by Matilda Hawkins ‘27

As of November 22, the Texas Board of Education by a vote of 15-8 has given the green light to a new Bible-based curriculum for elementary schools. As soon as next school year, the program could be implemented in reading and language arts classes for public elementary schools. Although Texas school districts are allowed to choose their syllabus, the state is offering an incentive of $60 per student to districts that use the new teaching materials.

This decision doesn’t only go against the separation of church and state, but also the constitutional right to freedom of religion. Bible-infused curriculum generally aligns with Christianity, and in a public school setting, not all of the children and staff follow this religion. Children in Texas will be forced to follow a religion they and their family may not believe in, which interferes with their right to freedom of religion. The 1971 case Lemon v. Kurzman enforced that public schools must refrain from prohibiting or promoting religion. These violations undermine the Constitutional mandate of the separation of church and school, and unfortunately there are others states that will look at Texas as a model for implementing similar religious curriculums for students in public schools.