Austin, Texas — Texas public schools could use Biblical teachings as an option in lessons for students in kindergarten through fifth grade under a proposal that led to hours of testimony Monday and calls for incorporating more religious teaching into classrooms. Republican-led efforts followed in other states.
Teachers and parents gave passionate testimony for and against the curriculum plan at a meeting of the Texas State Board of Education, which is expected to hold a final vote on the measure later this week.
The board heard from more than 150 people during more than eight hours of testimony, CBS Houston affiliate KHOU-TV reported,
Testimony was expected to resume Tuesday, CBS Austin affiliate KEYE-TV said,
The curriculum – designed by the state public education agency – will allow lessons from the Bible such as the Golden Rule and lessons from books such as Genesis in classrooms. Under the plan, it would be optional for schools to adopt the curriculum, although they would receive additional funding for doing so.
Some complained that the proposal was contrary to the public school mission.
Teacher Megan Tesler said, “This curriculum fails to meet the standard of honest, secular.” “Public schools are meant to educate, not to educate.”
Others strongly supported the idea.
“Parents and teachers want a return to excellence,” Cindy Asmussen, one of those testifying, told the panel. “The stories and concepts in the Bible have been common for hundreds of years,” he said, “and are a core part of classical education.”
Education officials were expected to vote Friday on whether public schools would be given the option to teach the curriculum.
The proposal to include religious instruction in Texas public schools reflects a similar trend elsewhere in the country. In Oklahoma, state officials are seeking to include the Bible in public school lesson plans. In Louisiana, a federal judge recently canceled a requirement Displaying the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms.
Educators, parents and advocates deliberated at the State Board of Education's final meeting of the year, where many opponents argued that the proposal's emphasis on Christian teachings would alienate students of other religions. Those in favor testified that this would give students a more holistic educational foundation.
Religious experts and the left-wing watchdog group Texas Freedom Network, which monitors the state Board of Education, said the curriculum proposal focuses too much on Christianity and dances around the history of slavery.
The program was designed by the Texas Education Agency after it passed a law earlier this year ordering it to create its own free textbooks. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has publicly supported the new materials.
Republican lawmakers in Texas have also proposed displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms and are likely to revisit the issue next year.