Bible-Based Lessons Approved for Elementary Schools in Texas
The Texas State Board of Education on Friday voted 8-7 to approve an optional Bible-based curriculum called Bluebonnet Learning for elementary schools, which could implement the curriculum as soon as the 2025-26 school year....
Facts
- The Texas State Board of Education on Friday voted 8-7 to approve an optional Bible-based curriculum called Bluebonnet Learning for elementary schools, which could implement the curriculum as soon as the 2025-26 school year.[1][2]
- School districts adopting the curriculum will receive financial incentives of $60 per student annually — $40 for implementation and $20 for printing costs.[3]
- The curriculum includes biblical references in various subjects, such as kindergarten lessons about the Golden Rule linked to Jesus's Sermon on the Mount and third-grade units covering ancient Rome and Jesus's life.[4]
- The Texas Education Agency, in charge of educating 5M students statewide, developed these materials following a 2023 legislative mandate. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has publicly supported the initiative as enhancing students' understanding of history and culture.[5][6]
- On Monday, over 100 people testified before the Texas School Board during a seven-hour public hearing over the new materials. The forum saw intense debate between those who viewed it as educational enrichment, and those concerned about religious favoritism.[3]
- The initiative has followed similar religious education efforts in other Republican-led states. Oklahoma allocated funds for classroom Bibles, while Louisiana has been trying to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments.[5]
Sources: [1]ABC30 Fresno, [2]CBS, [3]CNN, [4]HERE Greenville, [5]Newsweek and [6]NBC 5 Dallas.
Narratives
- Left narrative, as provided by Guardian. This curriculum violates the separation of church and state by privileging Christianity over other faiths in public education. The materials risk proselytizing young students who cannot distinguish between faith claims and facts, while the financial incentives unfairly pressure underfunded schools to adopt religious content.
- Right narrative, as provided by The Texas Tribune. There's nothing nefarious about this curriculum. It merely allows individual school districts to utilize cross-disciplinary lessons to enrich students' learning. Many concepts in the Bible, including 'how to be a good citizen' and 'how to treat other people' will be useful to students' lives, regardless of their religion.
