AUSTIN, Texas — Tomorrow, the Texas State Board of Education will hear the final public testimony on a controversial state-developed curriculum that would require teachers to teach classes to public elementary school students that include Bible stories.
Due to strong opposition in September, the proposed curriculum had to be updated. Opponents argue that it teaches a narrow worldview.
The Texas Education Agency has proposed a curriculum to be taught to students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
TEA was authorized to create this curriculum, known as an Open Educational Resource. Commissioner Mike Moras testified that the new materials are based on research to improve students’ vocabulary and test scores.
The other person thinks differently.
“Public schools teach children through one narrow ideological lens,” Hawes said.
Hawes’ Texas Free Reading Project is dedicated to protecting the rights and freedom of Texans to access information and ideas. This includes public school students.
The group had a booth at this weekend’s Texas Book Festival, held just in front of the Texas State Capitol.
“People are passionate about books and reading,” Hawes said.
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Patrick Firme attended the book festival. He said he believes students should not be taught only the Bible, and agrees with Hawes that this gives children a narrow worldview.
“I think it’s kind of evangelical to focus solely on the Bible, like it’s important to learn about a religion,” Farme said.
Both agree that it limits students’ First Amendment rights.
“Children’s limited access to literature limits our freedom of speech,” Farme said.
Hawes took it a step further.
“We think this is akin to censorship in that we are erasing certain points of view and trying to communicate and teach our children only from this singular, narrow point of view,” she said.
Hawes says she has no problem teaching the Bible in schools, but only if it’s taught along with other religious texts.
The hearing begins at noon Monday in the William B. Travis Building.
