculum on the Enlightenment period are among the recommended changes.

Don McLeroy, one of the members of the board, told the New York Times that the changes would "add balance" and that "academia skewed too far to the left."

The proposed changes are open for public comment now and a final vote will take place in May. If the standards are adopted, there will be implications for students beyond Texas' borders. The Lone Star state is a major client of textbook publishers and the Interfaith Alliance is concerned that the conservative and Christian curriculum could end up in classrooms elsewhere.