The Texas Board of Education on Friday in a narrow vote allowed the Bible-based curriculum in elementary schools to be introduced.
The curriculum which is now adopted by the Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by elected Republicans, is optional for schools to implement, but they will receive additional funding if they do so. The materials could appear in classrooms as early as next school year.
While speaking, the Republican Governor Greg Abbott spoke in support of the lesson plan which was have been made available by the state’s education agency that oversees the more than 5 million students in Texas public schools. It was disclosed that the voting saw the passing of 8-7.
Staci Childs, who is an attorney and a Democrat who voted against the Bible curriculum at Friday’s hearing, noted her belief still remains that the decision will be taken to court where the decision will be challenged.
She stated that if any parent or teacher who shows discomfort with the decision takes the case to court they will surely be successful. She further noted that in her good conscience, in protecting my bar license, I just do not feel that these materials are yet reflective of the experiences and the nuance of Texas students.
The new Texas curriculum follows Republican-led efforts in neighboring states to give religion more of a existence in public schools. In Oklahoma, the state’s education chief has ordered a copy of the Bible in every classroom, while Louisiana wants to make all of the state’s public school classrooms post the Ten Commandments beginning next year.
As the new era begins with the new curriculum, the state of Texas will be the first to introduce Bible lessons in schools in this manner, according to Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University.
The Texas Education Agency which is the body that controls and oversees the public education for students in the state had developed the instructional material after the law was passed in 2003 by the GOP-controlled Legislature required the agency to do so. The lesson plans were publicly released this spring.
It was explained that the material pulls on lessons from Christianity more than any other religion in the proposed reading and language arts modules for kindergarten through fifth grade, which analysts say would strange students from different faith experiences and potentially violate the First Amendment.
More than 100 people testified at a board meeting this week that rang with emotion from parents, teachers and advocates. Supporters of the curriculum argued that the Bible is a core feature of American history and teaching it will enrich students’ learning.
director of government relations for Texas Values, a right-leaning advocacy group. stated that there have been over 300 common phrases that are used by the student that have been said from the bible. She explained that the student will be able to benefit and understand a lot of the references that have been made and are in the literature she emphasised that it will help them to comprehend easily.
