Bradford Vivian writes on BlueSky:
Bible-based alternatives already exist throughout the nation—in private schools for that purpose. The issue here isn’t creating an alternative, or free speech, but using public funds to promote a favored religion in schools starting in kindergarten.
I couldn’t agree more. This goes against the Establishment clause of the Constitution. Learn more about this via this AI-generated summary.
The Washington Post reports the news:
The Texas state school board on Friday approved an optional elementary school curriculum that includes Bible-based lessons that critics have said inappropriately promote Christian beliefs in public classrooms.
In its final vote Friday, the board decided in an 8-7 vote to approve the curriculum. The materials were created this year by the Texas Education Agency after a new law required the department to make a statewide curriculum for school districts to use after approval from the education board.
You can access the Bluebonnet curriculum documents via the TEA Texas Gateway for Online Resources. This looks to be an online system for accessing curriculum under the control of the government. Will that threaten independent school districts? Who knows.
Critics of the curriculum argue it heavily favors Christianity over other faiths. Some have suggested the teachings violate the “establishment clause” of the First Amendment, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Notably, Texas has independent school districts, meaning each district decides what is taught in classrooms. Bluebonnet Learning materials will be part of a menu of curriculums available for school districts to use. (source.
Maybe Texas politicians are seeking some heavenly respite. It’s certainly hot as…well, you know.