Texas may soon become the first state to make Bible readings mandatory in public school classrooms.
The Texas Department of Education has signaled early support for a bill that would do just that. The bill would mandate certain texts be read at each grade level, starting with kindergarten and continuing through high school. But mixed in among perennial American classics like ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ are Bible verses - verses which, if approved by the education board, would become mandatory reading for public and charter school students in what would be a nationwide first.
Should the bill pass, Texas would radically reshape education for millions of kids - and not everyone is excited about the notion of bringing Sunday school to public school.
From Gatsby to Genesis
The biblical tale of the ‘Golden Rule’ would join ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘The Cat in the Hat’ as mandatory reading for kindergarten students. High schoolers would read the story of David and Goliath alongside the works of George Orwell and Charles Dickens. Should the bill pass, every grade K-12 would receive an infusion of Christian faith. And unlike prior efforts to introduce religious texts into classrooms, participation would not be optional.
Some bill advocates cast Texas’ crusade to bring the Bible to classrooms as the state establishing a literary canon fit for the Lone Star state. “This is really building a scaffolding that culminates in a foundation in Western literature,” said Tom Maynard, who sits on the Board of Education. But others outright stated that the bill was religiously motivated. “This would bring the Word of God back into schools in a meaningful way for the first time in decades,” wrote Board member Brandon Hall on his Facebook page. “We need prayer warriors to intercede for this vote.”
“Classroom Chaos”
“This list represents another step by the state toward turning public schools into Sunday schools that undermine the right of parents to direct the religious education of their own children,” explained Carisa Lopez, deputy director of Texas Freedom Network.
Similar to last year’s Supreme Court ruling allowing religious parents to pull kids out of school during lessons featuring LGBTQ+ books, many observers expect that scores of parents would opt their children out of these Christianity-laden lessons. Even still, it seems likely that these faith-based lessons would be used to create Texas’ standardized tests, meaning students who skip the material could be placed at a significant educational disadvantage.
That’s not to mention the additional burdens that would be placed on districts and instructors to create alternative lessons for any students who do sit them out. It’s “only a matter of time before parents begin to opt their children out of these lessons” stated religious studies professor Mark Chancey. “It’s going to be classroom chaos.”
What Comes Next
The list of books is not finalized. Board members have asked for selections featuring more modern authors, and the current list is widely viewed as far too extensive to be fully mandated. As a result, the list is expected to expand before eventually being narrowed ahead of a final vote later this year.
But as things stand, public comments seem to indicate that the Texas Board of Education will pass the bill - despite the vast majority of public comment from both parents and teachers signaling strong opposition to the infusion of Christianity into education.
Those in favor argue that the proposed mandatory Bible readings are necessary for a well-rounded education both historical and cultural. They say that these stories transcend their religious origins, and are important cultural and historical artifacts regardless.
But critics argue that this represents the most direct challenge yet to the separation of church and state in public education. They warn that if Texas moves forward, it will open the door for other states to adopt similar measures, injecting mandatory Bible readings into lesson plans across the country.
What is your reaction?
20 comments
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James Riggle-Johnson
We continue to see attempts to stretch the Constitution beyond its intended limits. Public schools exist to educate students from all backgrounds, not to promote a single religious text.
If religion is going to be taught, then it should be done academically and alongside other belief systems — or perhaps placed next to Greek mythology, where students can examine it as part of humanity’s long tradition of storytelling and cultural influence.
What makes proposals like this frustrating is the contradiction. We often hear appeals about ‘parents’ rights,’ yet those rights seem to apply only when parents share a particular religious viewpoint. Public schools serve families of all beliefs — Christian, Jewish, Muslim, atheist, and everything in between. Elevating one religious text above all others is not neutrality; it is preference.
The Constitution was written precisely to prevent the government from deciding which beliefs deserve official endorsement. It seems likely that this will ultimately be decided in court.
