Texas Approves Mandatory Bible Readings in Public Education
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) voted and approved a list of mandatory readings for over 5 million public school students that includes biblical passages, expanding conservative efforts to promote Christian teachings in U.S. classrooms. The proposal in Texas, which would require reading literary works such as Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' alongside parables from the New Testament, has been closely monitored by education observers, who note that it appears to be the first of its kind in the country. The reading list is set to take effect in 2030 upon approval. Texas, which educates about 1 in 10 public school students in the nation, has been at the forefront of the conservative push to incorporate more religion into classrooms. The state already allows public schools to hire chaplains to counsel students, requires the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and has approved an optional curriculum with biblical content. For months, critics have questioned both the push for mandatory biblical readings and the state requirement for students to read certain books, decisions that typically rest with teachers. Educators would still be able to assign additional readings beyond the mandatory titles.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
