AUSTIN – The Texas State Board of Education voted this Friday in favor of incorporating Bible teaching into public elementary schools for kindergarten through fifth grade.
The bill passed on an 8-7 vote Friday. Schools will be able to choose to use it starting in the 25-26 school year.
The curriculum, developed by the Texas Education Agency earlier this year, introduces lessons based on the Bible, such as the Golden Rule, and stories from books such as Genesis into the classroom. Implementing the curriculum is voluntary, but additional funding will be provided to schools that implement it.
The effort is in line with a broader trend in Republican-led states to incorporate more religious teachings into public education.
Gov. Greg Abbott expressed support for the program, saying in a May news release that “students will learn about the connections between history, art, community, literature, and religion in pivotal events such as the signing of the U.S. Constitution. We will be able to understand it more deeply.” The Civil Rights Movement and the American Revolution. ”
On Monday, the State Board of Education heard testimony from more than 150 teachers and parents, both for and against the proposal. Opponents argued that the curriculum’s focus on Christianity could alienate students of other faiths, while supporters emphasized the value of a more holistic approach.
This is a developing story.
