Gov. Perry, WTF?

Gee, Gov. Perry, did you ever think that one reason Texas has a hard time recruiting and retaining highly educated workers and high tech companies from outside the state is that you and your appointees have no respect for education at all?!  Someone please explain to me why the Governor's appointees for state school board think they should be able to warp the state history curriculum.  Then explain to me why our state, which is well below average in high school graduation rates and SAT scores, turned down $700,000,000 in federal education stimulus funds.  What's the deal?  I know that there are strings attached to the money, but given the repeated shortfalls in the state education system, should you really look down your nose at this?  Does Perry get kick-backs from all the private schools in the state in exchange for trashing public education?