Texas Mandates Bible Passages in Schools

The Texas State Board of Education has approved a mandatory reading list for public schools that includes passages from the Bible. The measure is expected to affect more than five million students starting in 2030. This is another step by Texas officials aimed at strengthening the presence of conservative and religious values in public education.

Texas had previously mandated that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools. A federal appeals court upheld this decision earlier this year. The state is thus continuing a policy through which several Republican-led states are seeking to strengthen the presence of Christian elements in education.

Supporters argue that these measures restore fundamental Judeo-Christian values and historically significant teachings to schools. Critics object that they violate the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state. They also point out that the list consists predominantly of works by white male authors, even though the majority of Texas students are Latino and Black.

The organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State called the decision an attempt to impose a narrow set of religious beliefs on schools.

(Reuters, Lud)