Texas plans to add Bible study to schools and cut world history

Texas education officials are considering significant changes to the English language arts and social studies curriculum. They plan to include Bible studies in public schools, according to The New York Times.

The changes aim to emphasize U.S. and Texas history while deemphasizing world history, a move that has drawn criticism from some historians and progressive groups.

The Texas State Board of Education, an elected body with a 10-5 Republican majority, considered proposals on April 7 that could impact the education of an entire generation of students.

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Texas public schools enroll 5,4 million students, representing about 11% of the total public school enrollment in the United States.

The discussion of the controversial reading list was accompanied by hours of public speeches by teachers, students, parents, politicians, and representatives of religious organizations.

The Texas Education Agency's proposed list includes more than 200 works, including well-known classic texts such as Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" for kindergarten, Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" for seventh grade, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech for eighth grade.

The list also includes Bible passages for middle and high school students that address issues of separation of church and state.

The second proposed list, prepared by Republican Councilman Will Hickman, calls for a smaller overall number of books but includes biblical texts starting in elementary school.

Supporters argue that passages from the Bible, particularly the story of David and Goliath from the Old Testament and reflections on love from First Corinthians, have literary value.

Critics are calling for a reduction in the use of biblical texts, arguing that they should be relegated to comparative religion courses or not included at all.

The council is discussing, among other things, broader questions such as which books and authors should be considered mandatory for study, and how much freedom teachers should be given in choosing additional texts.

Democratic representatives on the board criticize the list for its lack of diversity in a state where the majority of public school students are Latino and African American. The agency's version includes texts by African American historical figures such as Langston Hughes and Frederick Douglass, but overall, there are few authors from these groups.

"There's a serious lack of representation," said Marisa Perez-Diaz, a Democratic councilwoman who represents San Antonio and parts of South Texas.

In teaching social studies, the council considers a chronological approach to history with an emphasis on U.S. and Texas history in most grade levels.

Progressive organizations and many historians have criticized the proposals because they believe they promote American exceptionalism by focusing on the influence of Christianity and leaving little room for world history and the contributions of other religions.

"Do we want the next generation of Texas schoolchildren competing in the global economy with virtually no knowledge of China?" asked Brendan Gillis of the American Historical Association.

The Texas proposals are part of a Republican effort to recognize the role of Christianity in the founding of the United States and to strengthen patriotism.

Several states, including Texas, have attempted to integrate the Ten Commandments into public school classrooms. Elements of Bible study are already included in the optional English curriculum in Texas.

This approach is gaining popularity among conservatives who believe it gives students a solid foundation, while diversity issues should be addressed through academic content, not for the sake of inclusion.

Mandy Drogin, a senior fellow at the conservative think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation, who supports the changes, said Islam and Buddhism were not at the foundation of Western civilization.

She said that while it is important to study world history and other religions, Judeo-Christian values ​​play a key role in American history and culture.

"If you don't know, for example, the parable of the Good Samaritan, you're missing out not only on important lessons but also on a significant cultural and historical part of the American experience," she emphasized.

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The debate over required reading material comes at a time when students are reading less and less. Many schools are already offering students excerpts from books rather than full texts.

A final vote on the proposals is expected to take place in June.

The new requirements, if adopted, would not come into force until 2030.

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