The Texas State Board of Education on Friday approved a controversial, Bible-infused curriculum for public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Texas schools will not be required to use “BlueBonnet” curriculum, which includes lessons from the books of Genesis and Psalms, as well as the New Testament, but will receive extra funding if they do.
The board’s narrow vote of 8 to 7 marks the latest move by Republicans to incorporate Christian teachings into schools nationwide. Four Democrats and three Republicans voted against using the curriculum.
The vote was only for adding the curriculum to English Language Arts and Reading, but the board is considering using it in other areas.
“The materials contain an unwelcome and unnecessary quantity of Bible references,” the Texas American Federation of Teachers said in a written statement released on 15 November. “Not only do these materials violate the separation of church and state and the academic freedom of our classroom, but also the sanctity of the teaching profession.”
The curriculum will be used in classrooms from August 2025.
School districts can design their own lesson plans and are not forced to adopt the curriculum, but will receive a funding incentive of $40 per student to buy learning materials if they do.
Similar efforts are being made in other US, Republican-dominated states.
R&I ~ MJM
Anothermike
Article URL : https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-schools-now-teach-bible-194726777.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall