The Republican Party of Texas states in its official 2012 political platform:

We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based  Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.

There’s got to be a better way for conservatives to word their educational goals.  I’ve looked at the rest of the platform and I don’t think this is quite what they mean…but what if it is?

via Teach students higher order or critical thinking skills? Not if the Texas Republicans have their way. | Dangerously Irrelevant.