AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas State Board of Education in a preliminary vote Tuesday narrowly approved to allow Bible teachings in K-5 classrooms, with a final decision set for Friday.
Eight of the 15 board members voted to approve the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum.
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Texas public schools could use teachings from the Bible in lessons as an option for students from kindergarten through fifth grade under a proposal that drew hours of testimony Monday and follows Republican-led efforts in other states to incorporate more religious teaching into classrooms.
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The curriculum—designed by the state’s public education agency—would allow teachings from the Bible such as the Golden Rule and lessons from books such as Genesis into classrooms. Under the plan, it would be optional for schools to adopt the curriculum though they would receive additional funding if they did so.
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Some complained that the proposal contradicts the public school mission.
“This curriculum fails to meet the standard of an honest, secular one,” educator Megan Tessler said. “Public schools are meant to educate, not indoctrinate.”
Others strongly backed the idea.
“Parents and teachers want a return to excellence,” Cindy Asmussen, one of those testifying, told the panel. “Stories and concepts in the Bible have been common for hundreds of years,” and that, she said, is a core part of classical learning.
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The Texas Freedom Network voiced strong opposition to the state Board of Education’s preliminary vote approving Bible learning materials, citing concerns about fairness, age appropriateness, and constitutional issues.
“This specific curriculum for Bluebonnet is K through five,” said a representative from Texas Freedom Network. “One thing I want to point out about that preliminary vote, though, is... there was a political appointee appointed by Governor Abbott to replace a vacancy... a Democrat. There is a 10-5 difference on the board. You have 10 Republicans and five Democrats. One of those Democrats recently resigned because she is now a member of the legislature.”
The representative criticized the governor’s decision to appoint a Republican to the vacant seat, arguing it influenced the close 8-7 vote.
“This is a clear example of politicians playing political games with the curriculum and the teaching of students across Texas,” they said.
The organization also raised concerns about the curriculum itself, describing it as flawed and discriminatory.
“There is clear favoritism of one religion over the other... and these are not age-appropriate,” they added.
Texas Values expressed support for the state Board of Education’s decision to approve Bible learning materials in academic settings during a preliminary vote this week.
“Yes, Texas Values is very pleased that the state Board of Education recognized that students have the First Amendment right to learn about the Bible in an academic setting. So, we’re very pleased about this vote for the materials today,” said Mary Elizabeth Castle of Texas Values.
The vote passed by a slim margin, with eight members voting in favor of the materials and seven voting against. Castle noted efforts are underway to ensure the outcome remains favorable in the final vote.
“We’re going to mobilize our people to make sure that they’re messaging their members so we can hold the line. But our hope is always that we can get some members to get on our side as well,” she added.
The proposal to incorporate religious teaching in Texas public schools mirrors a similar trend elsewhere in the country. In Oklahoma, state officials are seeking to include the Bible in public school lesson plans. In Louisiana, a federal judge recently quashed a requirement to have the Ten Commandments displayed in all public classrooms.
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Educators, parents and advocates weighed in at the State Board of Education’s final meeting of the year, where many opponents argued that the proposal’s emphasis on Christian teachings would alienate students of other faith backgrounds. Those in favor testified that it’ll give students a more holistic educational foundation.
Religious experts and the Texas Freedom Network, a left-leaning watchdog group that monitors the state’s education board, said the curriculum proposal focuses too much on Christianity and dances around the history of slavery.
The program was designed by the Texas Education Agency earlier this year after the passage of a law giving it a mandate to create its own free textbook. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has publicly supported the new materials.
Republican lawmakers in Texas have also proposed displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms and are likely to revisit the issue next year.
