The Texas State Board of Education met in Houston and voted to adopt a new social studies curriculum for public high schools. The changes affect government and history classes and have already ignited controversy, particularly over how Islam and Christianity are presented.
Board members defend language choices
Board member Brandon Hall emphasized Texas’s Christian heritage, stating, “Texas is a majority Christian state, and Christians do not recognize Mohammed as a prophet.” Hall and fellow member Will Hickman argued that describing early Islamic campaigns against Jewish and Christian groups as “brutal” is necessary to avoid “whitewashing” history. Hickman added, “Military battles and wars are all brutal, but we have not described any others that way.”
Critics raise concerns about broad terminology
Sameeha Rizvi, Government Affairs and Legislative Manager for the Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR), warned that labeling the Sept. 11 attacks as motivated by “radical Islam” could lead readers to associate the entire religion with terrorism. “When you use such broad terms, people don’t see ‘radical.’ What they’re going to see is ‘Islam,’ and ‘Islam’ is the reason these things are happening, which is not true,” Rizvi said.
Rizvi also noted that CAIR has been designated a terrorist organization by Governor Greg Abbott, a designation the group is currently contesting in court. She argued that classroom instruction should reflect Texas’s diverse population.
Curriculum context and implementation timeline
The board’s decision follows a June vote that added mandatory Bible stories to the state’s K‑8 curriculum. The new high‑school standards are slated to be phased in during the 2030‑31 school year. While the board sets the guidelines, individual school districts and administrators retain authority over the specific materials they use, provided they comply with the state standards.
Public testimony and next steps
Hundreds of Texans testified over several hours, with many urging the board to highlight positive contributions of Muslim leaders throughout history. The board ultimately rejected those requests, opting to retain the language it believes best conveys the historical record.
Local educators and parents are expected to review the upcoming curriculum changes as districts prepare for implementation, and the debate over how religion is taught in Texas schools is likely to continue.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
