The Texas State Board of Education is scheduled to vote on a new required reading list for K-12 public schools that includes passages from the Bible. If approved, the list, which covers over 5 million students and would take effect in 2030, would mark a significant expansion of religious content in Texas classrooms and could be unprecedented nationally.
Texas has been a focal point for conservative efforts to integrate religious teachings into public education. The state already permits public schools to employ chaplains for student counseling, mandates the display of the Ten Commandments, and has approved optional curricula with biblical themes. This latest proposal, however, requires specific biblical texts to be read by students across various grade levels.
Critics argue that mandating Bible readings violates the constitutional separation of church and state and sends a message that only Christian texts are valued, potentially alienating students from diverse religious backgrounds or no religious affiliation. Elva Mendoza, legislative communications associate for the Texas Freedom Network, stated that all students should feel welcome and that the proposal could be perceived as de facto censorship, similar to book bans.
Supporters, such as Brooke Mazel, a retiree from Lubbock, have endorsed the inclusion of biblical materials, citing the importance of faith and family values. Mazel expressed that America, celebrating its 250th anniversary, began as a nation with strong Christian values.
The proposed reading list includes around 200 texts, exceeding a 2023 state law that requires at least one literary work per grade level. For elementary students, titles like "David and Goliath" and "Daniel and the Lion's Den" are suggested. By fourth grade, students would encounter New Testament passages about Jesus, and middle schoolers would read further passages related to Jesus' teachings. High school students would be required to read specific Bible passages as supplementary material for works such as Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" and Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."
Antero Garcia, president of the National Council of Teachers of English and a Stanford University professor, noted the unique nature of a state-mandated reading list that includes religious texts, as such decisions are typically made at the district or school level. Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, echoed this sentiment, describing the move as distinctive to Texas and potentially limiting in its ideological leaning and exclusion of diverse voices.
The list also includes assignments connecting biblical narratives with American history and requires students reading Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" to also read a eulogy for President Ronald Reagan by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Frank Strong, co-founder of the student advocacy group Texas Freedom to Read, emphasized the importance of diversity in literature for students to see themselves reflected and to learn about different cultures.
The board is also set to vote on a social studies curriculum that integrates Bible stories with American history. Critics question the necessity of mandating certain texts, like "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" for kindergartners, suggesting teachers should retain autonomy in selecting age-appropriate books.