Texas makes Bible passages required reading for millions of public school students
Critics say mandating Bible reading for over 5m students breaches constitutional separation of church and state
TL;DR
- Texas has approved a new statewide reading list that includes required passages from the Bible for over 5 million public school students.
- The initiative will be implemented gradually, starting with elementary school students in 2030.
- Required readings will include excerpts from the Book of Jonah, the Book of Psalms, the Book of Lamentations, and the Book of Genesis.
- Opponents argue the mandate breaches the constitutional separation of church and state and lacks diversity.
- Supporters contend that Judeo-Christian traditions should be represented in public school teachings due to their historical role in the country's founding.
- The curriculum has also faced criticism for its emphasis on older works by predominantly white male authors, in contrast to the state's diverse student population.