Texas State Board of Education approves school curriculum with Biblical references

The Texas State Board of Education has approved a set of lesson plans for elementary students that include stories from the Bible.

The state board chose to add the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum to a list of approved learned materials on Friday afternoon.

The curriculum covers kindergarten through fifth grade and has some lessons that incorporate well-known Bible stories. Proponents say the curriculum focuses on understanding a major American religion and enhancing students' cultural literacy.

While there are references to other faiths, opponents on the board see a Christian bias in the curriculum.

"I also appreciated the effort to include other faith traditions. I appreciate that," said Democratic board member Rebecca Bell Metereau. "But it seems to me like it is trying to place a Band-aid on a gaping wound."

"Had it not been for the Christian bias in this content, I do really find value in how a lot these lessons were laid out," said Democratic board member Maria Perez Diaz. "So it's unfortunate that we're there.

Only those who opposed the new curriculum spoke before Friday’s vote. None of the supporters spoke.

While districts do not have to choose or use the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum, there is a $60 per student incentive for cash-starved public schools.

"If a parent or a teacher who didn't feel comfortable teaching this were to bring this up to a court, I believe they would be successful," said Democratic board member Staci Childs. "And in my good conscience in protecting my bar license, I just do not feel that these materials are yet reflective of the experience and nuance of Texas students. So I have to vote against it."

The Bible learning tools were narrowly approved by a narrow 8-7 vote.

The 15-member board includes 11 Republicans and four Democrats.

One of the board members is a Republican who was appointed to the board just weeks ago by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to temporarily fill a vacant seat. 

Days after that appointment, a Democrat who ran unopposed was elected to fill that same board seat starting next year.

Gov. Abbott celebrated the passage of the material on Friday afternoon.

"The passage of Bluebonnet Learning is a critical step forward to bring students back to the basics of education and provide the best education in the nation," he said in a statement. "These transformative educational materials are voluntary and free for schools and teachers to use. And with parents also able to access these materials online, we will ensure young Texans have access to high-quality, grade-level appropriate curricula that will provide the necessary fundamentals in math, reading, science, and other core subjects and boost student outcomes across Texas."

The resources were initially presented to the State Board of Education in the summer but have since been revised after analysts found that they relied too heavily on religion in their teachings. 

One lesson on the Golden Rule, mentions "The Sermon on the Mount." That lesson also notes how other religions have variations of the Golden Rule. The lessons come with examples from the stories of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. 

A lesson on classical art shows how stories from the Book of Genesis were used by painters. There's also a study section on poetry that mentions the Book of Psalms. 

Critics argued the optional teaching materials blur the line between the separation of church and state.

Supporters said the materials are not limited to Judeo-Christian texts and can have current world operations.

"Does it work? Well, I have a school district, a district in my SBOE district that did it," said Tom Maynard, a member of the State Board of Education. "And I went and watched it. I watched it. I sat in the classroom. And I think it works."

Texas school districts will be able to choose what curriculum they want to use, but the state will offer a financial incentive of $60 per student to any district using Bluebonnet Learning.

The curriculum will be available by August 2025.

Sections from Bluebonnet Learning

Sections below include examples of religion in Bluebonnet Learning materials.

Kindergarten

The section below is from Bluebonnet Learning's lesson on the Golden Rule.

"Several books of the Christian Bible describe a man who lived a long, long time ago—nearly 2,000 years ago—in a part of the world that is very far from here. The man was named Jesus. 

One of the books of the Bible describes Jesus giving a talk atop a small mountain. During this talk he wanted to share some very important lessons, so he climbed the mountain and spoke to a group of people who were gathered to hear him. The talks Jesus gave were called sermons. A sermon is a talk, like a lesson shared by a teacher, but the focus of the lesson is on a religious or moral subject. When Jesus talked about morals in his sermons, he was talking about the right and wrong way to act. Because Jesus shared this sermon up on a mountain, this talk is called 'the Sermon on the Mount.'"

Read the full instructional materials here.

First Grade

The section below is from Bluebonnet Learning's lesson on the prodigal son.

"The text for today’s lesson, a story on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, is derived from the Book of Luke, a book of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The parable recounts the story of a rebellious son and his forgiving father. The term "prodigal son" has become ubiquitous in popular culture as a way to describe a wayward child. The inclusion of the parable in this unit helps build background knowledge useful for students in future studies of literature and history." 

Read the full instructional materials here.

Third Grade

The section below is from Bluebonnet Learning's lesson on Ancient Rome.

"Two thousand years ago, when Augustus Caesar ruled the Roman Empire, a Jewish man who lived in Judea would ultimately have a very significant impact on the history of the empire and beyond. His name was Jesus of Nazareth. The Roman historian Josephus described some of Jesus’s life and his death at the hands of Roman authorities."

"The Christian Bible explains that throughout his life, Jesus taught about God’s love and forgiveness, and performed many miracles. For many early Christians and Christians today, accounts of miracles performed by Jesus are an important part of their beliefs, and it encouraged a rapid spreading of the faith. Some of these miracles included healing the sick, walking on water, and calming a raging storm."

Read the full instructional materials here.

Fifth Grade

The section below is from Bluebonnet Learning's lesson on Juneteenth.

"Abraham Lincoln and other leading abolitionists relied on a deep Christian faith and commitment to America’s founding principles that people should be equal under the law to guide their certainty of the injustice of slavery."

Read the full instructional materials here.