The Texas Education Agency (TEA) Board of Education is getting closer to approving a curriculum that would include Bible stories in elementary school textbooks, a move that is causing a stir in the Lone Star State. The “Blue Bonnett” curriculum design, which is aimed at grades K–5, is causing some board members to express worries about the integration of education with certain religious doctrines, according to FOX 7 Austin.
Concerned about the possible dominance of one religion in the classroom, board member Rebecca Bell-Metereau raised the alarm at a heated meeting. “I just think that if we try to let too much be taken over by any one religion, we risk damaging the experience of children who have differing beliefs,” Bell-Metereau told FOX 7 Austin. Critics dispute the curriculum’s focus on Christian themes and its consequences for diversity in Texas education, while conversations are still underway.
The curriculum does not limit itself to Christian tales. According to AP News, it incorporates teachings from well-known biblical stories, with a focus on principles from the Golden Rule as they are portrayed in different religious traditions. Teachers and parents have voiced concerns about a possible transition from secular education to one that could be interpreted as brainwashing, notwithstanding this multireligious approach.
A few board members were well aware that this new educational strategy was experimental. “The experiment is the kids and the schools that will make use of this resource. It will be up to them to decide whether or not this works. According to FOX 7 Austin, Evelyn Brooks (R) from Frisco voiced worry, saying, “It’s a completely different teaching methodology.” The board members also vigorously argued the curriculum’s potential—or lack thereof—to raise reading scores.
The resolution to reject the Blue Bonnett curriculum was narrowly defeated by a vote of 7-8 in spite of these misgivings. Members of the Republican faction, including Evelyn Brooks, Patricia Hardy, and Pam Little, chose not to support the suggested materials, demonstrating the division not only across party lines but also inside the party. A final decision regarding the curriculum is expected on Friday, November 22, according to FOX 7 Austin. If approved, school districts that choose to use the curriculum will be compensated to reduce the cost of purchases and printing.
Similar actions are being echoed across the country, with Louisiana and Oklahoma also mired in legal disputes and debates regarding the use of religious symbols and texts in public schools. This growth in Texas is part of a larger trend in several jurisdictions where, in spite of the problems and legal disputes they invite, religion and education are becoming more and more entwined.
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