\\Texas to Vote on Controversial Curriculum Adding Bible Lessons to Public School Classrooms\\

In a move sparking both praise and criticism, the Texas State Board of Education is set to vote on a revised public school curriculum that integrates lessons from the Bible into K-5 reading and language arts instruction. The proposal, part of the *Bluebonnet Learning* curriculum developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), has reignited debates about the separation of church and state and the role of religion in public education. 

The materials were previously revised after they received criticism. 

What’s in the Curriculum? 

The proposed materials include Bible-based lessons, such as teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and Psalms, woven into units on topics like art, poetry, and storytelling. While other religions are briefly mentioned, Christianity is overwhelmingly emphasized:  

The materials’ focus on Christianity “threatens to make non-Christian and non-religious students, parents, and teachers – as well as those who are not evangelical Christians –outsiders in their own public schools.” It also undermines the country’s “venerable tradition of church-state separation,” Brockman said.

A kindergarten unit on the Golden Rule focuses on the New Testament.First-grade students are introduced to Christian parables.Third graders study the life of Jesus in the context of the Roman Empire. Fifth-grade poetry lessons include excerpts from Psalms alongside works by secular poets like Robert Frost.Critics argue that the curriculum disproportionately favors Christianity, with limited attention to other faiths.

Supporters of the curriculum, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, view it as a way to highlight the historical and cultural influence of the Bible and Christianity on Western civilization. Advocates argue that understanding biblical references enriches students’ grasp of literature, art, and history. 

Jonathan Covey of Texas Values, a conservative advocacy group, described the curriculum as “contextually relevant” and representative of a range of faiths. Others, like Glenn Melvin, argue that simply teaching passages from the Bible does not amount to religious indoctrination. 

Critics, however, see it differently. Organizations like Texas AFT, which represents over 60,000 public school educators, say the curriculum undermines the principle of religious neutrality in public schools.

Mark Chancey, a religious studies professor, described the materials as “fundamentally flawed,” while Barbara Baruch, a Jewish grandmother, raised concerns about government overreach into family religious choices. “My grandkids should share our family’s religion,” she testified.  

A Legal and Cultural Battleground\\

Texas, like other Republican-led states, has recently passed measures that incorporate religion into public education. These include laws allowing religious chaplains to work as school counselors and requirements for displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. 

Similar debates are unfolding nationwide:  

Oklahoma: Parents and teachers are suing over a mandate to incorporate Bible teachings and display the Ten Commandments.  

Louisiana: A federal judge temporarily blocked a law requiring Ten Commandments displays, citing constitutional concerns.  

Church-State Separation at Risk?

Critics worry that the proposed curriculum blurs the line between teaching about religion and promoting it. Charles Haynes, a religious liberty advocate, cautioned, “Inserting faith-based lessons into public schools…is not the study of history or literature. It is religious indoctrination.” 

David Brockman, a Christian theologian, echoed these concerns in a report for the Texas Freedom Network, warning that the curriculum risks alienating non-Christian students and undermining constitutional protections.With over 100 people testifying for and against the curriculum ahead of the vote, the debate highlights a deeper cultural and political divide in Texas and across the country. Whether the curriculum passes or not, it’s clear the discussion over religion’s role in public education is far from over.