Texas is poised to become the first state to require millions of students to study Bible stories, as the state emerges as a leader in a national conservative effort to infuse Christian teachings into American classrooms. The majority-Republican Texas State Board of Education is expected to vote to pass a measure that would establish Biblical children’s stories and Bible verses as required reading in its K-12 curriculum.
Required Reading
The new list of required titles would include a picture-book adaptation of the David and Goliath story for elementary students and Bible passages about Adam and Eve for older students, among other references. At the same meeting, the school board will take up a vote to rewrite the state’s social studies curriculum, focusing more on Texas and US history and deemphasizing some teachings about global history and cultures.
Supporters argue the Bible should be studied as an essential literary text that can help students understand Western history and the founding of the US. One policy group has celebrated it as the “final battle” in an effort to purge Texas schools of lessons on race and history that they say divides students and criticizes America’s founders.
Concerns and Controversy
However, those who oppose the changes say the mandatory reading list favors Christianity over other religions and violates the constitutionally protected separation between church and state. The teachings may also infringe on parents’ ability to lead their children’s religious education, they say, particularly in non-Christian households.
Kimmie Fink, the mother of an active-duty military family stationed in Texas, expressed concerns that the plan would infringe on her autonomy as a parent to oversee her children’s religious education. “I would like to believe that my children’s constitutionally guaranteed religious freedom rights will remain intact wherever we are stationed,” Fink said.
Board member Tiffany Clark, a Christian and Democrat who represents parts of Dallas-Forth Worth, has vocally opposed the proposed curriculum. Clark said she and some of her Christian constituents believe “Bible lessons should be taught on Sundays.”
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
