Texas State Board of Education Votes to Require Bible Study in Schools
The issue of the separation of church and state has been pushed to the forefront after the Texas State Board of Education voted to require millions of students to study Bible stories as part of the approved curriculum. Read on for the details of this decision and what it means for Texas students.
About the New Texas Literary Curriculum
The Texas State Board of Education officially approved a proposal establishing lists of required reading for the K-12 English and literature curriculum. What is controversial about the approval is that the list includes several Bible verses alongside the typical classic literature titles.
The newly adopted curriculum will impact the over 5 million public school students in the Lone Star State. The curriculum is set to go into effect with the 2030 - 2031 academic year.
The decision comes as Texas establishes itself as a leader in the effort to insert conservative Christian education in public school classrooms. Just last year, Texas became the largest state to require that all classrooms display the Ten Commandments. Despite widespread opposition, the law was recently upheld by a federal court.
According to the parameters of the new plan, all of the titles mandated at each grade level must be read "in its entirety." It is typical practice for state education leaders to recommend titles for their schools. However, it is more unusual for a state to outline a specific literary canon for every student at every grade.
The new list includes classic literature and a variety of historical texts in the nation's history, including Abraham Lincoln’s “The Gettysburg Address.” However, it is the inclusion of a picture-book adaptation of the David and Goliath story at the elementary level and Bible passages about Adam and Eve for older students that is causing the uproar.
Under the new guidelines, students will be leveled up to more intricate Bible passages as they become more advanced in reading. For example, sixth-grade students will study “The Shepherd’s Psalm” from the Book of Psalms along with other religious passages authored by George Washington, as well as poems by Langston Hughes and Robert Frost.
Also at Friday's meeting, the board approved major changes to the state's social studies curriculum. Teachers will now put a greater emphasis on Texas and U.S. history, with less time devoted to global history and cultures. For instance, the updated curriculum eliminates the "World Cultures" class now required for sixth-graders. The new curriculum also includes a greater focus on communism.
Adoption of New Curriculum Prompts Both Praise and Criticism
Not surprisingly, the decision has been met by a sharp divide of both applause and criticism within the community. Hundreds of parents appeared before the board this week to voice their opinions.
Supporters of the new curriculum continue to argue that the Bible is an essential literary text needed to provide context for Western history and the early days of the U.S. Board member Brandon Hall said, “We’re going to stop watering down American history. We’re going to teach the truth. Our nation was founded as a Christian nation, and Texas is a Christian state."
Those who are opposed to the changes believe that the mandatory reading requirements favor Christianity over other religions, putting it in strict violation of the separation of church and state. Board member Evelyn Brooks was the only Republican who opposed the new texts. During a spirited debate on Friday, Brooks said that the move was "unconstitutional," noting that "teachers need to have their autonomy" to select their own books.
Some parents are also concerned that the new curriculum will infringe on their right to oversee the religious education of their children, putting it in the hands of educators who may not have a similar belief system.
Christian and Democratic board member Tiffany Clark was in strong opposition of the curriculum. Representing parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, Clark said that she believed that “Bible lessons should be taught on Sundays." Clark argued that not everyone believes the same, detailing that there are even differences in Biblical interpretations within Christian denominations.
For context, the updated curriculum mandates that teachers use the translations of the King James Bible. While Protestant and Evangelical churches typically use this translation, it is not used by the Roman Catholic Church.
Clark also expressed her concern that the reliance on Christian texts in the curriculum will alienate students from other backgrounds. Students in Texas come from a wide variety of religious backgrounds, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. According to a Pew Research Center survey from 2023 - 2024, roughly a third of adults in Texas identify as being non-Christian.
It should be noted that parents will have the option to opt their children out of reading some of the required texts. However, opponents of the curriculum worry that missing these lessons could impact standardized test scores. Clark also notes that the updated reading lists discourage critical thinking.
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