The Texas State Board of Education gave preliminary approval to a mandatory list of books and reading content for public schools, which includes Bible passages.
According to a report from the Texas Tribune, the Republican-majority board voted 9-5 to approve the reading list, which may still be revised before its final approval scheduled for June. The votes against the list came from Democrats.
“There are other states, many other states, who have recommended reading lists,” said Republican member Keven Ellis, who proposed the revised list. “To my knowledge, there is not one that will have a required reading list as robust as this, that will be common for every student across the state.”
The Christian Post reports that specific Bible passages to be taught to students include the Golden Rule to kindergartners, the Parable of the Prodigal Son to first graders, the Road to Damascus to third graders, do not fear from Matthew 6:25-34 to sixth graders, the love chapter from 1 Corinthians as well as Jonah and Psalm 23 to seventh graders, and the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 to eighth graders.
Students will also learn about David and Goliath, the Tower of Babel, To Everything There is a Season from Ecclesiastes, and the Book of Job.
The proposal comes as the state also seeks to implement the Ten Commandments into public school classrooms, although the measure faces legal issues. A federal judge in Texas blocked several school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments as obligated under Senate Bill 10. “Displaying the Ten Commandments on the wall of a public-school classroom as set forth in S.B. 10 violates the Establishment Clause,” U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia wrote.
