The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) recently approved controversial new curriculum requirements for the state’s public schools, which serve approximately 5.5 million students. Among these changes, the inclusion of Bible passages has sparked significant debate, particularly when considered alongside the state’s already politicized educational standards.
Since 2003, Republicans have controlled all levels of state government in Texas, using this influence to reshape how public school students understand key subjects like economics, history, society, religion, and citizenship. These efforts culminated in 2010 with the implementation of standards that emphasized the biblical influence on the nation’s founders while downplaying the historical separation of church and state.
The Evolution of Texas’ Politicized Curriculum
The 2010 standards also introduced a requirement for high schools to offer courses focused on “Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits.” This move was part of a broader effort to promote specific economic ideologies in the classroom. The Fordham Institute an education-reform think tank, criticized these standards, stating that Texas students were “explicitly urged to condemn federal entitlement programs, including Lyndon B. Johnson’s ‘Great Society.'”
The institute further classified the standards as offering “a politicized dissertation of history” with “misrepresentations at every turn.” It noted that students were encouraged to celebrate the free enterprise system and minimal government intrusion in the economy from an early age. Additionally, business leaders were portrayed as key figures in social and national progress, alongside the Founding Fathers and U.S. presidents.
The Role of Bible Passages in the New Curriculum
The latest curriculum revisions build upon these existing standards. Two Bible excerpts chosen for inclusion are “To Everything There is a Season” from the Book of Ecclesiastes and “The Necessity of Humility” from the Gospel of Luke. These passages emphasize acceptance of life’s circumstances and dependence on higher authority, respectively.
Critics argue that teaching these concepts alongside the existing economic ideology will foster a compliant workforce and a malleable voting base. Students may learn to accept their life circumstances without question, celebrate the wealthy and powerful, and avoid challenging economic realities or labor conditions.
The Broader Implications for Society
The combination of religious lessons and economic ideology in Texas schools raises concerns about the creation of a passive student body, workforce, and citizenry. Students who internalize these teachings may grow into adults who do not demand fair wages, protest injustices, or advocate for change. This could have significant implications for democracy and social progress in Texas and beyond.
As religious lessons join an already ideologically influenced curriculum, all Texans and Americans, regardless of their religious or political leanings, should be deeply alarmed. The long-term effects of these educational policies on students and society as a whole warrant close attention and scrutiny.
