Texas Becomes the Latest State to Introduce Religion in Public Schools

Perhaps encouraged by the result of the recent election, lawmakers in Texas are attempting to introduce religion in public schools – joining Oklahoma and Louisiana in a legal effort that is garnering increasing levels of attention around the world. The fact that Texas is taking this step now might imply that they feel confident about the chances of success for the other two states. If three states gain the right to bring religion into public classrooms, this could cause a ripple effect across many other states. 

Texas Education Board Votes in Favor of Religion in Public Schools

In November of 2024, the Texas Education Board voted in favor of what the Christian Science Monitor calls “Bible-infused teachings” in elementary classrooms. These Bible studies will be optional under new guidelines that are bound to trigger lawsuits in the Lone Star State. 

The vote was close, and the board passed the proposed curriculum with eight in favor and seven against. Those who voted against the measure pointed out that these lessons might encourage young learners to become Christian in an inappropriate manner. In other words, the teachers would be “proselytizing” to their students. 

Other critics pointed out that many Texas students are not even Christian. How would the parents of a Muslim or Jewish child feel if they found out that hours are dedicated to Bible studies? 

Supporters of these changes raise familiar points – ones voiced by their colleagues in Louisiana and Oklahoma. These individuals argue that the Bible is an important part of American history. In other words, they are not trying to educate children about Christianity per se, but rather its role in the formation of the United States. 

The strength of this argument has not yet been tested in court. Previous efforts to introduce religion in public schools have failed, and notable Supreme Court decisions in the 1980s prevented this from happening. Some say that the exact same result should be expected in the modern era, while others are more hopeful. It is no secret that the Supreme Court has changed in recent years, and the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade shows that long-established norms in the United States can change unexpectedly. 

Religion in Public Schools Curriculum

But what might these Bible lessons look like in Texas classrooms? If teachers choose to incorporate the Bible into their lessons, they may do so with students from kindergarten to grade five. If teachers take advantage of this new opportunity, they may receive additional funding from the state. 

The new curriculum states that teachers should focus on general life lessons from the Bible. These include the importance of helping one’s neighbor and its Jewish roots. Some lessons also highlight the historic role of the Bible, including its use in various speeches and prayers by past politicians. 

Critics say that young students may not be able to distinguish between real historical events and less-established moments from the Bible. 

Keep Informed with the Universal Life Church

Each month, various cases test the nature of religious rights in this country. While the basis for many religious rights is the United States Constitution, there a

re still countless cases that question the exact nature of these rights. The Universal Life Church’s blog is focused on documenting the most noteworthy of these cases in an objective manner that can be easily understood by readers.