Texas Education Board Approves Bible-Based Curriculum for K-5 Public Schools
The Texas State Board of Education has approved a controversial new curriculum that integrates Bible stories into elementary school reading and language arts lessons. The curriculum, which passed narrowly in an 8-7 vote on Friday, is optional for schools but comes with financial incentives for districts that adopt it.
Bible-Infused Lessons for Public School Students Through K-5
The new curriculum, set to be available for kindergarten through fifth grade in the 2024-2025 school year, integrates biblical narratives such as the Sermon on the Mount, the Prodigal Son, and the story of Esther into English language lessons. For instance, kindergarten materials use the Bible to teach the Golden Rule, while third-grade lessons incorporate biblical passages when discussing Thanksgiving history. These materials were developed by the Texas Education Agency following a 2023 state law requiring free instructional resources.
Governor Greg Abbott, view the curriculum as a return to foundational values. “This is a critical step forward to bring students back to the basics of education,” Abbott stated.
Secularism and the Separation of Church and State
Critics of the curriculum argue it challenges the constitutional principle of secularism—a cornerstone of American democracy established to ensure freedom of religion. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause explicitly prohibits government actions that favor one religion over another, a key factor in the country’s founding. By integrating Christian teachings into public education, opponents say the curriculum risks undermining the very ideals that led to the creation of the United States: religious freedom and the ability to practice—or not practice—faith without state interference.
What Others Are Saying
Rebecca Bell-Metereau, a Democratic board member, pointed out that attempts to incorporate other religions in the curriculum fall short. “It seems like it’s trying to place a Band-Aid on a gaping wound,” she said, emphasizing concerns that the curriculum prioritizes Christian perspectives over others.
Evelyn Brooks, a Republican board member who voted against the curriculum, added that these materials divert from educational priorities. “This waters down the true purpose of English language arts and reading,” Brooks said. Critics also worry that young children are unable to distinguish between religious claims and historical facts, potentially leading to unintentional proselytizing in public schools.
Broader Implications and Legal Challenges
The decision places Texas at the forefront of a national debate over the role of religion in public schools. Legal experts warn that the curriculum could face constitutional challenges, as it may blur the lines between education and religious endorsement.
Texas’ move follows similar efforts in other states. Louisiana recently faced legal challenges over a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, while Oklahoma has seen lawsuits over attempts to include Bible-based lessons in schools.
The Path Forward for Public Texas Schools
Although districts are not required to adopt the curriculum, the financial incentives tied to state-approved materials may encourage widespread implementation. With more than two million elementary students in Texas public schools, the curriculum’s impact could be significant.
This development underscores a broader conversation about the GOP’s agenda to overturn every pillar of democracy with their own values and ideas. As more changes continues, the state of Texas continues to implement these outrageous laws to the fullest extent altering our daily lives.
Come next summer, you’ll find out if your school district is jumping on the bandwagon—and chances are, the driving force won’t be “academic ideals” but dollar signs.
