Texas’ education board has approved a required reading list for over 5 million public school students that includes Bible stories, marking a significant move to bring Christian teachings into U.S. classrooms. The state-mandated list, which includes Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ and excerpts from the New Testament, will take effect starting in 2030.
Background
The State Board of Education, controlled by Republicans, approved the list on a 9-5 vote following weeks of contentious debate. This decision is part of a broader effort by conservatives to incorporate more religion into classrooms. Texas has been at the forefront of this charge, allowing public schools to hire chaplains to counsel students and approving an optional Bible-infused curriculum.
Supporters of the changes argue that Judeo-Christian traditions are fundamental to the nation’s founding and should be reflected in the public school curriculum. ‘These timeless works, including biblical passages, have shaped American culture and history, and have influenced generations of thinkers, leaders, and citizens, and they continue to offer valuable lessons about human nature, virtue, liberty, and civic responsibility,’ said Mandy Drogin, a senior fellow at Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank.
Reactions
Not everyone is pleased with the new reading list. Some teachers have criticized the loss of autonomy in deciding what their students will read, although they are still allowed to assign additional books during the school year. ‘I don’t have a problem reading about David and Goliath because I believe in those stories,’ said Alyse Dent, a high school English teacher in the Dallas area. ‘But if I’m reading to one of my students — they’re Muslim or they’re atheist — I can say all day long, ‘Well, we’re teaching a theme, we’re teaching symbolism,’ but they’re hearing, ‘This is a Bible story. We’re talking about God.”
Critics also argue that the list is not diverse enough, with some pointing out that it is ‘very old and very white.’ Chanea Bond, who teaches college and advanced high school English courses in Fort Worth, said, ‘It is very narrow and does not represent what classrooms in Texas look like.’ However, the list does include a range of literary works, such as ‘Charlotte’s Web’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ in addition to Bible passages.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
