The Bible may soon be coming to public schools in Texas.
The Texas Board of Education has given initial approval to a Bible-based school curriculum. The final vote will likely come on November 22. But is a “Bible-infused” curriculum as positive as it sounds? Parents, teachers, and lawmakers disagree.
At the state government’s request, the Texas Education Agency designed the curriculum earlier this year. It’s called the “Bluebonnet” textbook. (The bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas.) Texas Governor Greg Abbott publicly supports the material. If approved, the curriculum would become optional for public schools. But schools that use it would receive extra funding.
The curriculum would teach biblical concepts such as the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12. (“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”) It would also include lessons from Genesis and other books of the Bible.
On Monday night, parents and teachers weighed in at the State Board of Education’s final meeting of the year. Some praised the new curriculum. They believe it will give students a more holistic (well-rounded) foundation for learning.
“Parents and teachers want a return to excellence,” says supporter Cindy Asmussen. “Stories and concepts in the Bible have been common for hundreds of years.” She calls the Bible a core part of classical learning.
Others oppose the plan. They think the curriculum’s focus on Christianity would alienate students from other religions. Some claim the curriculum “dances around” the history of slavery in the United States.
“This curriculum fails to meet the standard of an honest, secular one,” says teacher Megan Tessler. “Public schools are meant to educate, not indoctrinate.”
But must a curriculum be “secular” to be honest? On the other hand, does the new plan go against the spirit of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution? That clause forbids the establishment of an official state religion.
Other states wrestle with similar questions. In Louisiana, lawmakers required public schools to display the Ten Commandments. A federal judge later shot down that law. More recently, Oklahoma lawmakers aimed to go even further than Texas’ plan. They would require teachers to use the Bible in class. A group of parents and teachers has sued to block the mandate.
Will Texas’ new curriculum receive final approval? Texans will find out soon. Should it receive final approval? That’s a different question—one on which even Christians disagree. But even in disagreement, we can speak with love and respect.
(Want an example of positive disagreement on a similar topic? See our Dignified Debate column on page 31 of the November/December 2024 issue of WORLDteen.)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. — Psalm 32:8
