The Republican-dominated Texas Board of Education has approved mandated reading lists for over 5 million public school students starting in 2030. In a 9-5 vote, the board included passages from the Bible in the curriculum, continuing efforts to infuse the education system with conservative and religious ideals.
This move expands previous initiatives, such as the mandate for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public schools, which was upheld by a federal appeals court earlier this year. The comprehensive reading list includes mostly non-biblical and classical texts, such as Aesop's fables, tales about Native Americans, and children's versions of Don Quixote. However, critics have noted that the list consists primarily of texts written by white male authors in a state where students are majority Latino and Black.
Supporters of the measure say it restores basic Judeo-Christian teachings that are historically significant. Conversely, critics argue the mandate breaches the Constitution's establishment clause regarding the separation of church and state. Rachel Laser, head of the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, stated that the decision seeks to misuse public schools to impose one narrow set of religious beliefs and indoctrinate a new generation of Americans into the belief that America is a Christian country.