Members of the State Board of Education face two pivotal votes slated for this week that would usher in a rewrite of Texas' social studies lessons and a read- ing list that includes Chris - tian stories. Board members will hear from teachers, students and residents today who are concerned about the materi - als before the members take a final vote on the changes Friday. This social studies pro - posal symbolizes a dramat - ic transformation in how Texas schools have long taught lessons on history, geography, economics and government. It would elim -
inate the sixth-grade world cultures course, deempha - size world history outside of European tradition and dedicate more focus to Tex -
as and the United States.
The new statewide reading list would require schools to teach Bible sto - ries to children as young as 6 years old up to young adults who are preparing to receive their diplomas. Conservative Republi can leaders and activists see the new lessons as "the final battle" to rid Texas schools of lessons that paint the country in a negative light and train students to hate America. Students, educators and progressive activists who oppose the proposals' lack of racial, ethnic and gender inclusion in books and les- sons, as well as the state's Christian focus over other religions, say the propos - als prioritize memorization over critical thinking and simplification over accura -
cy.
A panel of nine advisors guided the program's over -
haul. Almost all of them have no Texas K-12 class - room experience and sever - al have ties to conservative activism.
If approved by the board this week, both changes would take effect in the 2030-31 school year.
The State Board of Ed -
ucation's new curriculum would have students inter - act with biblical stories in classes, some supplied by the Christian Broadcasting Network, a media company founded by televangelist Pat Robertson in the 1960s. A detailed look at the religious excerpts, part of about 200 passages that could become required reading, shows a reliance on Christian per - spectives without clear guidance on how to place the stories in historical or devotional context.
