Poll: Religion, birth control not off limits to teach in Texas

Eight of 10 Texans want high schools to teach contraception, including the use of condoms and abstinence, according to a statewide opinion poll that also shows high support for letting teachers and scholars write public school curriculum standards instead of the State Board of Education.

More than two-thirds of the respondents -- 68% -- agreed that "separation of church and state is a key principle of our Constitution," although 49%also want to see "religion have more influence" on education. Only 21% said religion should have less influence in public schools.

The research arm of the Texas Freedom Network, a liberal-leaning group that monitors the board, commissioned the poll. The poll surveyed 972 likely voters and was conducted by Washington-based Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. It had a margin of error of plus- or minus-4 percentage points.

"People are actually quite practical. They want the best education for their kids," said Anna Greenberg, senior vice president of the polling company. For more results see the article in The Houston Chronicle online.