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rebadams7
There is a huge difference between teaching the Bible as a religious text and teaching the Bible for its literary and cultural foundational contributions to western thought and civilization. Knowing the story and believing the story are two different things there is a great deal of thought and literature that make no sense if you do not understand the source or inspiring documents. Returning these ideas to the classroom can only enforce the teaching of western civilization. You can certainly show the other ideas and as a public school student, I was exposed to them, but I also learned the basic Bible stories and how those allegories were seen often in western literature and thoughts about governance and freedom. These foundational items belong in every well educated person’s education. One could question how well educated our public schools want our students to be.
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Nicholas J Page
As I have said before and I will say it again No religion is to forced onto any child or adult 🤔
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
By the way last time I shot someone in Texas the judge ordered me "if you want someone shot mr. Dixon next time call the police and let them shot them." I paid $500 fine and that warning. So, the politicians are safe I want to shot them but I must ask the police to do it for me.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
As a minister for Yeshua the Messiah I'm apauled, it's not politicians place to shove God's word down people's throats that's our job at Church Service and Sunday school. The 1st amendment as a veteran who shed blood to protect it wants to shoot the politicians that come up with this abomination of a law.
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ServantOfJudgement
I'd normally be opposed to the Bible taught in public schools but if we don't push the line back, the woke hive mind will keep pushing our way. Start cutting breasts from kids again, sex pills to kids, rainbow cults in every library and super freaky dudes in dresses dry humping during story time. Creepy stuff.
We have to push far beyond what's acceptable to the left just to keep their total depravity at bay. Let them try to move the line when they get another psychopath in office.
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James Riggle-Johnson
What fantasy world are you living in, SOJ? Can you say, Drama Queen?
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Rev. Dr. Dennis Chevalier, Ph.D.
i hope so
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Sir Lionheart
Education is a good thing, especially teaching children about religions. Let them have readings from the Bible, the Qu’ran, the Book of Mormon, the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, etc, to let them know how wildly different man-religions are, and teach them how to think and not what to think. Critical thinking should be a requirement in all schools.
🦁❤️
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Rev. BH
Lion, for once you and I seem to be together in opposition to many here. Teach all Holy Books or teach none.
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Edward D Torres
Awesome the missing ingredient to the Education of a Citizen in a Nation under God Indivisible
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Stewart
" Nation under God Indivisible" was added many years after the original was written . Jefferson said what harms me if a man worships 1 god or many . takes neither food from my table nor money from my pocket ..
Yet this takes public funds for no educational purpose .
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Bill Thompson
The state of Texas already has Sharia Law courts setup and operating. The only way to defeat this reconstruction of our nation is with a truth greater than that which has made its way into our system of education. Our children will be students of Sharia if we don’t setup roadblocks of truth now! Our constitution will be used to defeat us!
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Stewart
Sharia Law is not in any state it's just a scare tactic used by fools like you trying force Christian crap down others throats . Its the same sh$$ show with a new wrapping ...
Every time you turn another poor poor pitiful me squeal everyone's out to get xithans yet the only ones attacking freedoms are the selfsame chrit faker's pushing forcing others to attend their classes .
Wana read bibles do it at home want a education read a maths book.
The bible teaches no salable skill to earn a honest living .
preachers are con artist selling snake oil .
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ServantOfJudgement
Look at the UK. It's getting bad for the natives, real bad. London is a crap hole nowadays.
Remember when Trump called Haiti a crap hole and the leftists slammed him for it? Then the same leftists said the Haitians that stormed ohio can't be sent back because the place is a crap hole?
We've got a little sawed of runt for a governor that's worried more about the illegal Haitians than he is us natives. Just like England. Won't be long now.....
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Robert Hauck, MD, FAAP
The correct title of Fugelsang's book: "Separation of Church and Hate."
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Robert Hauck, MD, FAAP
Outrageous! Another giant step in the radical Christian-in-name-only movement to a theocracy. For a complete expose please read John Fugelsang's "Separation of Church and State."
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John P Maher
PUBLIC SCHOOLs ARE NOT MEANT to TEACH RELIGION in ANY WAY or MANNER...................................................100%
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Michael Hunt
This would be the very definition of the government passing a law that favors another religion over others. This is clearly unconstitutional and I surely hope the courts shoot this down.
Well, why not? This regime is destroying the Bill of Rights from the first letter to the last syllable! Why not destroy the founding principle of Separation of Church and State?