Texas Board of Education Moves Toward Approving Bible-Based Curriculum for Public Schools
By Okafor Joseph Afam
November 20, 2024
The Texas State Board of Education, controlled by Republicans, is set to vote on a proposal that would bring Bible-based teachings to public elementary schools across the state. According to The Texas Tribune, the board’s 15 members, a majority of whom have shown support, are leaning toward approving the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum—a program that integrates Christian teachings and biblical references into elementary school lessons. This vote is scheduled for Friday, and if approved, the curriculum will be optional for public schools across Texas starting in August 2025, potentially impacting 2.3 million students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
The Bluebonnet Learning curriculum includes lessons on biblical stories such as the parable of the “Good Samaritan” and the concept of the “Golden Rule.” Proponents argue that this curriculum would help foster a better understanding of history, literature, and cultural literacy by exposing students to key religious and historical narratives. Governor Greg Abbott has also voiced support, asserting that it would enrich students’ comprehension of pivotal events like the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution. Abbott emphasized that understanding these connections between history, art, religion, and culture is essential for shaping well-rounded students.
Some board members, including Republican member Will Hickman, defended the curriculum as a way to enhance students’ reading skills and expose them to fundamental cultural concepts. “These stories are on the education side and are establishing cultural literacy,” Hickman explained. “Religious concepts like the Good Samaritan and the Golden Rule are part of that, and all students should be exposed to them.”
However, the proposal has sparked significant controversy. Critics argue that incorporating religious teachings into public school curricula could be seen as a violation of the separation of church and state. Mary Lowe, co-founder of Families Engaged for an Effective Education, expressed concern that it would give the impression of establishing a state religion. “I am a Christian, and I do believe that religion is a part of our culture, but our nation does not have a religion,” Lowe said. “We’re unique in that. Our school districts should not be trying to impress a state religion on young children.”
The board’s meeting on Monday included voices from both sides of the debate. Some parents, including professing Christians, supported the integration of biblical teachings, viewing them as a necessary part of American history. Renate Sims, a mother and substitute teacher, passionately argued that Jesus’ incarnation is “the hinge of all of history,” questioning how removing such fundamental concepts could benefit the education of children or shape their moral development.
As the board prepares for its vote on Friday, the debate over the role of religion in public education continues to divide families, educators, and policymakers in Texas. The outcome of this decision could have far-reaching implications for the future of public schooling in the state and the nation’s ongoing struggle to balance religious freedom with the separation of church and state.
