In a recent and controversial decision, officials in Texas have moved forward with a new public school curriculum proposal that could introduce Christian teachings from the Bible as early as kindergarten. This proposal has stirred significant debate and raises important questions about the role of religion in public education. On Tuesday, eight out of 15 members of the state school board voted to keep the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum on the list of recommended reading and English language arts materials for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Bluebonnet Learning is an open educational resource developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that schools can choose to adopt. Schools that do adopt the curriculum stand to earn $40 per student annually, providing a financial incentive for its use.
However, the decision has sparked backlash. Critics argue that the curriculum disproportionately emphasizes Christianity, sidelining other religions and creating a biased educational environment. The concerns reflect a broader cultural and political debate in Texas and across the nation, where lawmakers, particularly Republicans, have pushed for more Christian influence in public schools. This has included allowing public schools to hire uncertified religious chaplains as counselors and advocating for mandatory displays of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
A Closer Look at the Curriculum
The proposed Bluebonnet Learning curriculum includes lessons that integrate Christian teachings, particularly from the Bible, into subjects like history, literature, and art. For instance, in a kindergarten lesson focused on the “Golden Rule,” teachers would introduce students to the Sermon on the Mount, a famous teaching of Jesus from the New Testament. Other religious texts, including those from Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism, are mentioned in passing, but the primary focus is clearly on Christianity. Similarly, another kindergarten unit about art appreciation would highlight works inspired by the Bible’s Book of Genesis.
In first grade, students would learn about the Parable of the Prodigal Son, a well-known Biblical story. Third-grade students studying ancient Rome would explore the life of Jesus and his impact on the Roman Empire. By the time students reach fifth grade, a poetry unit would include psalms from the Old Testament, alongside poems from renowned American poets like Robert Frost and William Carlos Williams. The inclusion of religious texts in this unit has raised concerns, particularly because no other religious or secular texts are incorporated.
Supporters of the curriculum, such as Texas Values, a conservative policy group, argue that these lessons are appropriate for young students and do not push Christianity over other religious traditions. Jonathan Covey, the policy director at Texas Values, maintains that the lessons are “grade-level appropriate” and argue that religion has a legitimate place in American civic society. He believes that learning about religion in a historical and cultural context enhances students’ understanding of their world.
Criticism: Disproportionate Focus on Christianity
On the other side of the debate, critics argue that the curriculum’s focus on Christianity gives undue weight to one religion at the expense of others. Texas AFT, a union representing more than 60,000 public school educators, has described the proposed materials as a violation of both the separation of church and state and academic freedom. The union argues that the lessons prioritize Christianity to an extent that could alienate non-Christian students, parents, and teachers. According to the union, the curriculum includes an "unwelcome and unnecessary quantity of Bible references," which they claim is inappropriate for a public school setting.
The Texas Freedom Network, a group that advocates for religious freedom and public education, echoes these concerns. In their analysis of the curriculum, the network argues that the Bluebonnet Learning materials verge on Christian proselytism, pointing out that the curriculum offers extensive coverage of Christianity while providing minimal attention to other major world religions. The network warns that the materials suggest Christianity is more important than other religious traditions, which could send a harmful message to students in a diverse state like Texas.
“Texas is a mosaic of faith,” said Shariq Ghani, executive director of the Minaret Foundation, a group focused on multi-faith civic engagement in Texas. He argues that the curriculum’s focus on one religion undermines the state’s commitment to inclusivity and could leave students from other faith backgrounds feeling marginalized. Ghani also highlights the burden that the proposed curriculum places on teachers, who are already overwhelmed with their teaching schedules. He points out that teachers are not equipped to dive into the complexities of various world religions while also covering the other subjects on their curriculum.
A Broader Debate: Religion in Public Schools
The controversy in Texas taps into a long-standing debate over the role of religion in public schools. While supporters argue that learning about the Bible and Christianity is an essential part of understanding history and culture, opponents warn that such lessons could veer into religious indoctrination. Charles Haynes, a senior fellow for religious liberty at the Freedom Forum, emphasizes the importance of teaching about religion in the context of history and culture, but cautions against crossing the line into faith-based instruction. “Reading passages from the Bible as literature or history is one thing,” he says. “Incorporating religious lessons into public school classrooms is something else entirely.”
The issue has national implications, as it raises questions about the separation of church and state, a principle enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The “establishment clause” of the First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing an official religion, and the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that public schools cannot sponsor religious activities, such as prayer. The debate over religious education in schools is not new; in the 1960s, the Supreme Court ruled in Engel v. Vitale that public school-led prayer was unconstitutional.
Supporters of the Texas curriculum, however, argue that the Bible’s influence on Western thought and culture cannot be ignored. Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, contends that the Bible and Christianity have shaped language, literature, and culture in ways that are essential for students to understand. According to Pondiscio, “Our language is redolent with concepts, phrases, and allusions drawn directly from the Bible,” and students should be familiar with these references as part of their education.
The Road Ahead
As the debate over the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum continues, the Texas state board is set to make a final decision on Friday. If the board approves the materials, the curriculum could be implemented as early as the 2025-26 school year. However, the controversy is far from over. Critics remain determined to challenge the curriculum, arguing that it crosses a line between education and religious indoctrination.
As the discussion unfolds, one thing is clear: the question of how much religion belongs in public schools is far from settled. Whether the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum will pass the final vote remains to be seen, but the larger conversation about the role of religion in education—and the values that guide public school curricula—will continue to play a significant role in shaping the future of education in Texas and beyond.
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