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Texas mandates Bible reading
The Texas State Board of Education, controlled by Republicans, voted to make Bible passages required reading in public schools, approving a new required reading list on Friday by a vote of 9-5-1.
“The Texas State Board of Education has voted to make Bible passages required reading in public schools”
The plan covers more than 5 million public school students in Texas and will begin taking effect in 2030, with the rollout staggered starting with elementary school students in 2030.
ABC News said the list for required literature includes sections of the Book of Exodus for fifth graders and The Shepherd's Psalm for seventh graders, while the AP described Bible stories becoming required reading for more than 5 million students.
Supporters framed the decision as rooted in national tradition, with Julie Pickren telling The Texas Tribune that the readings are intended to give students "important insight into the moral and philosophical traditions that have shaped Western civilization."
Critics cite church-state
Opponents argued the mandate violates constitutional separation of church and state and removes teacher autonomy, with Texas education board member Evelyn Brooks saying it was "unconstitutional."
The BBC reported that critics said the new reading requirements "infringe on religious freedoms and lack diversity," and it quoted Clare Haefner of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association saying Texas teachers expressed concerns about "the potential loss of teacher autonomy."
In testimony coverage, Susan Perez, founder of Citizens for Education Reform, told the education board, "We need to focus on what our nation was founded on and not apologize for that," while the AP described the broader conservative effort to introduce more religion into U.S. schools.
The BBC also said the board approved the measure in a 9-5 vote with one Republican joining Democrats to vote against it, and it quoted Brandon Hall saying, "We are bringing the Bible back into schools this week for the first time in 60 years."
What changes next
The reading list will be implemented in phases beginning with elementary school in the 2030-2031 school year, and it is expected to become the backbone of textbooks and annual exams, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“Religion row as Texas makes Bible stories required reading in schools A Texas education panel has approved plans to make Bible stories mandatory for all five million public school students in the state, sparking a row about separation of church and state”
The Guardian said the rollout will be staggered, starting with elementary school students in 2030, and it described required excerpts from the Book of Jonah and the Book of Psalms beginning in seventh grade.
The Guardian also reported that additional excerpts from several parts of the Bible, such as the Book of Lamentations and the Book of Genesis, will become part of the curriculum for high school students.
Critics warned that the list breaches the constitutional separation of church and state and gives preference to Christianity over other faiths, while supporters argued Judeo-Christian traditions played a central role in the country’s founding and should be represented in public school teachings.
