Education officials are expected to vote Friday on whether Texas public schools would have the option of teaching a curriculum that includes teachings from the Bible.
Texas public schools could use Bible teaching in classrooms as an option for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, under a proposal that generated hours of testimony Monday and is similar to Republican-led initiatives in other states to incorporate more religious teaching in classrooms.
Teachers and parents offered impassioned testimony for and against the curriculum plan at a meeting of the Texas State Board of Education, which is expected to take a final vote on the measure this week.
The curriculum — designed by the state's public education agency — would allow Bible teachings like the Golden Rule and lessons from books like Genesis to be taught in classrooms. Under the plan, it would be optional for schools to adopt the curriculum, although they would receive additional funding if they did so.
Some complained that the proposal contradicts the mission of the public school.
“This curriculum does not meet the standard of an honest and secular one,” said educator Megan Tessler. “Public schools are meant to educate, not indoctrinate.”
Others strongly supported the idea.
“Parents and teachers want a return to excellence,” Cindy Asmussen, one of the people who gave testimony, told the panel. “The stories and concepts in the Bible have been commonplace for hundreds of years,” and that, he said, are a fundamental part of classical learning.
Education officials are expected to vote Friday on whether public schools would have the option to teach the curriculum.
The proposal to incorporate religious teaching in Texas public schools reflects a similar trend in other parts of the country. In Oklahoma, state officials are trying to include the Bible in public school lesson plans.
In Louisiana, a federal judge recently struck down a requirement to have the Ten Commandments displayed in all public classrooms.
Educators, parents and advocates weighed in 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 from other religious denominations.
Those in favor testified that it would provide students with a more comprehensive educational foundation.
Religious experts and the Texas Freedom Network — a left-leaning group that monitors the state board of education — said the curriculum proposal focuses too much on Christianity and avoids the history of slavery.
The program was designed this year by the Texas Education Agency after the passage of a law giving it the mandate to create its own free textbook. Republican Gov. 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 return to the issue next year.