The Texas State Board of Education voted on Friday to approve an optional public school curriculum that includes stories from the Bible and lessons based on the ancient text.
The board, which is composed of 10 Republicans and five Democrats, narrowly passed the new curriculum in a vote of 8-7. The vote now gives public schools the green light to implement it in grade levels kindergarten through fifth grade, with an added financial incentive of $60 per student in funding if they choose to do so.
The curriculum, which has outraged some while receiving praise from state leaders, includes teaching kindergarteners about the Golden Rule through passages in the Bible, which appears in the book of Matthew. It also instructs teachers to explain that the Bible is “a collection of ancient texts” and that its parts are “the core books of the Jewish and Christian religions.”
Other lessons include a first grade unit that would teach “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” from the New Testament, a third grade unit on ancient Rome that would touch on the life of Jesus Christ and Christianity in the Roman Empire, and a fifth grade unit that adds a psalm from the Bible to supplement other poems read by students.
Critics have blasted the inclusion of the new material as unconstitutional and as having a Christian bias at the expense of other religions.
Rachel Laser, CEO of the nonprofit organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said, “Parents and families, not politicians or government officials, should get to decide if, when and how their children engage with religion.”
The ACLU of Texas also slammed the curriculum, saying it “flagrantly disregards religious freedom.”
“The Bluebonnet curriculum flagrantly disregards religious freedom, a cornerstone of our nation since its founding. The same politicians censoring what students can read now want to impose state-sponsored religion onto our public schools. We urge districts to reject this optional curriculum and uphold a public school education that honors the religious diversity and constitutional rights of Texas students,” said Caro Achar, the civil rights organization’s engagement coordinator for free speech.
Still, state leaders such as Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) have praised the ruling and curriculum, saying it will “bring students back to the basics of education.”
“Bluebonnet Learning will bring students back to the basics of education. These materials are voluntary & free for schools. We’ll also empower parents with access to the materials online. This is a critical step to provide students with the fundamentals to lead successful lives,” he posted to X alongside a longer statement addressing the ruling.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also lauded the ruling, saying it will “will ensure all students are receiving appropriate grade-level instruction and is an important step to boosting student outcomes statewide.”
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“Improving public education has been one of my top goals since I arrived in the Texas Senate. In districts where high-quality curriculum has already been implemented, results have been fantastic, showcasing strong improvements in student outcomes. Today’s [Texas Board of Education] vote for high-quality curriculum will ensure all students are receiving appropriate grade-level instruction and is an important step to boosting student outcomes statewide,” he posted to X.
The move from the Texas Board of Education follows efforts in other states to bring more religious themes and lessons into the classroom. Those states include Louisiana, which is attempting to get the Ten Commandments in public classrooms, and Oklahoma, which is trying to include the Bible in the classroom.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
