Bible lessons in public school? Texas advances elementary school plan

[Karah Rucker]

THE TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS ADVANCED A PLAN TO INTEGRATE BIBLE-BASED LESSONS INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS –

MARKING ONE OF THE LATEST EFFORTS BY REPUBLICAN-LED STATES TO INTRODUCE RELIGIOUS CONTENT INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE PROPOSAL IS PART OF AN OPTIONAL PLAN FOR SCHOOLS –

BUT FOR THE SCHOOLS WHO DO ADOPT IT – 

THERE’S FINANCIAL INCENTIVE AS THEY’LL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING –

SIXTY DOLLARS PER STUDENT IF THEY ADOPT BIBLE LESSONS.

SOME EXAMPLE LESSONS FROM THE BIBLE WOULD BE STORIES FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS – OR TEACHINGS ABOUT THE GOLDEN RULE.

WHILE A FINAL VOTE IS EXPECTED FRIDAY FROM THE BOARD –

IN A PRELIMINARY VOTE – THE MEMBERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE CURRICULUM EIGHT TO SEVEN.

THAT VOTE CAME AFTER PARENTS AND EDUCATORS OFFERED THEIR TESTIMONY TO THE BOARD – EXPRESSING THEIR THOUGHTS ON BIBLE LESSONS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL.

AND SOME BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION.

“People want to know why would this curriculum work, everything is birthed through prayer and the power of God.”

“I believe that the christian bible is important and even foundational but that voice should not be made by the state for my family or any other.”

“I just think that if we try too much to be taken over by any one religion, we risk damaging the experience of children who have differing beliefs.”

“I went and watched it, i’ve sat in the classrooms, and i think it works.”

WHILE SUPPORTERS ARGUE THAT BIBLE TEACHINGS OFFER A HOLISTIC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, OPPONENTS EXPRESS CONCERNS THAT THE EMPHASIS ON CHRISTIANITY COULD MARGINALIZE STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS.

THE CURRICULUM PROPOSAL STEMS FROM A LAW PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHICH MANDATES THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY TO CREATE A FREE TEXTBOOK WITH RELIGIOUS CONTENT.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT HAS VOICED SUPPORT FOR THE INITIATIVE. THIS MOVE IS PART OF A BROADER TREND AMONG CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS IN TEXAS, WHO HAVE ALSO PROPOSED DISPLAYING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN CLASSROOMS, WITH POTENTIAL PLANS TO REVISIT THE ISSUE IN THE COMING YEAR.

TEXAS IS NOT ALONE IN THESE EFFORTS. 

IN OKLAHOMA, STATE OFFICIALS ARE PUSHING TO INCORPORATE THE BIBLE INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL LESSONS, THOUGH A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED TO BLOCK THE INITIATIVE. 

MEANWHILE, IN LOUISIANA, A FEDERAL JUDGE RECENTLY STRUCK DOWN A LAW REQUIRING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO BE DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC CLASSROOMS, RULING THAT IT VIOLATED THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

EFFORTS TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS REMAIN A FIERCE DEBATE – EVEN AS SOME STATES ADOPT THESE MEASURES – THEIR FATE COULD ULTIMATELY BE LEFT TO THE COURTS.

PENDING POTENTIAL LITIGATION – IF THE TEXAS BOARD APPROVES THE BIBLE LESSONS ON FRIDAY – THEN THEY WOULD BE OPTIONAL FOR SCHOOLS TO ADOPT NEXT AUGUST FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

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