Texas Board of Education approves school curriculum to include Bible stories

The board, made up of 10 Republicans and five Democrats, narrowly passed the new curriculum by a vote of 8 to 7. The vote now gives public schools the green light to implement the system in grades kindergarten through fifth grade, with an additional $60 financial incentive per each student if they choose to do so.

The curriculum, which has drawn outrage from some even though it has received praise from government leaders, involves teaching kindergarteners the Golden Rule through Bible passages found in the book of Matthew. Teachers are also encouraged to explain that the Bible is “a collection of ancient texts” and its parts are “the fundamental books of the Jewish and Christian religions.”

Other lessons include a first grade unit that will teach the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the New Testament, a third grade unit on Ancient Rome that touches on the life of Jesus Christ and Christianity in the Roman Empire, and a fifth grade unit. module that adds a psalm from the Bible in addition to other verses read by students.

Critics criticized the inclusion of new material as unconstitutional and as having a Christian bias to the detriment of other religions.

Rachel Lazer, CEO of the nonprofit Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said, “Parents and families, not politicians or government officials, should decide when and how their children will engage in religion.”

The ACLU of Texas also criticized the curriculum, saying it “flagrantly fails to respect religious freedom.”

“The Bluebonnet curriculum flagrantly ignores religious freedom, which has been a cornerstone of our country since its founding. The same politicians who censor what students can read now want to impose a state religion on our public schools. We urge districts to eliminate this optional curriculum and support public school education that respects religious diversity and the constitutional rights of Texas students,” said Caro Achar, free speech coordinator for the civil rights organization.

However, state leaders such as Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) praised the decision and the curriculum, saying it will “take students back to the basics of education.”

“Bluebonnet Learning will take students back to the basics of education. These materials are voluntary and free for schools. We will also provide parents with access to online materials. This is an important step to provide students with the foundations for a successful life,” he wrote in X along with a longer statement addressing the decision.

Texas Gov. Dan Patrick also praised the decision, saying it “ensures that all students receive appropriate instruction at grade level and is an important step toward improving student achievement across the state.”

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“Improving public education has been one of my main goals since I arrived in the Texas Senate. In districts that have already implemented a high-quality curriculum, the results have been fantastic, demonstrating significant improvements in student achievement. “Today’s (Texas Board of Education) vote on a high-quality curriculum ensures that all students receive grade-level instruction and is an important step toward improving student achievement across the state,” he wrote in X.

The move by the Texas Board of Education follows efforts in other states to include more religious topics and lessons in classrooms. These states include Louisiana, which is trying to teach the Ten Commandments in public classrooms, and Oklahoma, which is trying to include the Bible in classrooms.