The Texas State Board of Education approved a proposal mandating that students in public schools read parts of the Bible as part of their academics. According to Fox 4, the mandate passed in a 9-5-1 vote.
Texas students will now read about David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Jonah and the Whale, as well as various other Old and New Testament passages.
Secular literature is also included in the updated reading list, such as “Charlotte’s Web” and “Great Expectations.”
Critics of the required Bible passages believe the list violates the separation of church and state and supports Christianity above other religions, while supporters argue the list educates students on the nation’s founding and history. “We need to focus on what our nation was founded on and not apologize for that,” Susan Perez, founder of Citizens for Education Reform, told the education board last week ahead of the vote, as reported by the Associated Press. “It is the truth and we should not be afraid.”
The Texas State Board of Education has also passed new social studies standards in a 9-4 vote.
“Overall, the vote on the K-8 Social Studies is a huge victory for standards that celebrate American history, promote civic virtue, and protect religious liberty,” Texas Values said in a news release. “Most importantly, the SBOE successfully rejected requests for changes from many radical and far left-leaning groups pushing inaccurate or special interest facts.”
“Today, the State Board of Education has saved 250 years of history a week before we celebrate the 250 milestone of our country. If we want students to understand our American story, we have to stop cutting chapters out of the book, Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations, said in a statement. The process of reviewing and revising the standards ensures that accurate history is taught that will encourage an appreciation of the past and also encourage students to be informed citizens today. The revised Social Studies standards will determine what the next generation of Texans believe about their country and themselves.”
